Former Bronx Assistant District Attorney handles full range of trademark and licensing disputes, as well as trade secrets and privacy rights; regularly works with major law enforcement agencies in confiscating counterfeit goods
New York, (May 25, 2011) – Venable LLP announced that experienced trademark and copyright attorney Marcella Ballard has joined the firm as a partner in the New York office. She arrives from Baker & McKenzie, where she was also a partner.
Ms. Ballard has represented clients in bench and jury trials across the full range of trademark and copyright disputes, including trade secret cases, privacy rights, licensing disputes and contract and business tort claims. She has also handled motions for emergency injunctive relief and acted as lead counsel in ex parte seizure and TRO relief matters.
Additionally, Ms. Ballard frequently works alongside law enforcement officials, including U.S. Marshalls, the FBI, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, in directing raids on counterfeiters. In one major action, she coordinated the simultaneous seizure of counterfeited goods in 11 locations in a single day.
Noteworthy matters include representing a global software manufacturer in a licensing dispute with a South American distributor; representing the IP rights owner of various children’s books and characters in a successful multimillion-dollar copyright, trade dress and unfair competition action against an infringer; representing a global film studio in a successful defense of an action brought by licensee; and representing a luxury retailer in a class action under the Song Beverly Credit Card Act.
"Marcella is a great addition to the firm's growing New York intellectual property practice. Clients trust her to handle sensitive and critical trademark battles, and she has experience across multiple industries," said Edmund O’Toole, managing partner of Venable’s New York office. "Her background as a criminal prosecutor is a great asset for an IP litigator and she has a particularly noteworthy track record helping companies pursue claims involving product piracy and counterfeiting, which remain a huge global problem for branded manufacturers."
At Baker, Ms. Ballard worked closely with the new head of Venable’s New York Intellectual Property Group, Frank Gasparo, a veteran patent litigator who joined the firm in March.
Ms. Ballard commented that "Venable has a superb litigation platform and a first-rate, national IP practice, including strengths in helping companies and licensees enforce their IP rights. I’m pleased to be rejoining my former partner Frank Gasparo and I’m looking forward to further building the firm’s IP profile in New York."
Ms. Ballard received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1988 and her B.A from The Ohio State University in 1985. She began her career as a New York City Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, where she tried some 15 jury trials to conclusion.
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