Coblentz Patch Duff & Bass – Employment Agreements
Represented Coblentz Patch Duff & Bass LLP in review of California entity’s employment award agreements for New York employees.
Represented Coblentz Patch Duff & Bass LLP in review of California entity’s employment award agreements for New York employees.
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.
Following a 7-day trial in New York federal court, Herrick obtained a ruling dismissing all claims against our clients, an international diamond grading network and related individuals, in a hotly-contested trademark and unfair competition dispute in which the opposing party sought damages totaling nearly $140 million, as well as draconian and sweeping permanent injunctive relief, under the Lanham Act. Herrick delivered a ruling to our clients that removed the threat of a devastating damages award and judicial injunction, as well as any liability for the opposing party's attorneys' fees.
Representing New York Racing Association in a joint venture with Churchill Downs and Pinnacle.
Defended successful Turkish-American apparel company against federal court claims of trademark infringement and counterfeiting brought by a US hanger company involving garment hangers that the client’s factory had switched and imprinted with the plaintiff’s trademarks without the client’s knowledge. We were able to settle the claims confidentially at the pleading stage of the case, with a significant and creative part of the settlement tied to creating new business between our client and the plaintiff.
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 client in helping form, organize and establish Wifflis, a privately held e-commerce business that designs and produces premium pet supplies.
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.
Represented Legends Hospitality Management LLC in connection with a major new development in southern Florida.
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.
Represent a well-known sports and pop culture blog and website as lead counsel in a copyright infringement action filed in U.S. District Court in New York regarding a design created and sold by plaintiffs to client.
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 investment vehicle in its structuring and developing of a CBD line of products to be marketed at big box stores and kiosks and counseled on accompanying intellectual property issues.
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 Legends Hospitality Holding Company, LLC (“Legends Hospitality”) in majority investment by private equity firm Sixth Street in the global premium experiences company, co-founded by the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys. As reported by Legends, “[t]he new investment from Sixth Street will support the long-term growth of the Company’s global client relationships and further enhancements to its innovative 360-degree platform of premium experience offerings for the most iconic global brands in sports, entertainment, and attractions.”
Herrick has represented Legends since its inception in 2008, when our Sports Law Group worked with the Cowboys and the Yankees, along with two private equity firms, to form this ground-breaking joint venture. Initially, Legends focused on delivering enhanced concessions and premium experiences. Since its formation, Legends’ range of services has grown to include six worldwide divisions and it has partnered with many iconic international sports, entertainment and attractions brands.
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 Google Inc. before the NJ Appellate Division, which affirmed summary judgment granted by the New Jersey Superior Court in favor of Google, dismissing claims by an online merchant for breach of contract and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The appellate court upheld the terms and enforceability of Google’s online merchant "click-wrap" agreement, including its liability limitations, while rejecting plaintiff’s claim that it was an unenforceable contract of adhesion. D’Agostino v. Appliances by Phone, Inc., et al., 2016 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 504 (Mar. 8, 2016).
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 the New York Yankees in their lease agreements with wireless carriers in the new Yankee stadium.
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 Legends Hospitality in the review, assessment and protection of intellectual property rights in various unique One World Observatory visitor installations, including the Sky Pod elevators, the See Forever Theater and the City Pulse interactive display.
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 Doyle New York in its acquisition of selected assets of Summerfield's of Beverly Hills. We continue to advise Doyle in connection with local licensing and regulatory requirements.
Represented an asset management company in connection with its IP matters.
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.
Represented Nolining, a new high-end fashion house, in its formation and organization.
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.
Represented a client in the acquisition of a residence and 33-acre operating vineyard in Long Island's North Fork area.
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.
Represented JACHS NY, LLC (formerly, Shirt by Shirt USA LLC) in negotiating an exclusive distribution and trademark license agreement, covering mainland China and Chinese retail website markets, with Zhejiang Bestall E-commerce Co. Ltd., a major Chinese distributor and licensee.
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.
Representing the International Council of Museums in successfully obtaining the dismissal of claims brought in the US District Court (Southern District of NY), by a Canadian art verification expert for allegedly defamatory content re-posted on the Council's online public blog site that was operated out of France.
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 the producers and director of a documentary film in an action for copyright infringement tied to the use of certain pre and post 1972 sound recordings as background music under public television compulsory license provisions of the Copyright Act. We negotiated an early settlement that was satisfactory to our clients with no economic impact.
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 S. Rothschild & Co. in the negotiation of a three-year, renewable and exclusive trademark license agreement for the VIA SPIGA brand for use on women's and girl's leather, fabric and fur trim outerwear. S. Rothschild will be manufacture, market and sell the product in major retailers throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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 the New York Yankees in negotiating an agreement with the Daily News to license the Daily News' historic photo archive of Yankees players and stadium imagery and for the Daily News to be the exclusive provider of historical photos for prominent display in the new stadium.
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 Amano USA Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of a Japanese public company, in its acquisition of the outstanding capital stock of Accu-Time Systems, Inc. Accu-Time designs, manufactures, markets and distributes time and data collection terminals for the time and attendance, payroll clock, shop floor and controlled access marketplace.
Represented the New York Yankees on their agreement with a technology developer that developed software to essentially run Yankee Stadium.
Represented a major costume jewelry manufacturer in defending claims for copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets (SDNY).
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 Legends Hospitality LLC - a joint venture among the Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and two private equity firms—in setting up business operations (which include running concession services at stadiums, arenas and other large venues), obtaining necessary permits and authorizations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida, and protecting the company's intellectual property rights.
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.
Represented Fashionware Solutions Inc., in defeating the plaintiff-developer’s motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin our client’s use and exploitation of its own custom developed fashion industry software under South African copyright law. (S.D.N.Y.)
Represented Digital Dispatch Systems, Inc. in defeating the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction in a copyright action involving a computer screen interface. (Wireless TV Studios, Inc. v. Digital Dispatch Systems, Inc., E.D.N.Y.)
Represented a Canadian hydroelectric utility on the enforceability and possible breaches of interest rate swap agreements it had entered into with one of the largest US insurance companies, which eventually became subject to the US financial bailout program.
Represented a prominent website design/development and interactive marketing company in all of its development and marketing contract work, and related counseling and advice. Our work includes revising the company's standard form development agreements, and assessing their insurance coverages.