NEW YORK (November 13, 2023) – Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Gregory Gulia and Vanessa Hew have joined the firm in New York as partners in the Trademarks, Copyrights, and Transactions practice group. The duo brings extensive experience representing leading companies in a range of intellectual property (IP) issues, deepening Womble’s trademark practice and building on the firm’s continued expansion in New York.

An experienced IP litigator, Gulia has counseled major media companies, retailers, fashion and luxury brands, consumer product companies, and entertainers, including Janet Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. He is a strategic negotiator of trademark licenses, purchases, and consent agreements and has successfully litigated trademark, copyright, anti-counterfeiting, domain name, unfair competition, trade secrets, rights of publicity and privacy, and First Amendment cases. 

“Vanessa and Greg are strong additions to our team managing global trademark portfolios and guiding brand strategy for clients across multiple industries,” said Laura Kees, leader of the firm’s Trademarks, Copyrights, and Transactions practice group. “They have impressive track records representing and defending clients in IP disputes, as well as providing strategic counsel regarding the management and protection of IP portfolios. We look forward to their contributions as we continue to grow our IP and trademark teams.” 

“Vanessa and Greg are strong additions to our team managing global trademark portfolios and guiding brand strategy for clients across multiple industries. They have impressive track records representing and defending clients in IP disputes, as well as providing strategic counsel regarding the management and protection of IP portfolios. We look forward to their contributions as we continue to grow our IP and trademark teams.” 

Laura Kees, Trademarks, Copyrights, and Transactions Practice Group Leader, Womble Bond Dickinson

Hew advises Fortune 500 and other leading companies on IP issues related to the protection and enforcement of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents, as well as breach of contract and unfair competition matters. She also has considerable experience counseling clients on strategic management and protection of their IP portfolios, providing representation in IP and contract-related disputes, and advising on risk management strategies relating to the use of third-party IP.

“Greg and Vanessa and their practices build on what has been an exciting period of growth for our office,” said Deborah Vernon, Managing Partner of the New York office. “Since establishing our New York presence last year, we have continued to attract highly-regarded practitioners. Greg and Vanessa bring deep experience and strong capabilities in various IP issues, including trademark preparation and enforcement, that round out our IP services from New York and strengthen our overall offering in the market.”

“Greg and Vanessa and their practices build on what has been an exciting period of growth for our office. Since establishing our New York presence last year, we have continued to attract highly-regarded practitioners. Greg and Vanessa bring deep experience and strong capabilities in various IP issues, including trademark preparation and enforcement, that round out our IP services from New York and strengthen our overall offering in the market.”

Deborah Vernon, New York Office Managing Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson

Gulia and Hew are the most recent additions to Womble’s New York office, following bankruptcy partners Edward Schnitzer, David Banker, and Wojciech Jung; corporate and securities partner Tracy Bacigalupo; and business litigation partners Harry Rimm and Joseph Patella throughout 2023. Gulia and Hew joined Womble from Cozen O’Connor.