Damon Wright is a first-chair trial attorney who focuses on commercial, business tort, intellectual property, and advertising litigation. He began his Venable career in 1997 following a federal judicial clerkship. In courtrooms and forums throughout the country, Mr. Wright has prevailed for clients in business tort and contract cases; advertising, intellectual property and trade secret disputes; securities and shareholder claims; RICO, class action and consumer protection cases; professional liability matters; and government investigations. His clients include retailers, technology companies, government contractors, financial services firms, trade associations, investment groups, product manufacturers and professionals.
Whether with day-to-day counseling or bet-the-company litigation, Mr. Wright serves clients as a zealous, effective advocate and a prudent, thoughtful counselor. A stand up trial lawyer, Mr. Wright also understands how to target effective discovery to resolve a case quickly and successfully through motions practice, summary judgment or mediation. He serves as DC Partner-In-Charge of Venable's Electronic Discovery Task Force, has a national litigation practice, and considerable experience litigating in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, the District of Columbia and the District of Maryland. Mr. Wright is AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Significant Matters
In addition to government investigations and other matters resolved on confidential terms, Mr. Wright's recent matters include:
· Obtained preliminary injunction and then favorable settlement on behalf of national beauty product retailer in federal trademark infringement, trade dress infringement and misappropriation case against competitor.
· Represented national computer retailer in defense of FTC investigation resulting in closed investigation and no enforcement action.
· Won sanctions, summary judgment and affirmance on appeal for government contractor in federal trademark infringement, fraud, and breach of duty of loyalty case brought by competitor.
· At trial, successfully represented newspaper in trademark infringement case against competitor, obtaining permanent injunction requiring that defendant change its name.
· Represented telecom services provider in federal patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation case against competitor, obtaining evidence that led to grant of pretrial motions and favorable settlement.
· Won sanctions, summary judgment and affirmance on appeal in consumer protection case, with federal court awarding all actual damages, treble damages and attorney's fees.
· At trial, successfully represented national credit card company in contract and unjust enrichment case, with court entering judgment for defendant and requesting plaintiff be prosecuted for perjury.
· At trial, successfully represented software company founders against publicly-traded corporation in federal securities fraud, stock conversion and shareholder dispute, with relief including sanctions, compensatory and punitive damages.
· Won permanent injunction of FINRA proceeding and dismissal of state court proceeding on behalf of national investment advisory firm.
· At trial and on appeal, successfully represented federal savings bank in TILA case, obtaining dismissal of case and two related actions.
· Represented high net worth clients in nationwide tax shelter suits against national accounting firm, obtaining evidence that led to partial summary judgment, favorable settlements and parallel federal criminal prosecution.
· At trial, successfully represented U.A.E. company and principals, obtaining dismissal of federal export law violations.
· At trial, successfully represented real estate holding company in judicial dissolution and shareholder deadlock case, with court adopting all proposed factual findings and legal conclusions.
· Obtained withdrawal of guilty plea and dismissal of indictment stemming from highly-publicized FCPA sting involving fictitious transaction with the government of Gabon.
· Argued successful appeal to D.C. Circuit in civil rights action, negotiated comprehensive settlement with District of Columbia and obtained permanent equitable relief for several thousand persons who were unlawfully arrested.
Activities
Mr. Wright has served for years as an Officer and Board member of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, comprised of attorneys who actively practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, known as the "The Rocket Docket." He is a Master with the William B. Bryant Inn of Court, comprised of trial attorneys who actively practice in the US. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Wright regularly writes, lectures, and teaches on litigation procedure, litigation strategy, and trial advocacy subjects.
Mr. Wright served as Chair of "Robes In The Schools" for Just The Beginning Foundation ("JTBF"), an organization founded by African-American federal judges dedicated to promoting diversity in the legal profession. In this capacity, he developed and organized a program which brings judges together with high school students to share their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and pursuing pathways for success. For this and other service, Mr. Wright has been honored as a JTBF Diversity Champion. Mr. Wright also serves as outside general counsel for National Assembly Business Services, the for-profit subsidiary of the National Human Services Assembly whose members include the Salvation Army, AARP, and United Way of America.
In his spare time, Mr. Wright sails on the Chesapeake Bay, plays soccer and coaches youth soccer teams, and most importantly enjoys trying to keep up with his three kids.
Industries
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Task Force
Consumer Products and Services
Financial Services
Government Contractors
New Media, Media and Entertainment
Judicial Clerkships
Honorable Barry R. Poretz, U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1996 - 1997
Memberships
Bryant Inn of Court
Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association
Fairfax Bar Association
George Mason University Law School Alumni Association
News
May 3, 2012, Washington, DC edition of Super Lawyers 2012 honors 18 Venable attorneys
March 28, 2012, Damon Wright quoted in Law360 on Justice Department's decision to drop FCPA case
August 24, 2011, Damon Wright's involvement with FCPA trial mentioned in Main Justice
September 21, 2010, Damon Wright to accept three awards on behalf of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
September 30, 2008, Venable Celebrated for JTBF Support
November 2, 2007, Five Venable Attorneys Receive AV Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
December 19, 2005, Venable LLP Promotes Twelve to Partner
Honors
Selected for inclusion in District of Columbia Super Lawyers 2012
Master, William D. Bryant Inn of the Court, 2011 - Present
Officer and Board Member, N. Va. Chapter of Federal Bar Association, 2007 - Present
Just The Beginning Foundation Diversity Champion, 2008
Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year, 2007
T. Brooke Howard Fellow, Alexandria, Virginia Office of the Public Defender, 1994
AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
May 10, 2012, Advertising News & Analysis - May 10, 2012
Jeffrey D. Knowles, Roger A. Colaizzi, Gary D. Hailey, Leonard L. Gordon, Stuart P. Ingis, Amy Ralph Mudge, Randal M. Shaheen, Damon W.D. Wright, Ilene Ringel Heller, Michael A. Signorelli, Ariel S. Wolf
Advertising Alert
March 2012, Federal Crackdown on Debt Buyer Emphasizes Need for Consumer Disclosures
Jonathan L. Pompan, Damon W.D. Wright
March 14, 2012, Top 12 Tips for Saving Money in Litigation
Damon W.D. Wright
The National Law Journal
October 2011, What Do You Think? Inadvertent Disclosure and Waiver of Privileged Materials
Damon W.D. Wright
The Rocket Docket News
January 2011, Expert Discovery Returns to the Past
Damon W.D. Wright
The Federal Lawyer
December 2009, Bye, Bye, Blackwelder
Damon W.D. Wright, Shirley M. Steinbach
The Rocket Docket News
June 1, 2009, Robes in the Schools: Judges, Lawyers and Teachers Empower Students
Damon W.D. Wright
The Rocket Docket News
September 10, 2008, Watch Out For the Work Product Doctrine
Damon W.D. Wright, Shirley M. Steinbach
The Rocket Docket News
April 28, 2008, Amazing Stories in Discovery
Damon W.D. Wright
The Rocket Docket News
March 28, 2008, Uncivil Litigation: Misconduct and How Courts are Responding
Damon W.D. Wright
Washington Legal Foundation
January 26, 2007, The New Federal e-Discovery Rules. Are You Ready?
Damon W.D. Wright
Information Technology Association of America
September 1, 2001, What You Give and Say to Your Expert is Discoverable
Damon W.D. Wright
Virginia Lawyer's Weekly
November 21, 1999, So You Want To Be On The Internet ®
Walter R. Calvert, Joshua J. Kaufman, Brian J. O'Connor, Andrew D. Price, Michael A. Sartori, Ph.D., Janet F. Satterthwaite, Melissa Landau Steinman, Damon W.D. Wright
Related Topic Area(s): Copyrights and Trademarks
January 1, 1996, Virginia's Discriminatory Treatment of Criminal Appeals: Some Constitutional and Policy Considerations
Damon W.D. Wright
GMUSL Civil Rights Law Journal
Events/Speaking Engagements
Mr. Wright frequently speaks and teaches in-house counsel and other attorneys on the subjects of electronic discovery, expert discovery and the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure. His recent speaking engagements include:
Past Events
May 10, 2011, "Bench-Bar Dialogue" at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Damon W.D. Wright
November 18, 2010, "Effective Mediation Skills and Strategies" at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Damon W.D. Wright
December 2, 2009, Venable Diversity Committee Discussion Featuring
To Kill A Mockingbird
Damon W.D. Wright
May 8, 2008, "Bench Bar Dialogue" at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Damon W.D. Wright
March 28, 2008, "Uncivil Litigation: Misconduct and How Courts are Responding," Washington Legal Foundation
Damon W.D. Wright
January 26, 2007, "The New Federal e-Discovery Rules: Are You Ready?" Information Technology Association of America, ITAA Tech Law
Damon W.D. Wright
(Also at Vienna, Virginia Office)