Joseph J. Villapol

His clients have included many of the world’s leading brand owners from renowned fashion designers and fragrance companies to financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and sports and entertainment entities. Mr. Villapol carefully guides his clients through all phases of intellectual property acquisition, protection, enforcement, and transfer, and his proactive assistance helps clients avoid/resolve disputes, formulate creative solutions, and utilize the most cost-effective methods for protecting their rights.

All too often successful companies are stymied in their efforts to expand due to others having preemptively registered the company’s trademark or domain name in a potential new market. Mr. Villapol works closely with clients to develop strategies for worldwide clearance, adoption, and registration of new marks in order to secure clients’ valuable rights at the earliest possible time.

While imitation may be flattering in other contexts, in the business world it can quickly spell doom for a successful brand owner. Mr. Villapol designs and implements programs to combat trademark counterfeiting, copyright infringement, and digital piracy. When conflicts do arise, clients rely on Mr. Villapol’s extensive experience successfully litigating intellectual property disputes in the federal courts and before administrative agencies such as the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the International Trade Commission. Mr. Villapol is proud to be the author of the U.S. section of the International Trademark Association’s publication, International Opposition Guide, an authoritative manual on U.S. trademark opposition practice.

In the 21st century, intellectual property rights are at the core of virtually every important business transaction. Mr. Villapol assists clients with intellectual property due diligence in connection with acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, and securitization. He also has extensive experience negotiating and drafting settlement, license, co-existence, and other agreements that drive business growth.

Prior to joining Kudman Trachten Aloe Posner LLP, Mr. Villapol was a partner at a well-known IP boutique firm as well as a large, international law firm.