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Kristi A. Davidson counsels and represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial matters and specializes in litigation involving copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, commercial contracts, fiduciary and professional duties, and unfair competition in the marketplace.
Publications & Speeches
Affiliations
New York County Bar Association
Attorney Advisory Committee, 2004-2005, Pennsylvania Securities Commission
Member, 2000-2002, American Inns of Court
Court Rules and Quality of Life/Quality of Practice Committees, 2001-2005, Allegheny County Bar Association
Education
J.D., 1999
College of William and Mary, 1998 nationals Moot Court team, Marshall Wythe Gambrell Professionalism award
B.S., summa cum laude, 1996
Truman State University, Phi Kappa Phi
Services/Industries
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Antitrust and Trade Regulation
Appellate
Commercial Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Litigation
Admissions
New York
Pennsylvania
In addition, Kristi has advised clients, including the YMCA, National Church Residences and a major health care provider in real estate tax exemption matters. Her practice extends across the United States, to clients and courts in venues including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. She has practiced before administrative, trial and appellate judges in both state and federal courts and has represented clients in alternative dispute resolution forums such as the American Arbitration Association and the National Association of Securities Dealers.
Kristi's representations have included:
In Mary Buck Thompson v. V.E.W. Ltd. et al., SDNY Case No. 06 CV 15336 (PAC), successfully defeating on behalf of Vera Wang's licensing company, V.E.W., the plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction alleging copyright infringement, false advertising and related state law claims, and obtaining early dismissal of trade dress infringement and unjust enrichment claims.
In Waterford Wedgwood plc v. Godinger Silver Art Co. Ltd., SDNY Case No. 06 CV 7056 (GBD), and the subsequent case Waterford Wedgwood USA v. Godinger Silver Art Co. Ltd. (Queens County), successfully representing Waterford against infringer of Waterford's industry leading LISMORE crystal pattern.
In MMZ Associates, Inc. v. Gelco Corporation et al., SDNY Case No. 06 CV 3414 (WHP), successfully negotiating a pre-deposition settlement of misappropriation of trade secrets and tortious interference with contract claims against client Wachovia Insurance Services, Inc.
In UBS Securities (SWAPS), Inc. v. State Street Bank and Trust Company, SDNY Case No. 06 CV 4007 (RH), successfully settling for nuisance value claims alleging breach of an interest rate swap agreement brought against State Street both as trustee of a trust formed pursuant to a pooling and servicing agreement and in its individual corporate capacity.
In a case of first impression, convincing the en banc Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (intermediate appellate court) to unanimously overrule decisions entered by two different trial courts (tried by other law firms) interpreting the newly adopted Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Allied Building Inspections v. Township of Millcreek et al., 912 A.2d 928 (Pa. Cmwlth. Ct. 2006) (table), opinion published in companion case at 912 A.2d 380 (Pa. Cmwlth. Ct. 2006).
In a Pennsylvania state court, enforcing, through emergency and preliminary injunctive relief, a de facto non-compete agreement under the "inevitable disclosure" doctrine, despite the former employee's refusal to execute a formal non-compete agreement.
As second-chair trial counsel, working to obtain in an Arizona state court a favorable settlement for a syndicate of seven financial institutions in litigation involving $200 million of revolving construction financing.
Maintaining through the appeals process the tax-exempt status of the Sewickley Valley YMCA and obtaining one of the first decisions from the Pennsylvania appellate courts on the interpretation and application of the Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act.
Successfully representing a national publisher and author in an action brought by death-row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who sought to enjoin publication of a book about his murder trial.
Obtaining a jury verdict award of over $2.3 million of compensatory and punitive damages in a complex six-week trial for a medical device manufacturer against a venture capitalist who misappropriated trade secrets while reviewing, under the terms of a confidentiality agreement, technology associated with the development and marketing of the world's first wearable defibrillator.
Kristi also has represented clients pro bono publico. Most recently, she obtained from the New York Supreme Court, affirmed by the Appellate Division of the First Department, an order directing the State of New York to release "forthwith" a former prisoner who had been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility.
In 2003, Kristi was one of 22 women professionals chosen for the second Women in Leadership Program, a collaborative project among the Executive Women's Council, Duquesne University's NonProfit Leadership Institute and the Coro Center for Civic Leadership. Kristi also co-chairs the New York office's Women's Business Development Committee. An accomplished musician and former student of ballet, Kristi has volunteered with several arts organizations. |
