Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that Jason Paul Blair has joined the firm as a Member in the Trademark Practice Group resident in the firm’s Austin office. He comes to Dykema after more than three years of practicing at Smith Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Austin. Prior to moving into private practice, Blair served as a Trademark Examining Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for more than 13 years, where he oversaw the implementation of agency rules related to sound marks and motion marks.
In his practice, Blair handles a wide variety of intellectual property matters, with an emphasis on trademark, trade dress, and copyright issues. He brings extraordinary experience in the trademark registration process thanks to his direct involvement in prosecuting and examining more than 15,000 trademark applications during his time with the USPTO.
Blair has experience managing trademark portfolios for a wide range of clients, from multi-national companies with extensive worldwide trademark portfolios to small startups, including clearance, prosecution, maintenance, and enforcement. He has also negotiated and drafted intellectual property licensing agreements as well as initiated and defended trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
Blair’s representative clients have included brand-name restaurant and hospitality companies, sports franchises, technology companies, and higher education institutions.
“We are all excited to have Jason join our Trademark Team and our Austin Office,” said Dan Harkins, Director of Dykema’s Intellectual Property and IP Litigation Department. “With his background of having worked at the USPTO for so long, Jason adds to our bench of former Trademark Examiners who have unique knowledge and experience in obtaining protection for our clients’ brands. Jason is a part of the firm’s growth strategy to serve our clients’ expanding IP needs.”
Blair, a Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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