The Intellectual Property Section of the Georgia Bar was founded in 1964 to provide information about intellectual property law to its members and to the community. Today the Section continues those goals and now boasts over 1000 members. The Section’s educational events, which are open to Section members as well as non-members, provide timely legal updates regarding copyright, patents, trademarks, and intellectual property licensing and litigation. The Section also provides newsletters, networking opportunities, and podcasts of educational materials. The Intellectual Property Section is considered one of the most active sections of the Georgia Bar. The State Bar has recognized the Intellectual Property Section as Section of the Year for 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and three other times in the past (2003; 2006, jointly with Family Law Section). The Section has also received three Achievement Awards (2002; 2004; and 2007).
Section By-laws
A Special Thanks to the 2020 IP Section Sponsors:
DIAMOND
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, LLP
GOLD
Ballard Spahr, LLP
SILVER
Alston & Bird, LLP | Fish & Richardson PC | King & Spalding LLP
BRONZE
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health | Coresearch | Dority & Manning PA | Hill Kertscher & Wharton LLP | Kent & Risley LLC | Lee & Hayes, PC | Meunier Carlin & Curfman, LLC | Murgitroyd | Pabst Patent Group LLP | Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs, LLP | Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP | Taylor English Duma, LLP
Become an IP Section 2021 Sponsor! Click here for details on annual sponsorship levels and benefits.
Section Officers 2020-2021
| Rich Miller – Chair Ballard Spahr LLP millerrw@ballardspahr.com |
| Chris Curfman – Chair-Elect Meunier Carline & Curfman ccurfman@mcciplaw.com |
| Clark Wilson — Vice Chair NeoMed Inc cwilson@neomedinc.com |
| Chris Lightner — Secretary Alston & Bird chris.lightner@alston.com |
| Katie Bates — Treasurer Meunier Carline & Curfman kbates@mcciplaw.com |
| Mary Jo Sullivan — Sections Director State Bar of Georgia maryjos@gabar.org |
Section Committees 2020-2021
| Liz Wheeler — Copyright, Co-Chair WarnerMedia Liz.Wheeler@turner.com |
Rachel Geist — Copyright, Co-Chair Chick-fil-A, Inc. rachel.geist@cfacorp.com |
| Andrew Strickland — Patent, Chair Lee & Hayes andrew.strickland@leehayes.com |
Josh Curry — Patent, Vice Chair Lewis Brisbois josh.curry@lewisbrisbois.com |
| Auma Reggy — Trademark, Chair McKesson auma.reggy@mckesson.com |
Jason Rosenberg — Trademark, Vice Chair Alston & Bird jason.rosenberg@alston.com |
| Matthew P. Warenzak — Community Outreach, Chair Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP mwarenzak@sgrlaw.com |
|
| Michael Cicero — Trade Secrets, Chair Taylor English Duma LLP mcicero@taylorenglish.com |
Neal Weinrich — Trade Secrets, Vice Chair Berman Fink Van Horn PC nweinrich@bfvlaw.com |
| Kaitlyn Haase — Communications, Chair Ernst & Young LLP Kaitlyn.a.haase@ey.com |
|
| Alison Danaceau — In-House, Chair Avolin alison.danaceau@avolin.com |
Joe Staley — In-House, Vice Chair Lingomod | Recorders.com joestaley@gmail.com |
| Jason Cooper – Young Lawyers Division, Co-Chair The Sladkus Law Group jason@sladlaw.com |
Amy Lester-Drew –Young Lawyers Division, Co- Chair The Sladkus Law Group alester-drew@sladlaw.com |
Click here for a list of Section Chairs 1964-2014
See the podcasts below for an introduction to IP law:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSyhWPwJ3zU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUFUnZQnxEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnxcQTbd0jw&t=39s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr1xAHJtAoc&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJN1VKflm9U&t=2s