Justin Pierce's practice covers a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patent litigation, trademarks and brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, copyrights, design rights, trade secrets, licensing, rights of publicity, domain name and social media disputes, and international government affairs work relating to intellectual property matters. Mr. Pierce also has significant experience in the application of intellectual property analytics and the development of intellectual property strategy.
Mr. Pierce has a unique combination of in-house and outside counsel experience in managing intellectual property assets and portfolios for large and small companies. Further, Mr. Pierce is a multifaceted intellectual property counsel with significant expertise in handling an array of intellectual property matters.
As a patent litigator, Mr. Pierce has represented a number of clients in the consumer products, electronics, media, mobile device, pharmaceutical, software and telecommunications fields. As a brand protection attorney, Mr. Pierce developed and implemented a global trademark and brand protection strategy for a major multinational manufacturer of mobile devices. And, as an IP transactions attorney, Mr. Pierce has extensive experience in licensing and leveraging IP assets in order to support the overall business goals of clients.
Mr. Pierce has managed complex intellectual property licensing and litigation on an international scale in matters dealing with patents, trademarks and copyrights; and handled cases in various international proceedings, U.S. federal courts and the U.S. International Trade Commission. While serving as an in-house counsel and department head for a major multinational corporation, Mr. Pierce led a government relations initiative that enhanced company brand protection efforts in key markets around the world. Further, drawing upon his international experience, Mr. Pierce also provides counsel regarding cross-border trade, customs, and outreach to foreign governments on intellectual property matters.
Mr. Pierce has significant experience in advising entrepreneurs and start-ups, as well as senior management, marketing, engineering, research and development teams of major corporations on how to acquire, develop and use intellectual property to achieve business objectives. Based on his in-house and management experience, Mr. Pierce has substantial knowledge of the business and strategy issues that challenge executives and their in-house legal teams. Mr. Pierce regularly speaks and writes on a number of intellectual property and brand protection issues.
Beyond his experience as an attorney, Mr. Pierce is also an inventor or co-inventor on pending patents dealing with mobile applications, augmented and virtual reality, gaming and anti-counterfeiting technology. Mr. Pierce is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, and attained the rank of Captain prior to going to the George Washington University Law School.
Significant Matters
Managed a number of intellectual property litigation matters on behalf of a major multinational mobile device manufacturer, including management of §337 patent litigation in the U.S. International Trade Commission, and intellectual property litigation in various U.S. federal district courts.
Represented a major defense contractor and defended against an infringement action brought in the Court of Federal Claims involving a patent relating to the use of night-vision goggles in conjunction with full-color cockpit displays. Honeywell Int'l Inc. v. U.S., 70 Fed. Cl. 424 (2006).
Represented a major pharmaceutical company and successfully established patent infringement by a generic drug company in a multi-month patent trial involving a multi-billion dollar anti-infective agent. 2004 WL 2973831 (N.D.W.Va.)
Represented a major wireless communications equipment provider and plaintiff in an infringement action concerning patents related to wireless technology under the IEEE 802.11 standard. Agere Systems Guardian Corp. v. Proxim, Inc. No. 01 339 RRM (D.Del.).
Represented a major wireless communications equipment provider and intervenor in an infringement action concerning wireless local area network technology. In re Certain Wireless Local Area Network Cards, ITC Investigation No. 337-TA-455.
Managed IP due diligence and review in a number of merger and acquisition transactions, including the provision of strategic advice concerning the scope and value of the target company IP, enforcement capability, infringement risks and impact of ongoing IP litigation.
Represented a major international digital publishing company in a government affairs and advocacy matter regarding international copyright law issues.
Managed international intellectual property and brand protection-related advocacy and government relations on behalf of a major multinational corporation.
Industries
Consumer Products and Services
Emerging Companies: Venable Venture Services
New Media, Media and Entertainment
Pharmaceuticals
Toys and Games
Memberships
American Bar Association
American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
International Trademark Association
News
April 27, 2012, Justin Pierce quoted in Star News Online on counterfeiting of everyday goods
March 7, 2012, Justin Pierce extensively quoted in World Trademark Review on use of outside counsel to raise trademark profile
February 7, 2012, Janet Satterthwaite to speak in Brussels, Belgium, on social media best practices
January 23, 2012, Venable Strengthens National Patent Prosecution/Litigation Practice with Addition of Five-Attorney Group, Including Three Partners
August 30, 2011, Justin Pierce and Mark Harrison quoted in The National Law Journal on law firms specializing in trademark filings
August 3, 2011, Justin Pierce's move to Venable continues to receive media coverage
July 28, 2011, Additional publications highlight Justin Pierce's return to Venable
July 22, 2011, Justin Pierce's return to Venable featured in multiple publications
July 21, 2011, Justin Pierce, Former Global Head of Trademarks & Brand Protection at Sony Ericsson, Rejoins Venable as IP Partner in Washington, DC
Publications
May 2012, IP Buzz - May 2012
Meaghan Hemmings Kent, Elissa Brockbank Reese, Lindsay B. Meyer, John F. Cooney, Kelly Suzanne Herman, Carrie A. Kroll, Janet F. Satterthwaite, Ariel S. Wolf, Justin E. Pierce, Marcella Ballard, Deborah A. Feinblum, Gregory J. Sater,Randal M. Shaheen, Amy Ralph Mudge, Annie H. Lee, Damon W.D. Wright
IP Buzz
May 21, 2012, The Trend In Top Brands - Use More Inventive Naming
Andrew D. Price, Justin E. Pierce
April 2012, IP Buzz - April 2012
Meaghan Hemmings Kent, Clifton E. McCann, Elissa Brockbank Reese,Jacqueline Levasseur Patt, Peter Curtin, Brett A. Garner, Melissa C. McLaughlin,Deborah A. Feinblum, Justin E. Pierce, Marcella Ballard
IP Buzz
2012, United States chapter, "Anti-Counterfeiting 2012 - A Global Guide"
Justin E. Pierce, Marcella Ballard
World Trademark Review
March 2012, Working with External Counsel to Raise Corporate Profile
Justin E. Pierce
World Trademark Review
October 14, 2011, Combating Grey Market Goods
Justin E. Pierce, Elissa Brockbank Reese
IP Buzz
September 7, 2011, The "Bet the Company" Moment: Think Trademarks
Justin E. Pierce, Andrew D. Price
IP Buzz
October 2010, Worlds Apart? How to Bridge the Gap Between Legal and Marketing Departments
Justin E. Pierce
Corporate Counsel Magazine
August 2005, Intellectual Property Strategy Management
Justin E. Pierce
Global IP Asset Management Report
Events/Speaking Engagements
Past Events
April 18, 2012, "Efficient Management of Brand Protection Resources" at the AGMA Second Quarter Conference
Justin E. Pierce
January 24, 2012 - January 25, 2012, 8th Annual Anti-Counterfeiting & Brand Protection Summit
Justin E. Pierce, Marcella Ballard
September 26, 2011 - September 28, 2011, IQPC's 7th Anti-Counterfeiting & Brand Protection Conference - East Coast
Justin E. Pierce, Marcella Ballard
April 2011, "Copyright Law" for Meredith College
Justin E. Pierce
January 2011, "Online Brand Protection" for the 6th Annual Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Protection Conference
Justin E. Pierce
October 2010, "Best Practices in Lobbying and Cooperating with Other Brand Owners in Pushing for IP Law Reforms," Anti-Counterfeiting Conference: A Quest for Control in Asia in the Battle Against Counterfeiting
Justin E. Pierce
May 2010, "China- Trademark Law Update" at the INTA Annual Conference
Justin E. Pierce
February 2010, "Best Practices in Outsourcing IP & Legal Work to External Firms" for the INTA Workshop
Justin E. Pierce
October 2008, "Strategic Use of Brands in Commercial Expansion" for INTA China
Justin E. Pierce
June 2008, "Increasing the Value of Your Global Brands" at the IP Law Summit
Justin E. Pierce
February 2008, "Intellectual Property Enforcement" for the NC Intellectual Property Institute
Justin E. Pierce
February 2008, "Trademark Issues in Emerging Markets" for the INTA In-House Counsel Workshop
Justin E. Pierce
November 2007, "Trademarks & Brand Protection" for the UNC Law Student Intellectual Property Law Association at UNC Law School
Justin E. Pierce