Bio

AV-peer rated by Martindale-Hubbell® for Intellectual Property, Jonathan Goins is vice-chair and member of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology and Entertainment, Media & Sports Practices. With over 17 years of experience, Mr. Goins serves as lead counsel in litigating federal cases nationally for a wide range of clients involving trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, right of publicity, entertainment, breach of software contracts, and related business torts. Mr. Goins has been consistently ranked in peer-recognitions and publications for his expertise in intellectual property, including most recently, being named among the world’s leading trademark professionals for the third time in the annual edition of the World Trademark Review 1000. With an “A to Z” transactional to litigation skill-set in intellectual property, he is a trusted business advisor in establishing and enforcing IP rights in a variety of industries including technology, new media, entertainment, consumer goods, fashion apparel and sports. As a complementary role to his IP litigation background, Mr. Goins provides strategic advice in negotiating IP-related rights in multi-million dollar corporate deals and manages large-scale trademark and copyright portfolio registrations. As General Counsel to the National Bar Association, Mr. Goins is also very active in diversity and inclusion-related business development and origination efforts, including co-planning the NBA’s Annual Corporate Counsel Leadership Summit since 2017 and its Annual Corporate Counsel Conference since 2015. Representative clients currently include NBCUniversal Media LLC, Arcadis US Inc, and HYATT Hotels Corporation. As a litigator, Mr. Goins has served as lead counsel in federal cases involving copyright infringement, trademark infringement, RICO counterfeiting, false advertising, unfair competition, cybersquatting, Internet libel and gripe sites, misappropriation of trade secrets, rights of publicity, business torts, fraud and breach of contract claims. As a counselor, and in efforts to mitigate litigious risk, Mr. Goins regularly advises clients in avoiding a multitude of potential pitfalls regarding IP issues in corporate transactions. He has prepared agreements with regard to ownership, indemnification, warranties, use and licensing of IP rights involving employees and consultants, joint ventures, technology, online services, research and development, advertising sponsorships and promotional rights, music, tv and film, global marketing campaigns, and major entertainment and sporting events. He has conducted IP audits, including due diligence in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Goins has prepared and enforced confidential non-disclosure agreements, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements; trade secrets’ policies; and copyright “works made for hire” agreements. He has negotiated licenses for distribution content (including digital media and related technology) as an additional means of brand value monetization and advertising expansion, and has advised on ambush marketing tactics and FTC advertising compliance. Specific to entertainment and sports, Mr. Goins has represented high-profile talent and production management agencies, sports agencies, professional athletes, best-selling authors and entertainers involving endorsement deals; IP clearance and registration; business ventures; a variety of music, tv and film-related agreements; disputed royalties and commission of fees; and arbitrations over violations of regulations with major professional sports leagues and college athletic associations. Mr. Goins’ trademark matters have covered all aspects of large-scale portfolio management (including global brand marketing strategy, search opinions, advertising clearance, prosecution and maintenance) and enforcement via franchise brand use and distribution compliance, cease and desist letters, negotiated licenses and settlements, and proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial & Appeal Board. He has also advised on website IP policies, handled DMCA take-down notices, and resolved domain name/cybersquatting disputes via the ACPA and the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Arbitration & Mediation/UDRP Center. Mr. Goins is a frequent speaker and author on various topics regarding intellectual property, and since 2012, has lectured on copyright law, trademark law, entertainment law, and sports law as an Adjunct Professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Inez Smith Reid of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Education: Howard University School of Law Juris Doctor, 2002, University of Louisville Bachelor of Arts, 1999.