Gary Nelson is a partner in Womble Bond Dickinson's Intellectual Property Practice Group. Clients turn to Gary for prosecution and maintenance of large international corporate trademark portfolios, particularly in the fashion and clothing industry. He also specializes in resolving intellectual property disputes in a broad spectrum of industries that also include food, computer software and hardware, office supply, sports and entertainment, among others.
Gary has managed more than 7,000 individual trademark applications/registrations throughout the world. Through his network of international counsel, Gary has filed and supervised the prosecution of trademarks in over 150 countries.
Gary is involved in the enforcement and defense of trademark, copyright, and patent rights for his clients, as well as being an expert in trademark, copyright, and patent licensing. He has been lead counsel on over 150 trademark opposition/cancellation proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; and has filed more than 200 UDRP Complaints with the National Arbitration Forum and the World Intellectual Property Organization to force the transfer of ownership of contested domain names.
Gary is proficient in domain name disputes and Internet law, and serves as a neutral and a domain name panelist for the World Intellectual Property Organization's Arbitration and Mediation Center.
Prior to his legal career, he spent eight years producing, directing, and editing documentaries in the entertainment industry.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- Norwegian American Bar Association, Member
- Georgetown Entertainment & Media Alliance, Member
- Intellectual Property Organization, Member, Trademark Office Practice (U.S.) Committee
- Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, Board of Directors, 2001-2007, President 2006-2007, 2001-2007
- International Trademark Association INTA, Chairperson of Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition, 2015-2016
- Glendale Fire Foundation, Board of Directors, 2014-present
- Glendale Police Foundation, Board of Directors, 2015-present
- Glendale Bar Association, President, 2015
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Gary’s trademark work with Lucky Brand shepherded the company from startup status to $100 million fashion brand
- Gary works closely with Guess? in protecting the client's important trademark rights in the fashion industry.
- Gary heads up the enforcement team for IQAir North America, Inc. and polices the Internet for ongoing abuses and unfair competition.
Honors & Recognitions
- World Trademark Review, WTR 1000, The World's Leading Trademark Professionals, 2020-2024
