Gina Durham > DLA Piper LLP (US) > San Francisco, United States > Lawyer Profile

DLA Piper LLP (US) is well known for its advertising and marketing practice, specifically relating to its work in structuring and negotiating global sports, entertainment, and digital marketing deals. The firm’s experience in branded entertainment and esports initiatives is central to supporting its predominantly sport and sport-sponsorship client base. Additionally, the group is involved in emerging areas such as NFTs and the Metaverse. Benjamin Mulcahy, based in Los Angeles, and Gina Durham, based in San Francisco, co-chair the team. Mulcahey is recognized for his focus on sports media, sports marketing, and entertainment marketing deals for global corporations. He is active in the intersections of entertainment, sports, and advertising, often representing clients in matters regarding rights and sponsorship deals. Associate James Stewart, based in Washington DC, is a valuable member of the team, specializing in celebrity endorsements, student-athlete and influencer agreements, and sports and event sponsorship agreements. He also has expertise in IP issues and contractual rights.

DLA Piper LLP (US) harnesses the bench strength of a global network  to provide a full range of management and enforcement services and to safeguard the copyrights of major multinational clients (including Pfizer, Nike, and Midjourney) involved in high-stakes litigation. The practice’s active client base spans industries ranging from apparel, fitness, media and entertainment to hospitality, tech, consumer goods, and financial services. The team is led by seasoned intellectual property litigator Tamar Duvdevani in New York, who specializes in the fashion retail and consumer goods sectors. Gina Durham in San Francisco, deputy practice leader of the firm’s IP and technology group, who brings expertise to matters involving copyright, trade dress, false advertising, and AI. Kevin Fee in Washington DC, who draws on extensive copyright litigation experience at the trial and appellate levels. Also in DC, senior associate Rachel Fertig, who counsels clients across such sectors as art, tech, music, and media sectors, and associate Jane Wise, whose client base includes consumer products manufacturers, publishers, retailers, and financial institutions.

Co-led by seasoned ITC litigator and tech expert Erin Gibson in San Diego, DLA Piper LLP (US) has a broad ITC practice with expertise in a variety of issues relating to Section 337 actions. The group is particularly strong in tech and recently successfully defended Lenovo Group Ltd and Motorola Mobility LLC against a wide-reaching claim by Maxell Technologies. San Diego co-head Sean Cunningham frequently handles matters relating to tech, medical devices and power equipment at the ITC. Mark Fowler in Palo Alto is also an expert in medical devices and power equipment-related cases, acting for clients such as Honeywell and Samsung, and Helena Kiepura in Washington DC is a Section 337 expert. Practice co-heads Gina Durham and Michael Sitzman are based in San Francisco and handle a wide range of patent disputes. Daniel Valencia joined the the DC team in August 2023 from Covington & Burlington, and is another well versed trial lawyer at the ITC.

Leveraging its strong presence across the Americas, and the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, DLA Piper LLP (US) continues to advise clients in the generative AI space, and assists clients with NFT-related trademark filings, among a variety of other trademark litigation mandates. Tamar Duvdevani helms the practice from the firm’s New York office, harnessing her trademark and right-of-publicity litigation expertise to operate for Nike and other notable clients. Other key contacts include seasoned trademark and copyright litigator Gina Durham, who is based in San Francisco, and San Diego’s Melissa Reinckens, who contributes her wide-ranging experience across trademark, false advertising, and commercial litigation to the team. Washington DC’s Kevin Fee principally focuses on high-stakes trademark litigation before trial and appellate courts, and New York’s Marc Miller is well-versed in handling trademark litigation in federal and state courts.

Leveraging its expansive global network to assist notable clients such as Nike and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, DLA Piper LLP (US) is a premier choice for clients requiring assistance with trademarks relating to the blockchain, Web3, and NFTs and is also currently expanding its life sciences practice. Tamar Duvdevani helms the practice from the firm’s New York office, while key contact and branding strategist Keith Medansky and Michael Geller, who is regarded for his capabilities in managing trademark portfolios for multinational brands, operate from the firm’s Chicago office. In Washington DC, Thomas Zutic fields a varied practice that comprises IP licensing, strategic issues and domain name portfolio management, and in San Francisco, Gina Durham maintains a strong reputation in the technology, media, and retail sectors. Other names to note include Sacramento’s Carissa Bouwer and Washington DC’s Alberto Zacapa Zelaya.

The collective at DLA Piper LLP (US) has been significantly bolstered by the arrival to the West Coast offices of a 30-lawyer IP team from Dentons which includes well-known names in patent prosecution; Peter Yim who has impressive experience handling IPR, PGR and re-examination work arrived to the San Diego office; team lead at his former firm Brian Ho, alongside Randy Omid and Parker Kuhl to San Francisco; Christopher Eide to Palo Alto; and Michael Swett to Seattle. Another key name in San Diego is Lisa Haile who has particular expertise in tech-related cases. Biopharma, life sciences and manufacturing are all industry sectors the team’s workload covers; its cases frequently include assisting with the key elements of the granting of worldwide patents, managing and establishing portfolios and representing clients in the array of patent prosecution as well as litigation matters. Sean Cunningham in San Diego, San Francisco-based Gina Durham and Larissa Bifano who works from the firm’s Boston hub collectively oversee the practice.