David Leason's Email & Phone

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE: DAVID LEASON is the Managing Partner of the firm. He has a diverse intellectual property law practice, handling patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition matters for a wide variety of clients. He has served clients that range in size from Fortune 100 companies to mid-sized companies, startups, and technology and venture capital firms. Mr. Leason is experienced with a broad spectrum of technologies including software, consumer electronics, microprocessor systems, mechanical and industrial systems, surgical tools and appliances, financial instruments and business methods. In his practice, Mr. Leason handles all of his clients? intellectual property needs with a focus not only on intellectual property issues, but on his clients? strategic business issues. In each project that he undertakes, he draws from his extensive experience, whether it is intellectual property portfolio development, obtaining protection for a new idea, pursuing a licensing opportunity for a client, developing a litigation strategy, or identifying a non-infringing re-design to avoid a competitor's patent claims. Mr. Leason provides thoroughly considered opinions on patentability, freedom to operate, infringement and validity issues. For every client, Mr. Leason leverages his knowledge, creativity and perseverance to maximize the protection that his clients can obtain for their technology. Mr. Leason is well known in his field. He has published articles in leading journals and has lectured on intellectual property topics at Duke University. He has also served as a lecturer for the Practicing Law Institute. Before founding Leason Ellis LLP in early 2008, Mr. Leason was at Darby & Darby, P.C. since 1992, and was a principal of that firm since January 2001. Before that, while in Law School, David clerked for Judge Paul R. Michel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, now Chief Judge, in connection with an Alexanders Fellowship award from his law school. Intellectual Property Portfolio Development Mr. Leason has extensive experience in auditing companies to identify intellectual property assets that are not adequately protected. He has assisted many companies in developing intellectual property portfolios and in acquisition of third-party portfolios to extract value for the company. Mr. Leason has managed and prosecuted to issuance patent applications throughout the world. He has interviewed numerous Patent Examiners and has argued many cases before the Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. Mr. Leason also has significant experience in prosecuting ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for both patentees and challengers. Opinions and Due Diligence Mr. Leason has conducted and supervised a large number of opinions based upon patentability studies, freedom-to-operate studies, and due diligence. He has authored numerous opinions concerning non-infringement and invalidity of patent claims. In connection with this work, Mr. Leason has worked extensively with engineers and developers to re-design products, software, and manufacturing methods to reduce exposure to infringement risks. Litigation Strategy Mr. Leason is keenly aware of the economics of litigation and works closely with his clients to understand the licensing and settlement alternatives to a full-blown litigation. If litigation is required to advance or defend a client's interests, he has experience in litigation, strategy, and in rendering second-opinions concerning infringement and validity issues. He also has industry partners who provide local representation throughout the country. Mr. Leason has participated in all aspects of claims involving patent, copyright, trade dress, unfair competition, and false advertising issues, including: budget assessment; case management; pretrial and trial strategy; pleadings; document discovery; depositions; expert reports; pre-trial motion practice; and court appearances. BAR ADMISSIONS: New York Registered Patent Attorney: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit EDUCATION: J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 1992 M.S.E.., Electrical Engineering, University of Texas, 1989 B.S.E., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Duke University, 1987