Experience

Schecter Guitar Research

• United States
• Musicians
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel

  • Jan 2012 - Present

  Sun Valley, CA  Manage the domestic and international trademark portfolio of a guitar manufacturing company; prosecute trademark applications; advise company regarding selection of marks; conduct trademark clearance reviews and draft opinions; handle TTAB proceedings; monitor and investigate infringing uses, draft cease and desist letters and trademark licenses; negotiate and draft settlement agreements; manage outside counsel in trademark litigation matters; collaborate with outside counsel regarding… Show more  Manage the domestic and international trademark portfolio of a guitar manufacturing company; prosecute trademark applications; advise company regarding selection of marks; conduct trademark clearance reviews and draft opinions; handle TTAB proceedings; monitor and investigate infringing uses, draft cease and desist letters and trademark licenses; negotiate and draft settlement agreements; manage outside counsel in trademark litigation matters; collaborate with outside counsel regarding international trademark/trade dress registration;  Negotiate and draft various agreements including sales contracts with distributors and manufacturers, join venture agreements, artist endorsement agreements, and service contracts with trade show venues and equipment suppliers.  Advise senior executives regarding all employment matters including the employee handbook and internal policies, termination of employees, and compliance with labor and employment laws; draft employment agreements; manage outside counsel in employment litigation matters including an age discrimination lawsuit.  Review all advertising materials, promotions, sweepstakes and contests to ensure compliance with applicable laws. Show less



Lexis Nexis

• National CaseMap Specialist for Law School Market

  • Jan 2007 - Dec 2011

  United States • Pioneered the LexisNexis “CaseMap for Law Schools” Program, developing and executing a winning strategy for integrating LexisNexis case analysis software into law school curricula and student learning tools. • Achieved integration of CaseMap into more than 100 law school programs including law clinics, legal research and writing courses, law reviews and journals, moot court and mock trial programs, and law practice technology courses. • Successfully leveraged eight years… Show more • Pioneered the LexisNexis “CaseMap for Law Schools” Program, developing and executing a winning strategy for integrating LexisNexis case analysis software into law school curricula and student learning tools. • Achieved integration of CaseMap into more than 100 law school programs including law clinics, legal research and writing courses, law reviews and journals, moot court and mock trial programs, and law practice technology courses. • Successfully leveraged eight years litigation experience and proficiency with a broad range of law practice software tools to bridge the gap between traditional law school pedagogy and practical legal skills involving cutting-edge law practice technology. • Conducted over 1000 lectures at over 100 law schools nationwide regarding utilitization of CaseMap to facilitate case analysis and legal writing; trained thousands of law students and faculty on CaseMap and other case analysis tools. • Counseled and trained law clinic staff on using CaseMap and other case analysis/management tools to help manage their cases and enhance the clinical learning experience for students; prepared customized CaseMap files for clinics. • Created highly effective marketing materials and promotions that played a key role in the success of the campaign; developed training modules, webinars, and study aids; advised software developers regarding key product enhancements. • Consistently met or exceeded annual targets and received outstanding performance evaluations.

• Director of Industry Relations for Litigation Services

  • Apr 2006 - Dec 2006

  New York, New York • Product champion for LexisNexis Total Litigator and CaseMap; successfully leveraged litigation experience and comprehensive knowledge of LexisNexis Total Practice Solutions portfolio to win new business from large law firms and increase sales to existing customers. • Served as consultant to large law firms regarding a wide range of litigation products and services in the LexisNexis “Total Practice Solutions” line including Total Litigator and CaseMap; advised firms regarding best… Show more • Product champion for LexisNexis Total Litigator and CaseMap; successfully leveraged litigation experience and comprehensive knowledge of LexisNexis Total Practice Solutions portfolio to win new business from large law firms and increase sales to existing customers. • Served as consultant to large law firms regarding a wide range of litigation products and services in the LexisNexis “Total Practice Solutions” line including Total Litigator and CaseMap; advised firms regarding best practices for conducting early case assessment, fact investigation, case analysis and legal research in a cost effective manner; • Conducted CLE presentations and demonstrations at more than 50 law firms; lectured at various industry conferences. • Advised senior LexisNexis executives regarding trends in the litigation market, law firm needs, and opportunities for new business acquisitions or new product development; communicated customer feedback regarding Total Litigator and CaseMap and recommended key product enhancements and modifications. • Assisted sales force in all aspects of developing new clients, expanding sales in existing accounts, and closing sales agreements; executed effective strategies for business development including cold calling and leveraging personal contacts in the industry; advised sales force regarding customer pain points and upselling opportunities.



Budd Larner P.C.

• Senior Associate, Intellectual Property Group

  • 2002 - 2006

  Short Hills, New Jersey  Successfully defended a communications company in an opposition proceeding before the TTAB and a subsequent appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, resulting in a precedential decision, M2 Software, Inc. v. M2 Communications, Inc., 78 U.S.P.Q.2d (Fed. Cir. 2006).  Managed the trademark portfolios of clients in various industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, communications, retail, and firearms; handled all aspects of trademark practice… Show more  Successfully defended a communications company in an opposition proceeding before the TTAB and a subsequent appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, resulting in a precedential decision, M2 Software, Inc. v. M2 Communications, Inc., 78 U.S.P.Q.2d (Fed. Cir. 2006).  Managed the trademark portfolios of clients in various industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, communications, retail, and firearms; handled all aspects of trademark practice including counselling, searches, clearance opinions, domestic and international prosecution of applications, TTAB opposition and cancellation proceedings, investigation of infringing uses, cease and desist letters, trademark litigation, licenses, assignments, coexistence agreements, and settlement agreements; handled domain name acquisition and disputes.  Represented a pharmaceutical company in various patent infringment actions under the Hatch-Waxman Act; gained extensive litigation experience including serving as as second-chair to lead counsel in a federal trial and appeal, taking and defending depositions, drafting and responding to discovery requests; drafting briefs, motions, settlement agreements and legal memoranda; managed paralegals and support staff in complex patent litigation matters.  Successfully represented a web company in a copyright infringment action; handled copyright acquisition and enforcement.  Negotiated a favorable settlement in a trademark dispute between members of a famous rock band over rights to the name. Show less



Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate, Trademark Practice Group

  • Feb 2001 - Dec 2001

  New York, New York  Gained extensive experience in all aspects of trademark practice including trademark litigation, portfolio management, counseling, search and clearance, prosecution, monitoring and investigation of infringing uses, cease and desist letters, TTAB proceedings, international trademark prosecution, dilution, trade dress, unfair competition, licensing, assignments, coexistence agreements, domain name disputes and internet issues; handled copyright acquisition and enforcement.  Represented… Show more  Gained extensive experience in all aspects of trademark practice including trademark litigation, portfolio management, counseling, search and clearance, prosecution, monitoring and investigation of infringing uses, cease and desist letters, TTAB proceedings, international trademark prosecution, dilution, trade dress, unfair competition, licensing, assignments, coexistence agreements, domain name disputes and internet issues; handled copyright acquisition and enforcement.  Represented a multi-million dollar nutritional supplement company in a complex litigation involving counterfeiting, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, civil RICO, and unfair competition.  Represented a non-profit corporation in a trademark infringment action brought by a major cosmetics company; assisted in managing the trademark portfolio of a major dietary supplement company. Show less



O'Melveny & Myers LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Associate, Litigation Department

  • Oct 1998 - Dec 2000

  New York, New York  Gained extensive commercial litigation experience in substantive areas including trademark infringement and dilution, copyright infringement, works made for hire, fair use, derivative works, assigment of rights, statutory damages, defamation, right of publicity, trade secrets, unfair competition, breach of contract, employment discrimination and product liability; drafted research memoranda, briefs, motions, affidavits, pleadings, deposition outlines, interrogatories, and discovery… Show more  Gained extensive commercial litigation experience in substantive areas including trademark infringement and dilution, copyright infringement, works made for hire, fair use, derivative works, assigment of rights, statutory damages, defamation, right of publicity, trade secrets, unfair competition, breach of contract, employment discrimination and product liability; drafted research memoranda, briefs, motions, affidavits, pleadings, deposition outlines, interrogatories, and discovery requests.  Successfully represented a major hotel company in a complex international contract dispute before the ICC Court of Arbitration; translated foreign law and expert opinions from Spanish to English and served as the firm’s liason to Spanish-speaking foreign legal experts.  Part of a team that achieved a landmark victory on behalf of the famous Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in a copyright dispute over the deceased choreographer's rights in her dances.  Successfully defended a major television network against a threatened defamation lawsuit involving a television show. Show less



New Jersey Courts

• United States
• Administration of Justice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Law Clerk to the Hon. Kenneth C. MacKenzie, Presiding Judge, Chancery Division

  • 1997 - 1998

  Morristown, New Jersey • Handled high-volume, fast-paced docket of orders to show cause seeking emergent relief and a wide variety of motions. • Drafted opinions for the Judge on a broad range of legal issues including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, copyright and trademark infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, employment law, non-compete covenants; breach of contract, defamation, shareholder disputes, and real estate; participated in settlement conferences with counsel.