|
DAVID
LEASON
PARTNER
Direct Dial: 914.821.9070
Leason@LeasonEllis.com
Download vCard
(Printable
Version)
PROFESSIONAL
PROFILE:
DAVID LEASON is the Managing Partner of the firm. He has a diverse
intellectual property law practice, handling patent, trademark, copyright,
trade secret and unfair competition matters for a wide variety of clients.
He has served clients that range in size from Fortune 100 companies
to mid-sized companies, startups, and technology and venture capital
firms. Mr. Leason is experienced with a broad spectrum of
technologies
including software, consumer electronics, microprocessor systems, mechanical
and industrial systems, surgical tools and appliances, financial instruments
and business methods.
In his practice, Mr. Leason handles all of his clients’ intellectual
property needs with a focus not only on intellectual property issues,
but on his clients’ strategic business issues. In each project that
he undertakes, he draws from his extensive experience, whether it is
intellectual property portfolio
development, obtaining protection for a new idea, pursuing
a licensing opportunity for a client, developing a
litigation strategy,
or identifying a non-infringing re-design to avoid a competitor’s patent
claims. Mr. Leason provides thoroughly considered
opinions on patentability,
freedom to operate, infringement and validity issues. For every client,
Mr. Leason leverages his knowledge, creativity and perseverance to maximize
the protection that his clients can obtain for their technology.
Mr. Leason is well known in his field. He has published articles in
leading journals and has lectured on intellectual property topics at
Duke University. He has also served as a lecturer for the Practicing
Law Institute. Before founding Leason Ellis LLP in early 2008, Mr.
Leason was at Darby & Darby, P.C. since 1992, and was a principal of
that firm since January 2001. Before that, while in Law School,
David clerked for Judge Paul R. Michel of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, now Chief Judge, in connection with
an Alexanders Fellowship award from his law school.
Intellectual
Property Portfolio Development
Mr. Leason has extensive experience in auditing companies to identify
intellectual property assets that are not adequately protected.
He has assisted many companies in developing intellectual property portfolios
and in acquisition of third-party portfolios to extract value for the
company. Mr. Leason has managed and prosecuted to issuance patent
applications throughout the world. He has interviewed numerous Patent
Examiners and has argued many cases before the Patent Office Board of
Patent Appeals and Interferences. Mr. Leason also has significant experience
in prosecuting ex parte and inter partes reexamination
proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for both patentees
and challengers.
Opinions and Due Diligence
Mr. Leason has conducted and supervised a large number of opinions
based upon patentability studies, freedom-to-operate studies, and due
diligence. He has authored numerous opinions concerning non-infringement
and invalidity of patent claims. In connection with this work, Mr. Leason
has worked extensively with engineers and developers to re-design products,
software, and manufacturing methods to reduce exposure to infringement
risks.
Litigation Strategy
Mr. Leason is keenly aware of the economics of litigation and works
closely with his clients to understand the licensing and settlement
alternatives to a full-blown litigation. If litigation is required to
advance or defend a client’s interests, he has experience in litigation,
strategy, and in rendering second-opinions concerning infringement and
validity issues. He also has industry partners who provide local representation
throughout the country. Mr. Leason has participated in all aspects of
claims involving patent, copyright, trade dress, unfair competition,
and false advertising issues, including: budget assessment; case management;
pretrial and trial strategy; pleadings; document discovery; depositions;
expert reports; pre-trial motion practice; and court appearances.
BAR ADMISSIONS:
New York
Registered Patent Attorney: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
EDUCATION:
J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 1992
M.S.E.., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas, 1989
B.S.E., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Duke University,
1987
|
