Related Information
Education
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University of California at Los Angeles
J.D. 1986
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Stanford University
A.B. 1983
Economics and Public Policy
Ralph H. Foss Memorial Scholar
Admissions
California
Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Supreme Court
Service Areas
- Intellectual Property & Technology
- Copyrights
- Entrepreneurial Services
- Fiduciary Duty, Trade Secret and Unfair Competition Litigation
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Licensing
- Privacy and Computer Security Law
- Trademarks
- Trade & Customs and Border Protection
Industry Experience
- Industrial / Manufacturing Facilities
- Sports & Sports Facilities
- Wholesalers / Distributors
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- International Trademark Association, Board of Directors (2010-2012); Chair, Membership Services Committee (2008-2009)
- Louisville Bar Association
- Federal Circuit Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- State Bar of California
Community Involvement
"An impressive litigator who is thorough and attentive to details."
- ChambersUSA 2010
"Every case he does, he does extremely well."
- ChambersUSA 2008
With more than 20 years of Intellectual Property experience and being listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (2001-2012) for Copyright Law, Information Technology Law, Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation and Trademark Law in 2012, Kentucky Super Lawyers magazine (2009-11) where he is listed among the Top 50 Attorneys in the State (2010-11) and ChambersUSA, "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," Joel Beres was a natural choice for Regional Counsel to Microsoft Corp. He advises the technology giant on trademark and software copyright infringement issues in Kentucky, Tennessee and southern Ohio. He also provides counsel to other technology-related companies.
A founding member and co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Service, he actively tries cases in both state and federal courts.He manages all aspects of litigation for both federal and state courts, including trial and appellate practice. He has also prepared and prosecuted trademark and copyright applications, prosecuted and defended trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, negotiated and prepared trademark and copyright assignment and license agreements, and negotiated and prepared software licensing and consulting agreements.
Recent Assignments
- Successfully obtained judgment as a matter of law for non-infringement of patents in jury trial before the Eastern District of Texas
- Successfully defended software copyright and trademarks in Microsoft v. Eagle Computer Systems, Inc.
- Successfully enforced patent rights in GLW Incorporated v. Euphonix, Inc., intellectual property protection program
- Handled one of the biggest mark transfers ever for ELECTROLUX
Recent Speaking Engagements
- "Protecting Trade Secrets," Louisville Bar Association Annual Day Long IP Seminar, May 2004
- "Trade Dress Protection," Louisville Bar Association, September 2003
- "A Bicycle Built for 1's and 0's: Telecommunications Convergence, Peer to Peer, and What is a Copy," Louisville Bar Association, May 2001
Before Stites & Harbison
Mr. Beres has over 20 years of intellectual property experience, handling matters throughout the nation. Before moving to Louisville, he was a partner in the Los Angeles-based firm of Woollacott, Jannol & Beres.
More than Stites & Harbison
Mr. Beres serves on the Board of Directors (2010-12) of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and was the Chair of Membership Services Committee (2008-08). He is a Davidson Fellow for Trademark Law at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville and is a founding member of the Stanford University Alumni Club in Louisville. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of St. Francis High School (2008-11) and served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Council on Economic Education.
Besides Stites & Harbison
Always the technophile, Mr. Beres enjoys tech gadgets and playing with the latest computer hardware and software. True to his Montana roots, he also enjoys fencing, but just the barbed wire variety.