overview

Jerry Cohen has had a broad spectrum career in intellectual property law and related activities including business organization, finance, regulation and business and legal ethics.

Jerry has more than 40 years of experience handling patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, antitrust and IP misuse, licensing/franchising, visual arts, software, databases and publication law, formation and operation of business enterprises and not-for-profit organizations, international trade, litigation/ADR, and legal ethics. He manages the acquisition, licensing and litigation of intellectual property rights. He has also served as an expert witness, arbitrator and mediator in intellectual property matters.

Jerry has had a long-term practice in IP and Corporate development for new enterprises. He also provides service as mediator/arbitrator (with AAA, JAMS) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

education

J.D., with distinction, George Washington University

B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

admissions

District of Columbia

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, D.C. and Federal Circuits

U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

honors & awards

Mass Bar Association Access to Justice Pro Bono Publico Award (2023)

Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education New England Scholar-Mentor Award (2023)

BPLA Pro Bono Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)

The Best Lawyers in America© Best Lawyer, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law (2009-2024)

Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2006-2023)

Massachusetts Bar Foundation Great Friend of Justice Award (2015)

Boston Bar Association Award for Service in Guantanamo Defense (2006)

Client Security Board William J. Ledoux Award (2004)

community involvement

Jerry has been very active throughout his career in pro bono activities with ACLU, Mass. Bar Foundation (former President and recipient of its Great Friend of Justice Award, Center for Constitutional Rights (including 12 years in volunteer lawyer defense of Guantanamo Bay detainees)).

experience

  • Representation of detainee’s at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station and Habeas Corpus case (2004-2012)
  • Defense of patent troll case (Cypaleo v. SNOM (E.D. Tex. 2016))
  • Several major IP case arbitrations in diverse technology areas
  • Expert witness testimony in Cyprus as to Mass./U.S. law
  • IP Aspects of M&A Transactions for Acquiring Company or Target

memberships

American Bar Association

  • Antitrust
  • Business
  • Intellectual Property
  • International, Science-Technology
  • Litigation sections
  • Franchising Forum

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Copyright Society

Court Service Center Planning Committee for the Trial Court

Fédération Internationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle

International Trademark Association

Licensing Executives Society

Massachusetts Bar Foundation

  • President (2012-2013)
  • Board of Trustees (2007 – 2011)
  • Executive Committee and Vice President

Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association

Rhode Island Bar Journal

  • Board of Editors

United States Patent Quarterly Advisory Board, has served since 1987

Boston Bar Association

  • International Law Section, (served as chair),
  • Business Law Section
  • Ethics Committee

Boston Patent Law Association, former President

Massachusetts Bar Association

  • Business Law Section, served as chair

Massachusetts Law Review

  • Editor-in-Chief
  • Board of Editors

Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, served four year term

articles

“Practitioners weigh strength of copyright suit vs. BigLaw firm”, Quoted, Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, January 2024

“Lawyers weigh strength of copyright suit filed against BigLaw firm”, Quoted, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, January 2024

“The Case For Early Mediation Or Arbitration In IP Disputes”, Author, Law360, March 2018

“Intellectual Property Practice,” Editor, MCLE, January 2016

“Modern Patent Law Precedent,” LegalWorks, February 2016

“International Trade Practice,” Sec. 337, Thomson Reuters, 2015

“Review of J.F. Witt’s ‘The Lincoln Code,'” Massachusetts Law Review Vol. 95 Num.4, April 29, 2014

“Introduction to Trademark Law,” Editor, Intellectual Property Practice, MCLE, October 2011

“Trademarks and related unfair competition law (no. 18-5th),” 5th Edition, Bureau of National Affairs, May 2011

“A patent lawyer at Guantanamo Bay,” PATNEWS Newsletter, August 2010

speaking engagements

“Drafting Joint Development Agreements in View of Recent Guidance from the Defend Trade Secrets Act and the International Trade Commission Jurisprudence,” Presenter, American Intellectual Property Law Association Webinar, October 2018

“An Introduction to Section 337 Investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission,” Speaker, International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association and Boston Patent Law Association Seminar, April 2018

“Using ADR to Resolve Intellectual Property Disputes,” Presenter, American Bar Association’s 20th Annual Spring Conference, April 2018

“Potential Effects of the Defend Trade Secrets Act on Section 337 Investigations – Analysis and Predictions,” Panelist, Federal Circuit Bar Association’s Program, October 2016

“Intellectual Property Law Overview for Nonprofits,” Speaker, The Lawyers Clearinghouse Seminar, February 2016

“The Ethics of Data Security and Trade Secret Protection for Lawyers,” Panelist, AIPLA 2015 Trade Secret Law Summit, November 2015

“Inside Counsel’s Guide to Trade Secret Protection Now and In the Future,” Speaker, Center For Competitive Management Webinar, September 2015

“Great Friend of Justice Award,” Keynote Speaker, Massachusetts Bar Foundation Annual Meeting, March, 2015

“Intellectual Property Law,” Speaker, Intellectual Property Law Association (IPLA), October 2014

“Overview of Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets,” Speaker, Chilean Entrepreneurial Summit, October 2014