Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Jack A. Wheat

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". . . has an analytical mind and does a good job in his field."

  - ChambersUSA 2010

". . . leads the IP and technology group."

  - ChambersUSA 2005

Jack Wheat is a member and former Co-Chair (2000-2012) of the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group.  The IP Group concentrates on domestic and international intellectual property portfolio maintenance, including patent prosecution, trademark and copyright registration services, licensing and franchising, as well as the nationwide handling of litigation involving infringement and trade secret misappropriation. He is designated as a Kentucky Super Lawyer and in 2008, 2011 and 2012, Kentucky Super Lawyers recognized Jack as one of the "Top 50" lawyers in Kentucky.  Jack is also rated as one of The Best Lawyers in America^® for Intellectual Property Litigation (2007-2013), is recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and is listed in Louisville Magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2013 in the category of Copyright/Trademark Law. In 2013, he was named to the inaugural "IP Stars" list by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.

Representative Assignments

• Lead counsel in the successful defense of Adams USA in a patent infringement case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. Nelson v. Adams USA Inc. 529 U.S. 460 (2000)
• Lead counsel in a series of precedent setting lawsuits establishing the right of fraternities and sororities to prevent unauthorized production and marketing of merchandise bearing their insignia. Pure Country Inc. d/b/a Pure Country Weavers v. Sigma Chi Fraternity, 312 F.3d 952 (8th Cir. 2002); Abraham v. Alpha Chi Omega, et al., 781 F.Supp.2d 396 (N.D. Tx. 2011) and Sigma Chi Fraternity v. Sethscot Collection, No. 98-2102-CIV-SEITZ, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6332 (S.D. Fla. April 7, 2000) aff'd No. 01-12865, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 22234 (11th Cir. August 28, 2002)
• Successfully enjoined a new bank from use in its name the name of the city where it was located. Winchester Federal Savings Bank v. Winchester Bank, 359 F.Supp.2d 561 (E.D.Ky. 2004)

Representative Speaking Engagements and Publications

• "IP 101: A Non-Specialist's Guide to the Basics of Intellectual Property Law," co-presenter, 2010 Kentucky Bar Association Convention, June 16, 2010
• "Intellectual property audits can identify assets to be protected," Business First of Louisville, August 21, 2009
• "All in the name," Thoroughbred Times, March 29, 2008
• "Franchising vs. owning your own business—pros and cons," Business First of Louisville, December 4, 2006
• "Protect yourself from competition by former employees," Business First of Louisville, April 1, 2005
• "To franchise or not is a big question," Business First, August 6, 2004
• "Ethical Considerations in Intellectual Property Law," presented at Louisville Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, June 19, 2003
• "Supreme I.P." lecture on experience arguing at United States Supreme Court presented at Louisville Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, February 19, 2003

Before Stites & Harbison

Jack was the founder of the largest intellectual property boutique law firm in Kentucky, Wheat, Smith & Beres, which merged into Stites & Harbison on January 1, 2000.

More than Stites & Harbison

Since 1984, Jack has been an Adjunct Professor of Intellectual Property at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and is the coach of the school's Lefkowitz Trademark Law Moot Court Team which were the National Champions for 2011 and placed third nationally in 2010.

For the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Jack is an Ordained Elder, is a former Commissioner and Moderator (Chief Judge) of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky and is a former Commissioner of the Synod of the Living Waters Permanent Judicial Commission (ecclesiastical court) and .

Jack is a member of the Order of Constantine of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and is Legal Counsel to the fraternity's Licensing Committee. He previously served as Grand Praetor (regional supervisor) of the fraternity's Kentucky Province.

Besides Stites & Harbison

Jack is an avid fan of University of Louisville athletics.  He gave up playing golf and replaced it with the "therapy" of yard work, gardening and fishing.

For more information about Jack's practice, click here.