Pro Bono & Community Engagement

Office of Pro Se Litigation of the U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York

It is generally not advisable to represent yourself in court, especially in federal court. Individuals facing litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York who cannot afford an attorney may request a pro bono attorney from the court. There is a longstanding tradition of lawyers volunteering to represent people who would otherwise be unable to obtain legal counsel, ensuring equal access to the courts. Leason Ellis has offered its legal services to the S.D.N.Y. Office of Pro Se Litigation to assist those who are least able to afford legal representation.

In one such case, Leason Ellis attorneys represented two New York-based fashion designers in a trademark infringement case brought by a third-party fashion designer over rights to the trademark LAVISH for apparel and accessories. At the close of expedited discovery, the parties reached an amicable settlement, which allowed defendants to continue to use and register the trademark LAVISH NYC. In his Order of Dismissal, Magistrate Judge Cott expressed his gratitude to legal counsel for providing their services pro bono.

Center for Anti-Counterfeiting
and Product Protection

Counterfeit goods can be devastating for brand owners who can suffer lost sales and reputational damage from shoddy fakes. They can also pose a grave danger to the health and safety of consumers who may unwittingly purchase substandard or adulterated products.

The Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection [A-CAPP] is a non-profit organization housed at Michigan State University. It is the first and only academic body focusing on the complex global issues of anti-counterfeiting and product protection of all products across all industries and markets.

On behalf of A-CAPP, we filed an amicus brief in support of the appellant in Nike, Inc. v. Wu, et al., Docket No. 20-602, which had petitioned to appeal an order by the Southern District of New York. The appeal raised the question of whether a third-party bank may be held in contempt for failing to comply with a court order freezing a counterfeiter’s assets. The brief reflected A-CAPP’s view that the District Court’s decision denying the trademark rights owner’s motion to hold banks in contempt warranted reversal not only because of legal error, but because affirming the lower court’s decision would rob rightsholders of one of the few effective tools they have in combatting counterfeiters and would instead lay out a roadmap for criminals, showing them precisely how to use New York branches of foreign banks to evade the reach of the law.

Save the
Elephants

Elephants live as long as humans, roam in large family groups, and communicate over long distances like whales using subsonic communication. Save the Elephants is a non-profit organization that conducts vital research on these majestic, intelligent, and complex creatures.

One of our partners is on the Save the Elephants board of trustees. Leason Ellis also performs pro bono work on behalf of the organization, including obtaining U.S. and foreign trademark protection, handling dispute resolution, and drafting license and promotional agreements. It is our pleasure to help Save the Elephants in its mission of securing a future for elephants in a rapidly changing world.

Volunteer Lawyers
for the Arts

Intellectual property only becomes a reality when creative people do new things worthy of protection. No community understands this better than artists and arts organizations.

As part of our continuing commitment to supporting the local arts community, Leason Ellis is delighted to partner with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts [VLA]. Through VLA, our practitioners enjoy the opportunity to work on arts-related pro bono matters for low-income artists and non-profit arts organizations. Whether it is advising them on pursuing copyright claims, negotiating license agreements, or dealing with other IP issues, our attorneys stand ready to support artists and cultural organizations in their various pursuits.

The Pro Bono
Partnership

Leason Ellis is honored to work with the Pro Bono Partnership. The Partnership brings together best-in-class and socially minded legal professionals to provide free legal advice to non-profit organizations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

Through our work with The Pro Bono Partnership, our firm volunteers its services in intellectual property matters to organizations that cannot otherwise afford legal counsel. This helps them more efficiently direct their resources to feed the hungry, house the homeless, promote the arts, protect the environment, and provide essential programs to their communities. Over the years, our attorneys have proudly taken up numerous volunteer opportunities to help non-profits referred by the Partnership with their various trademark and other intellectual property needs.

Alexandra's
Playground

Alexandra's Playground, a non-profit based in New York, works to bring the gift of play into the daily lives of children, particularly those growing up in underserved neighborhoods and under-resourced households. It is committed to creating safe environments for children to strengthen their bodies and minds. We were happy to represent Alexandra’s Playground, on a pro bono basis, by registering its name and logo as service marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Established in 2009 to commemorate the life of its founders' young daughter, Alexandra Vitale, the organization builds playgrounds in areas of need, supports opportunities for children to experience safe and active play, and raises awareness around these issues.

Over the years, Alexandra's Playground has funded and built more than thirty-five playgrounds and supported children in programs that encourage safe play. Its efforts have positively impacted the lives of more than 40,000 children and their families in the New York metropolitan region, across the United States, in Haiti, and in Afghanistan.