Expert Details
Apparel Business: Standards, Licensing, Trademarks, Trade Dress, Copyrights
ID: 724823
California, USA
During his 25 years of experience, Expert has become intimately familiar with the many business problems - and legal issues - which fashion companies may face. The start of his apparel industry experience was nine remarkable years as part of the senior management of Guess?, Inc. Guess? went through amazing growth during this period, one year alone its sales grew 400%! In these nine years, Guess? transformed from a fad into a mainstay fashion company. Those who were fortunate enough to work there saw a variety of challenges, problems and issues which most apparel companies do not encounter over decades. This incredible environment immersed him into a wide array of apparel business matters including apparel designs, design creation, design protection, brand establishment and protection, advertising, domestic and foreign manufacturing, factory monitoring, quality control, export, import, customs issues, product sourcing, corporate structure, apparel company management, including officer and director obligations and performance, domestic and foreign distribution, licensing, trade secrets, personnel, independent sales representatives, retail sales, retail customer relations and wholesales.
Since leaving Guess?, he has advised a variety of other apparel companies from publicly held companies such as Gymboree to fast growing companies like Earl Jean to start up companies.
Expert has worked closely with prominent designers, and understands the importance of protecting the products of creative minds. He can review performance of virtually all apparel industry agreements to determine if it is consistent with the standards of the industry. He has worked extensively on most facets of the clothing business and can provide expert testimony and analysis about a wide array of matters including contracts, manufacturing, import, management performance, export, sales, distribution, factory conditions, similarity of apparel lines and protection of designs.
Expert's work on trademarks and copyrights has encompassed: international and domestic registration, secondary meaning, infringement, dilution, searches, and investigations, due diligence, trade dress and counterfeiting in a variety of businesses such as software, food, real estate, concert promotion and apparel. He has testified for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Regarding copyrights, Expert has provided opinions on originality and substantial similarity.
His work on trademarks and copyrights has encompassed: international and domestic registration, secondary meaning, infringement, dilution, searches, and investigations, due diligence, trade dress and counterfeiting in a variety of businesses such as software, food, real estate, concert promotion and apparel. He has testified for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Standards of Practice of Apparel Business Lawyers, Intellectual Property Lawyers and Licensing Lawyers: Based on his 25 years of in depth experience as a lawyer in the apparel business and with intellectual property and licensing law, he can provide expert opinions as to the standard of care of lawyers in these areas. He has provided such opinions for both defendants and plaintiffs
Standards of Practice of Lawyers Supervising Private Investigators: Expert has managed hundreds of investigations of related to civil and criminal matters and tens of thousands of non-litigated matters. He has trained other investigators, attorneys, police and U.S. Customs agents in intellectual property investigations. Due to his vast experience in this area, he is qualified to testify about the generally accepted standards of supervision of private investigators, for example, whether the attorneys and companies who have hired an investigator have been negligent in their supervision.
Design patents: defenses based on lack on originality, identify and analyze obviousness and prior art.
Expert was retained as an expert in licensing for the Vatican, Converse and Jones Apparel. He was retained as an apparel expert for Sears, Kohl's and Jones Apparel.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 1974 | Degree: A.B. | Subject: philosohy | Institution: Occidental College |
Year: 1978 | Degree: JD | Subject: law | Institution: University of Chicago Law School |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 1993 to 2009 | Employer: Self | Title: Expert Witness/Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provided upon request |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1984 to 1993 | Employer: Guess ?, Inc. | Title: various | Department: Senior Executive |
Responsibilities:Provided upon request |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
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Years: to Present | Country / Region: World | Summary: Has extensive international experience in the apparel business, trademarks and licensing. Details provided upon request. |
Career Accomplishments
Licenses / Certifications |
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Licensed Real Estate Broker |
Publications and Patents Summary |
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Publications in: Los Angeles Lawyer, 2005. Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2007. Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2006. Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2004. |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
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Has been a consultant and expert witness for more than 15 years. He has testified at judge and jury trials, hearings, arbitration and participated in mediation. His experience includes federal and state court and civil and criminal cases. |
Other Relevant Experience |
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Can identify important issues and suggest discovery in his areas of expertise. |
Fields of Expertise
brand extension licensing, intellectual property licensing, international licensing, conventional licensing, license, licensee (tort law), licensing, royalty rate, clothing industry, footwear manufacturing, garment cutting, garment discoloring, garment processing, garment product development, industry, production sewing, retailing, clothing manufacturing, cutting, denim, apparel product retailing, clothing, dye, fashion, fashion industry, garment, garment company startup, garment contractor sourcing, processing, quality control, statute, textile industry, woven fabric, apparel quality control, apparel regulation, apparel standard, contributory infringement, infringement enforcement, intellectual property, standard, trademark, trademark infringement, copyright, copyright infringement, copyright law, international copyright, software copyright, direct infringement, trademark law, dispute, legal malpractice, patent infringement