Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Creates “Dale Cendali Prize” in Honor of Renowned Litigator

Kirkland litigator Dale Cendali was recently honored by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) with the creation of the Dale Cendali Prize for her work protecting intellectual property rights, the comic book community and freedom of expression. The prize was announced at 2025 New York Comic Con.

“I am very grateful to have my work recognized by CBLDF, but I am even more delighted by the thought that it might spur and reward student scholarship,” Dale said.

The Dale Cendali Prize, which honors Dale’s legacy as a champion of IP rights and her ongoing commitment to defending freedom of expression, aims to support the next generation of IP litigators. The competition asks law students and recent law school graduates to write an article that pushes legal scholarship on themes central to the comics community, such as constitutional protections against censorship, IP rights, and the ethical and legal impact of new technology like AI. The $500 prize will be presented annually at NYCC.

Dale is a nationally recognized first-chair trial lawyer who routinely wins high-profile trials related to copyright, trademark, false advertising and trade secrets for global brands and household names in courts across the nation. An avid comic book lover, Dale enjoys fighting for truth and justice for her clients, who consider her a real-life superhero.

Outside the courtroom, Dale is a longtime adjunct professor at Harvard Law School, teaching Copyright and Trademark Litigation. She also spends time working with organizations like the International Trademark Association, The American Theatre Wing and CBLDF.