John Gary has a broad-based intellectual property and software litigation practice.

John Gary is co-head of the firm’s intellectual property group. His practice has a particular emphasis on brand protection; software audits; online enforcement, including domain name counseling and litigation under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP); trade secret protection; licensing of intellectual property assets; and litigation under the Lanham Act and the Copyright Act. He is recognized as an industry leader by numerous rankings and other publications, including Chambers USA, Legal 500 United States, and Best Lawyers. Clients have told Chambers USA that he “provides a very strong service” (2023) and Legal 500 USA that he is “always informative, helpful, and clear” (2023).  World Trademark Review 1000 notes that he “has a solid head on his shoulders and knows how to get things done” (2023) and has said he exhibits “keen awareness of the evolving social media scene and the issues it presents for innovative brand owners” (2022).

John Gary is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Fourth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, the US District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia and the US District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. He served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Susan C. Bucklew in the Middle District of Florida from 1995 to 1997.

Relevant Experience

  • Developed, implemented, and managed global trademark prosecution, maintenance, and enforcement programs for Fortune 1000 companies, including major financial institutions, retailers, a major airline, and a chemical company, under both hourly and alternative fee arrangements.
  • Assisted well-known academic medical institution in co-branding transaction involving the use of proprietary cancer treatment technology.
  • Served as trademark counsel to the board of an IP holding company for a Fortune 1000 company.
  • Represented numerous Fortune 1000 companies in brand protection disputes, including trials in federal court, injunction hearings, mediations, and proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
  • Developed, implemented and managed online enforcement program for major financial institution, including strategy for social media.
  • Counseled numerous software licensees on software audit issues resulting in savings in excess of $150 million.
  • Represented major retailer in litigation of copyright infringement and breach of contract matter arising from a software audit, reaching favorable settlement.
  • Represented major gaming software vendor in copyright infringement and breach of contract matter, obtaining favorable jury verdict after three-week trial.
  • Developed holistic and client-specific trade secret protection and overall intellectual property protection programs for Fortune 200 company, and provided training and follow-up for implementation and maintenance. Programs included physical safeguards, premises controls, computer-use policies, document management procedures, and policies governing employees and visitors.
  • Regularly counsels clients on proactive and reactive trade secret and other intellectual property protection, including cases involving information security and business partner agreements.
  • Regularly counsels major retailer on advertising issues.

Memberships

  • Member, The International Trademark Association (INTA)

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized as a Leading Trademark Professional in Enforcement & Litigation and Prosecution & Strategy in Washington, DC (2020-2024), World Trademark Review 1000
  • Recognized as a Leader in Intellectual Property in Southern Virginia (2017-2018, 2020-2023), Chambers USA
  • Recommended for Trademarks: Litigation (2020-2023), Trademarks: Non-Contentious (2020-2023), Patents: Licensing (2020-2021), and Patents: Litigation (Full Coverage) (2020), Legal 500 United States
  • Recognized as a Best Lawyer for Trademark Law (2023-2024) and Litigation – Intellectual Property (2015-2024), The Best Lawyers in America
  • Named among the Legal Elite for Intellectual Property/Information Technology Law (2022), Virginia Business
  • Named among the Top Forty Under 40 (2008), Style Weekly

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