Dean Russell advises multinational companies on implementing strategies for protecting intellectual property rights worldwide. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has served as an adjunct professor of intellectual property law at the University of Georgia School of Law and at the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Russell participated in developing computer simulations of the guidance and detonation equipment of the U.S. Army's PATRIOT missile system.
Mr. Russell is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Intellectual Property Law in 2012 and each of the 11 years immediately preceding. He was also recognized as a 2009 Georgia "Super Lawyer" for Intellectual Property law by SuperLawyers magazine. Mr. Russell was listed in the International Who's Who of Patent Lawyers in 2011 and also in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers for Patents in 2011. He was named Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year in 2011 by Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc. Mr. Russell is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Industries
Aerospace & Defense; Manufacturing
Experience
Acquisition of General Electric's Hydro Equipment Business, Represented Andritz AG in the acquisition of the hydro power equipment business of General Electric, including GE's majority interest in GE Hydro Inepar do Brasil S.A., its research, design and production facilities in Canada and a multibillion dollar contract backlog.
Grandparent adoption, Represents caregivers seeking to adopt children. One of the firm's signature pro bono programs is the Grandparent Adoption Program. Dozens of lawyers have been trained to represent grandparents and other relative caregivers who step up to raise young children in their extended family when the children's parents are unable or unwilling to do so. Working in partnership with local legal aid programs, lawyers accept referrals of eligible families, and prepare and file the required documents to effect the adoption. Hundreds of children's lives have been stabilized as a result of the firm's involvement.
Zodiac Pool Care Inc. v. Pentair Water Pool and Spa Inc., The firm served as lead counsel on behalf of Zodiac Pool Care Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of pool and recreational products, in a patent infringement litigation against a major competitor, Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. We filed suit asserting that four of Zodiac's patents related to automatic swimming pool cleaners covered several Pentair products. We obtained a favorable confidential settlement for the client early in the case.
Zodiac North America, Inc. v. Ontario Ltd., The firm served as lead counsel on behalf of Zodiac North America, a worldwide manufacturer of pool and recreational products, in an enforcement of their patent rights related to improved hulls for boats.
Zodiac North America, Inc. v. Ontario Limited, No. 08-0157 (W.D. Wash. filed Jan. 31, 2008).
Acquisition by an aerospace products and parts manufacturer, Represented an aerospace products and parts manufacturer in the acquisition of stock in a company engaged in the design, manufacture and assembly or aircraft galley equipment for corporate aircraft, regional jets and military transportation jets.
Acquisition by Zodiac Marine & Pool, Represented Zodiac Marine & Pool in its $327 million acquisition of Polaris Pool Holdings Corporation from private equity fund Quad-C Management.
Acquisition by Zodiac Aerospace, Represented Zodiac Aerospace in its acquisition of C&D Aerospace, an aircraft interiors manufacturer with operations in the United States, Canada, France, Brazil and Mexico.
Patent procurement and exploitation for defense contractors, Represents numerous defense contractors and a major government defense organization in obtaining and exploiting patents in the United States and abroad.
Sale of cross border business for Zodiac Marine & Pool, Represented Zodiac Marine & Pool in its sale of the "Sevylor" inflatables and towables business in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.
Acquisition advice for a worldwide manufacturer of pool and recreational products, Represented a large, worldwide manufacturer of pool and recreational products that sought to acquire an early-stage company whose initial products had only recently been introduced to the market. The early-stage company was the licensee of multiple patents but assured our client no royalties would be due for sales of any of the initial products. However, our assessment of the patents and of the license agreement was to the contrary. The firm advised our client that a substantial risk existed that the licensor would complain, helped our client craft specific warranty language for the acquisition agreement, and assisted our client in negotiating a separate escrow fund relating to any royalty claims. Within weeks of closing of the acquisition, our client received a demand letter from the licensor and was able to use the warranty to access the escrowed funds to resolve the matter.
*Experience gained by attorney prior to joining Kilpatrick Townsend
Publications
26 May 2011, Back to the Future: the Federal Circuit Clarifies and Raises Standards for Proving Inequitable Conduct by Defining Requirements that Amount to Fraud on the Patent Office, the Historic Linguistic Description of Conduct to Render Patents Unenforceable, Legal Alerts
01 January 2009, Choosing Between Trade Secret and Patent Protection
Source: Intellectual Property Desk Reference, Other Publications
01 January 2006, Choosing Between Trade Secret and Patent Protection
Source: Intellectual Property Desk Reference, Other Publications
01 January 2006, Patent Law Basics: An Overview of Patent Law and Avoiding the Loss of Rights
Source: Intellectual Property Desk Reference, Other Publications
News
31 October 2011, Atlanta Bar Association Recognizes Kilpatrick Townsend Attorneys and Staff for Extraordinary Pro Bono Representation and Service, News Releases
06 September 2011, Kilpatrick Townsend Earns Record-Breaking Recognition in Annual Best Lawyers in America 2012, News Releases
22 June 2011, Twenty-Seven Kilpatrick Townsend Attorneys Named to 2011 International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, News Releases
24 September 2010, Twenty-Seven Kilpatrick Stockton Attorneys Named to 2010 International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, News Releases
12 August 2010, Kilpatrick Stockton Earns Record-Breaking Recognition in Annual Best Lawyers in America 2011, News Releases
25 March 2010, Kilpatrick Stockton Elects 2010 Executive Committee Members, News Releases
02 March 2009, Kilpatrick Stockton Ranked Number One in Five Georgia Super Lawyer Categories, News Releases