Jon is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with expertise in patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright litigation. Jon has special expertise in complex Section 337 intellectual property investigations brought before the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) having tried investigations before no less than six different administrative law judges. In addition, Jon has successfully tried numerous intellectual property, antitrust, commercial and environmental cases to juries and judges throughout the country. Jon is experienced in all aspects of civil litigation, including preliminary injunctions, discovery, claim construction, expert witnesses, and dispositive motion practice. Jon also has special expertise with proceeding brought before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Jon was previously recognized by the District of Columbia Super Lawyers six years in a row. In 2021-2023, Jon was recommended for his trial work by WTR 1000. In 2023, Jon was recognized by Legal 500 for both Intellectual Property and IP Litigation. Jon is admitted to practice before courts located in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts and Texas.
In 2023, Jon prevailed in a § 337 investigation before the International Trade Commission on behalf of three wholly-owned subsidiaries of RealTruck stopping the unlawful trade practices of nineteen Chinese and domestic manufacturers, importers and sellers of infringing pick-up truck folding bed covers systems. See In the Matter of Certain Pick-Up Truck Folding Bed Cover Systems and Components Thereof, 337-TA-1353.
In 2022, Jon prevailed in a § 337 investigation before the International Trade Commission on behalf of Apeks, LLC stopping the unlawful trade practice of fifteen Chinese and domestic manufacturers, importers and sellers of infringing falling film evaporator systems. See In the Matter of Certain Centrifuge Utility Platform and Falling Film Evaporator Systems and Components Thereof, 337-TA-1311.
In 2021, Jon was awarded summary judgment on behalf of film maker Kingdom Story Company (I Can Only Imagine and American Underdog) on all counts in the defense of a trademark infringement lawsuit brought in the Southern District of Florida. See KingdomWorks Studios v. Kingdom Studios and Kingdom Inc., No. 19-14238-CV- Martinez/Maynard, 2021 WL 6926419 (S.D. Fla. Nov. 19 2021).
In 2020, Jon was awarded summary judgment on behalf of the leading event management platform Cvent, Inc. in the defense of a trademark infringement lawsuit brought in the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. See Tarsus Connect v. Cvent, Inc., 452 F. Supp. 3d 1334 (N.D. Ga. 2020).
Education & Credentials
Education
Roanoke College
B.A., 1982- cum laude
George Washington University
J.D., 1989- With Honors
- George Washington Law Review, 1988-1989
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- The Legal 500 United States
- Intellectual Property - Patents, Litigation, 2023
- WTR 1000
- "World’s Leading Trademark Attorneys," Washington; D.C.– Silver Band, 2021 - 2023
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers®
- Intellectual Property Litigation, 2014-2019
Representative Clients
- Advanced Digital Broadcast
- AT&T Mobility
- Cvent, Inc.
- Federal-Mogul Corporation
- Seacrets--Jamaica USA
- Truck Hero
Prominent Assignments
Representative Trademark Litigations
• Tarsus Connect, LLC v. Cvent, Inc. Won summary judgment in Northern District of Georgia before Judge Steven D. Grimberg in April 2020 on all claims including a finding that the asserted mark was generic.
• KingdomWorks Studios v. Kingdom Studios, presently representing Kingdom Story Company in a trademark dispute in the Southern District of Florida before the Honorable Jose Martinez.
• Cvent, Inc. v. OVH US LLC et al. Successfully obtained in federal district court in Virginia an ex parte temporary restraining order closing down fraudulent cryptocurrency initial coin offering.
• Navajo Nation v. Urban Outfitters, Inc. et al. Lead counsel for Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie in federal district court in New Mexico in trademark dispute involving the term “Navajo” and clothing accessories.
• Secrets Resorts v. O.C. Seacrets. Won as lead trial counsel before a Baltimore jury a special verdict of willful infringement and awarding punitive damages despite opinion of counsel defense.
• Cotton Inc. v. Cotton Real Estate. Successfully enjoined in federal district court in Massachusetts the unlawful trademark infringement of the famous Seal of Cotton.
• Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. John Labatt Ltd. Trial counsel in St. Louis jury verdict win finding that defendant lacked protectable rights in the term “ice beer.”
Representative 337 Investigations (“ITC”)
• In re Certain Folding Bed Cover Systems and Components Thereof. Represented Extang and BAK in patent and trademark unlawful import investigation including motion for temporary exclusion order obtaining consent orders and/or defaults.
• In re Certain Powered Covered Plates. Represented Ontel in patent infringement investigation.
• In re Windshield Wipers and Components Thereof. Won patent infringement unlawful import investigation trial for Federal-Mogul.
• In re Chassis Parts Incorporating Moveable Sockets and Components Thereof. Represented complainant Federal-Mogul’s proprietary ball joint manufacturing technology.
Representative Patent Litigations
• Extang Corporation, Undercover and Laurmark v. LEER. Representing in federal district court in Delaware several Truck Hero subsidiaries in patent infringement suit accusing pickup truck cargo box covers.
• Symbology v. Fresh Del Monte, Inc. Represented Fresh Del Monte, Inc. in federal court in Northern District of Ohio in patent dispute.
• Hybrid Audio, LLC v. Advanced Digital Broadcast SA et al. Represented Advanced Digital Broadcast in federal court in Delaware obtaining early dismissals of patent infringement claims accusing signal processing in set top boxes.
• 800 Adept v. ATT Mobility. Represented ATT Mobility in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas successfully arguing Markman resulting in early dismissal of patent infringement claims accusing cell tower routing of emergency 911 calls.
• Naos v. Magnussen International. Represented Naos in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia pressing summary judgment to result in accused infringer exiting the market within four months of filing suit with fully paid up license for past infringement.
• Industrial Part Depot v Federal Mogul Corp. Represented Federal-Mogul in patent infringement action in federal court in Ohio successfully enforcing Federal-Mogul’s proprietary friction-welded steel piston technology.
• Valeo, Inc. v Federal-Mogul Corp. Represented Federal-Mogul in patent infringement action in federal court in the Western District of Texas involving wiper blade technology.
Professional Involvement
- Member, Intellectual Property Owners Association, Patent Division, U.S. Post-Grant Patent Office Practice
- Member, International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
Pro Bono Work
Jon has been active in pro bono matters in the Washington, D.C. area
- Represented The Levine School of Music in the appeal of a special exception allowing the private music school to operate in a residentially-zoned neighborhood in Washington D.C.
- Represented a class of Maryland students and families in an action against the City of Baltimore to obtain their constitutionally guaranteed right to an adequate education
Publications/Presentations
Jon frequently writes and presents on intellectual property topics and serves on the faculty for various intellectual property programs sponsored by the Practicing Law Institute, Advanced Patent Law Institute, as well as other industry organizations.
- Author, “Autonomous Vehicle Intellectual Property,” The Voice of Technology, Northern Virginia Technology Counsel, May 2021
- Co-Presenter with the Honorable Theodore R. Essex, “Resolution of IP Disputes before the International Trade Commission,” (January 14, 2020).
- Co-Presenter, Intellectual Property and Autonomous Systems, Norther Virginia Technology Counsel (November 7, 2019).
- Presenter, "U.S. Trademark Enforcement," International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting, May 18, 2019.
- Presenter, “Section 337 Enforcement Proceedings for the International Trade Commission,” International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting, May 20–24, 2017.
- A Powerful Weapon Against Infringing Imports, Today’s General Counsel, June/July 2016 Edition.
- Moderator, Trademark Enforcement Before the International Trade Commission, International Trademark Association, Annual Meeting, May 2011, San Francisco, California.
- Presenter and Author, Patent Opinion Writing: An Update, Advanced Patent Law Institute, January 20-21, 2011, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Virginia.