Goodwin

Partner

Stefan Mentzer, a partner in Goodwin’s IP litigation practice, has represented clients in high-stakes, precedent-setting matters for more than two decades. Stefan advocates for clients in a wide range of commercial and intellectual property disputes, and across an array of industries, including for consumer electronics, online platform, ecommerce, media, music, medical device, pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, and financial services companies.

Among his work, Stefan successfully defended against copyright infringement claims involving renowned visual artist Jeff Koons, establishing a leading precedent on fair use (Blanch v. Koons). On behalf of one of the world’s largest stainless steel manufacturers, Stefan helped secure a total win against a competitor in a complex cross-border trade secret case. Stefan obtained a rare Alice step 2 reversal from the Federal Circuit for a Germany-based developer of multifactor authentication technology, which Law360 recognized as one of the “Biggest Patent Rulings of 2021.”

Stefan’s areas of focus include copyright, trade secrets, trademark, unfair competition, complex commercial disputes, and music licensing. Stefan has extensive experience in bench and jury trials and appeals, both state and federal, and he has practiced in proceedings before the International Trade Commission, the U.S. Copyright Office, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

BTI Consulting Group has named Stefan Mentzer among its “Client Service All-Star Attorneys” in a survey of top legal decision-makers at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue. The Financial Times “highly commended” Stefan’s stainless steel trade secret win (FT Innovative Lawyers North America), and WTR 1000 repeatedly has recognized Stefan among its “Recommended Individuals.” Stefan has received accolades for his legal writing, including a Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing, a first prize in the Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition for writing in the field of copyright law, and recognition by The National Law Journal for a “brief of the week” submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.

JD 2001 Georgetown University Law Center (cum laude); BA 1998 Yale University (cum laude)