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Nagle_David_BIO
Member

David W. Nagle Jr.

502-681-0321

David Nagle is a Registered Patent Attorney in the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group at Stites & Harbison, where he has practiced since the group’s inception in 2000. With more than 25 years of experience in patent and intellectual property matters, along with an advanced engineering degree, his knowledge and technical expertise allows him to deftly assist clients in navigating often complex business and legal issues.

David has extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications covering a wide range of subject matter, including machines, consumer products, medical devices, and software-implemented innovations. He guides clients through every stage of the patent process, from identifying inventions and filing patent applications to managing global patent portfolios.

In addition to his patent work, David regularly advises clients on trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters. He also frequently prepares and negotiates license agreements and other contracts implicating intellectual property rights, helping businesses protect and maximize the value of their innovations. David is recognized as a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP™), a designation which acknowledges licensing professionals who have demonstrated their experience and proficiency in licensing and the commercialization of intellectual property.

Recent Assignments

Manages a global patent and trademark portfolio for a prominent energy and environmental technology company that provides engineering, manufacturing, and construction services to power generation customers.

Works closely with a leading manufacturer and distributor of farm and ranch products in preparing and negotiating license agreements, supply/distribution agreements, and other agreements that govern its relationships with key commercial partners.

Develops and implements global patent strategies for a multinational company that designs and installs conveyor systems and material handling equipment for customers around the world.

Serves as outside intellectual property counsel to a leading provider of data and analytics solutions for addressing safety, fraud, risk, and compliance issues for government and commercial enterprises.

Develops and implements patent strategies for protecting products developed and sold by a leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment and systems.

Provides patent and trademark counsel to a well-known international manufacturer of commercial kitchen equipment.

Bar Admissions

Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Firm Leadership

Management Committee (2026-present)

Business Acceptance Committee, Member

Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group, former Co-Chair

Memberships

American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)

American Bar Association

  • Section of Intellectual Property Law, Member

Kentucky Bar Association

  • IP Law Section, Member

Louisville Bar Association

  • Intellectual Property Section, Member

Licensing Executives Society International

International Trademark Association

Community Involvement

Holy Trinity Church, Member

Education

J.D.,

1998

University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

Org / Honor

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity

Saul Lefkowitz National Trademark Moot Court Team, Member

nominated for the American Bar Association’s “Jan Jancin Award for Outstanding Student Achievement in Intellectual Property Law”

M.E., with high honors, Mechanical Engineering,

1995

University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School

Org / Honor

Herschede Graduate Engineering Scholarship, 1994-95

B.S., with high honors, Mechanical Engineering,

1994

University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School

Org / Honor

University of Louisville Trustees’ Scholarship 1990-95

Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society

Mortar Board National Honor Society

ODK National Leadership Honor Society

Engineer-in-Training, Commonwealth of Kentucky

More Than Stites & Harbison

Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, David was an Associate with Wheat, Smith & Beres, which merged into Stites & Harbison on January 1, 2000. As a mechanical engineering undergraduate, he worked in a generation facility for a major Midwestern utility company. David is an avid sports fan and spends many of his weekends attending college football and basketball games.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Patent Law and Trade Secrets Law (2017-26)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Trade Secrets Law (2023, 2025)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Patent Law (2021)

Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars (2013-25)

Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” Intellectual Property (2010-25)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2013-26)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky (2020, 2022-26)

Business First of Louisville, Forty Under 40 (2009)

Louisville Magazine Top Lawyer (2016)

Testimonials

David Nagle is held in high regard as a “very well-respected patent attorney.”

Chambers Commentary (USA)

David Nagle is the best there is in intellectual property. This guy knows his stuff and gets it done quickly and more effectively than any lawyer I deal with. I cannot recommend him more strongly.

Best Lawyers in America, Client Comment

. . . draws praise for his work on patent and trademark issues . . . particularly noted for his patent prosecution expertise, including both domestic and cross-border applications.

Chambers Commentary (USA)

He takes our innovation and ideas and turns them into patents.

Chambers USA

Contact Resources

David Nagle's LinkedIn Profile