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Joined Graham & Dunn, 2001 Admitted to Practice: Washington, 1996 (U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington; US District Court, Eastern District of Washington); US Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit) Michael represents clients in disputes involving claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition in state and federal court. He also represents trademark owners in proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Outside of the office, Michael teaches trademark and unfair competition law at the University of Washington School of Law. He publishes the Seattle Trademark Lawyer (www.seattletrademarklawyer.com), a blog that reports on developments in trademark law. Michael focuses his practice as follows: Trademark Litigation Michael represents trademark owners in the full gamut of trademark disputes, including trademark infringement, trade name infringement, false designation of origin, unfair competition, cybersquatting, and breaches of contract. He also counsels clients seeking state and federal protection of their trademarks and other intellectual property. Illustrative examples of Michael’s trademark litigation experience include defending an oyster grower against false designation of origin claims in federal court, prosecuting a restaurateur’s trademark and trade name infringement claims in federal court, and helping a software company challenge a competitor’s application to register a confusingly similar trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Media Litigation Michael assists television, radio, and newspaper clients in disputes involving a wide variety of defamation, false light, public records, and First Amendment issues. Commercial Litigation Michael partners with business clients to resolve disputes in litigation, arbitration, and mediation. His significant litigation experience includes prosecuting antitrust and breach of contract claims on behalf of a chemical distributor in federal court, prosecuting breach of contract claims on behalf of a real estate joint venturer in arbitration, defending a chemical manufacturer against product liability claims in federal court, prosecuting a telecommunications provider’s breach of contract claims in federal court, and prosecuting breach of warranty claims on behalf of a public utility in federal court. In 2005, Michael won a trial on behalf of an institutional client in a commercial landlord-tenant dispute in King County Superior Court and obtained an award of attorney’s fees and litigation costs. Professional and Community Activities Washington State Bar Association American Bar Association Member, International Trademark Association Board Member, Feet First: Puget Sound Pedestrian Advocacy Member, Washington State Ferries Colman Dock Citizens Advisory Group Former Chair, WSBA Electronic Communications Committee Former Board Member, Washington Coalition for Open Government Presentations and Publications Contributing Author, L.M. Brownlee, Intellectual Property Due Diligence in Corporate Transactions (West 2007) (section on trademark dilution) Author, " Bush Signs Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006," Cyber-Graham (October 9, 2006) Presenter, "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Washington: Trade Secrecy and Privacy," Lorman Education Services (Tacoma, August 3, 2006) Presenter, "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Washington: Trade Secrecy and Privacy," Lorman Education Services (Seattle, June 15, 2006) Presenter, "The Nuts and Bolts of Remedies in Trademark Infringement Litigation," Intellectual Property Law Society (Seattle, February 24, 2006) Co-author, "The Motion In Limine: The Sharpest Tool in the Defendant's Toolbox," For the Defense (Defense Research Institute, July 2004) Author, "Keeping Abreast of Recent Decency Law Developments in Light of Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Halftime Show," Cyber- Graham (February 3, 2004) Author, "New Federal Spam Act Governs Commercial Email," Cyber-Graham (January 13, 2004) Recognition Washington Law & Politics, "Rising Star" 2005 - 2008 Washington State Bar Association, "Random Acts of Professionalism" 2004 Education J.D., University of Minnesota, 1996 B.A., cum laude, St. John's University, 1991 |
