Barry Werbin, Counsel

Acted as co-defense counsel for a major toy manufacturer in a Southern District of New York trade dress infringement case involving toy packaging claims. Following expedited discovery, the case was settled at the preliminary injunction stage on confidential terms, which had no meaningful economic impact on the client’s business.

Defended a famous NY-based high end retailer in a federal copyright infringement action involving a fabric design on a garment. Case was settled at the pleading stage for a modest sum paid by our client who had sold the garments to the retailer.

Represented Legends Hospitality Management, LLC in its equity interest acquisition in MainGate, Inc., a leading event retail and merchandise company. The acquisition will create a robust multi-channel retail and e-commerce platform to facilitate the connection between brands and fans.

Represent owner and operator of a professional NBA basketball team in a licensing and production agreement with a wholly-owned media subsidiary to produce broadcast-ready video and multi-media content for its own and other basketball teams.

Represented fantasy sports platform, Fulltime Fantasy Sports LLC, in a New York federal court action against a subsidiary of a large U.S. media conglomerate, which included claims of trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition and breach of an online publishing contract in a matter involving fantasy sports production and promotions. Counterclaims were also filed, but all claims were ultimately settled favorably for our client.

Represented long-standing client Legends Hospitality in its entry into a share purchase agreement with the private equity firm Sixth Street. Under the share purchase agreement, Sixth Street acquired a controlling interest in Legends Hospitality. This investment will support Legends continued growth as a premium experiences company that specializes in delivering holistic solutions for sports, entertainment and attractions clients. 

In connection with the acquisition, Legends Hospitality (i) issued senior secured long-term notes and (ii) entered into a revolving credit facility and PIK facility. The net proceeds were used to redeem certain outstanding equity securities of Legends Hospitality and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

In order to preserve Legends Hospitality’s liquidity and support its continued investment in accretive, long-term capital projects, affiliates of Sixth Street and other third parties will provide Legends Hospitality with access to funding provided by an investment vehicle. The funding will be used for capital expenditures, pre-opening costs and other disbursements contemplated by contracts entered into by Legends Hospitality.

Represented the shareholders of Michel Design Works Ltd, a leading omni-channel lifestyle brand, in connection with its stock sale to Stonewall Kitchen, a premier specialty food and home goods platform in North America.  Stonewall Kitchen is a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, which has invested over $7 billion in more than 140 platforms and over 1,000 add-on companies.  

Represented longtime client in the purchase of an online concrete fastener company that involved complex tax issues. Advised on intellectual property matters involving proprietary business systems and software.  

Represented owners of a high-end retail clothing company in the successful transfer of the assets and brand to a competitor. 

Represented Metropolitan National Bank in all its intellectual property needs. We help the bank register and protect all of its trademarks and service marks, oversee outside trademark litigation counsel when necessary, and negotiate service provider license agreements for banking software and technology solutions.

Represented The European Fine Arts Foundation (TEFAF) in the creation of a joint venture entity with Spring Show NYC LLC. The joint venture will own and operate a Fall and Spring art fair to be held annually at the Park Avenue Armory. TEFAF currently owns and operates the premier art fair in Europe (TEFAF Maastricht) and will be rebranded under the TEFAF brand through a license arrangement we also negotiated. This is a significant matter in the art fair/collector world as TEFAF is the gold standard among art fairs and plans to hold numerous large-scale events in New York in the future.

Represented eBrandValue, a company that monitors and catalogs content from social media networks to evaluate and analyze the efficacy of a business' brand marketing strategy, in the licensing of its IP assets and in related employment matters.

Represented Bounce Media Group, an operator of one of the largest private event yachts in the northeast, in securing its charter for the 2015 season, in executing a contract for its first cruise this year – the June 5 birthday party of famous hip hop artist, Jadakiss, and filing for trademark protection for the BOUNCE BOAT name.

Represented various non-U.S. businesses in protecting their IP rights in the U.S., including a well-known UK apparel designer, a famous British artist, French technology companies, a Scandinavian media company, a French filmmaker, and a public Canadian technology company.

Herrick successfully represented Buca, Inc., an affiliate of client Planet Hollywood, which operates the well-known "Buca di Beppo" chain of Italian restaurants and owns federal trademark registrations for BUCA, in compelling an Italian restaurant in Manhattan using the name "Buca Brick Oven" to change its name or face a trademark infringement action.

Herrick represented long-time client S. Rothschild & Co., a leading brand manufacturer of women's outerwear, in shutting down sales of counterfeit apparel being sold at various supermarkets under its LARRY LEVINE registered trademark.

Kelly v. Duprees MJA, LLC, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40597 (D. N.J. March 23, 2012). Represented the Estate of Michael Arnone, a co-founder of the famous 1960's vocal harmony group The Duprees, and its assignee, Duprees MJA, in obtaining summary judgment dismissing all claims alleging fraud on the USPTO, common law trademark infringement and violation of the New Jersey "Truth in Music" Act. The case was brought by a former singer who had joined the Duprees group in 1964, two years after they already had their first major hits, and left the group in the late 1970s, never to perform again. The dismissal on the merits brings to a close a six-year battle over the rights to the DUPREES name and rejects the notion that early members of a performing group can claim rights in the group's name if they abandon the group without securing a partnership agreement to the contrary or a license.

Represented Maharam Fabric Corp. and two corporate affiliates of UK designer Paul Smith in a copyright infringement action against a major textiles manufacturer for having knowingly copied a proprietary fabric design called "Modulating Stripes" owned by Paul Smith that was exclusively developed for, and licensed globally to, Maharam. Soon after an answer was filed, we negotiated a favorable settlement, which included defendant's destruction of remaining inventory and an agreement to never again copy any original Maharam or Paul Smith designs.

Represented SFF Investments LLC, which is wholly owned by a current All-Pro NFL player, in a joint venture to create a Rolling Stone-branded restaurant and bar in Hollywood, CA.

Represented Fashionware Technologies Corp., a boutique technology solutions developer specializing in the fashion industry, in connection with intellectual property, marketing and corporate matters related to its proprietary Fashionware PLM software suite designed to manage the life cycle of products for apparel, footwear and soft goods companies.

Represented a new media company that provides dynamic digital content and advertising through kiosks in high traffic areas, such as the airports, that can also charge electronics and download digital content. We helped the company with its initial round of financing, its formation strategy and IP filings as well as its strategic alliance agreement with one of the largest airport retailers.

Represented the New York Yankees on their agreement with a technology developer that developed software to essentially run Yankee Stadium.

Representation of medical device companies and neutraceutical venture in negotiating sponsored research agreements with major research universities and hospitals in the US and Canada.

Represented The ProImmune Company, LLC in its license of a food ingredient that boosts immune systems to a consortium of 18 medical schools. The schools will research the ingredient's ability to prevent and/or mitigate diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease that disproportionately affect minority populations.