Chris Pignato
Garner,NC
Summary
Results-driven U.S. intellectual property attorney with 12+ years of experience practicing IP law. Specializes in global IP portfolio management, online domain and trademark enforcement, patent and trademark strategy, and IP counseling. Skilled at safeguarding high-value innovations, minimizing IP risks, and providing guidance to executives, engineers, and product teams on intricate legal issues. Demonstrates a track record of effectively managing international patent and trademark portfolios, spearheading enforcement programs, and implementing IP clearance strategies.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Brand Enforcement & IP Counsel
IBM
01.2023 - Current
- Lead a six-attorney enforcement team responsible for managing global trademark and copyright compliance across domains, applications, platforms and social media
- Collaborate with corporate security, cyber legal, threat intelligence, marketing and business units to address IP-related threats, fraud, and abuse
- Develop and execute effective enforcement strategies, including removal of fraud/abuse, phishing, employment scams, trademark & copyright infringement
- Protect IBM's interest as a platform provider by ensuring compliance with safe harbor provisions of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and Europe's Article 17
- Manage over 1,700 domain enforcement actions and successful undefeated winning streak using UDRP, with over 100 UDRP victories; securing the transfer of over 500 infringing domains (2023-2024)
- Track and appropriate a UDRP enforcement budget of more than $100K annually
- Oversee IBM’s global trademark portfolio across 10 divisions; managing product name clearances, trademark filings, prosecution, renewals, and worldwide enforcement efforts
- Advise business teams and senior leadership on high-risk trademark matters and recommend risk mitigation strategies
- Created a brand new IP asset sales program in collaboration amounting to more than $125 million in annual revenue
Senior Patent Attorney
IBM
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Partnered with global R&D teams to draft, file, and prosecute high-value more than 300 patent applications worldwide in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), computer analytics, cognitive computing, computer hardware, software, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and machine learning
- Organized and led six invention disclosure teams comprising engineers, business executives and scientists, responsible for identifying, reviewing and rating innovations for patent protection and trade secret
- Managed worldwide counsel in more than 125 countries to ensure high-quality, strategic patent prosecution consistent with IBM’s standards and policies
- Conducted IP risk assessments for multi-million-dollar technology sales and licensing deals
- Advised engineers, scientists, and executives on patent strategy and portfolio management
Senior Associate
Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts, LLP
08.2012 - 12.2017
- Drafted and prosecuted U.S and international patents across 100+ countries, in the fields of software, AI, cloud computing, computer hardware, software, industrial systems, pharmaceuticals, green energy, oil and gas
- Negotiated licensing agreements, NDAs, and IP assignments, aligning legal protections with business goals
- Managed large-scale patent portfolios for clients in highly regulated industries
- Conducted freedom-to-operate analyses and provided litigation support for IP disputes
Education
J.D. - Intellectual Property Law
Albany Law School
Albany, NY05-2012
Bachelor of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences
SUNY At Buffalo
Buffalo, NY05-2009
Skills
- IP strategy and enforcement
- Evaluation of online domain enforcement targets
- Assessing success of UDRP actions
- DMCA takedowns and safe harbor provisions
- Global patent & trademark portfolio management
- Patent & trademark application drafting
- Patent & trademark prosecution
- Trademark clearances
- Risk assessment
- Freedom-to-operate opinions
- Contract drafting
- Licensing
- Cross-functional team collaboration
- Litigation support
Certifications
- Licensed Attorney, New York State Bar, 01/01/13
- Registered Patent Practitioner, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Timeline
Lead Brand Enforcement & IP Counsel
IBM
01.2023 - Current
Senior Patent Attorney
IBM
01.2018 - 01.2023
Senior Associate
Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts, LLP
08.2012 - 12.2017
J.D. - Intellectual Property Law
Albany Law School
Bachelor of Science - Pharmaceutical Sciences
SUNY At Buffalo
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