Eliza Hall

Eliza Hall is a Consulting Counsel in the firm’s Intellectual Property, Media, Entertainment & Communications, and Privacy & Cybersecurity practice groups. Ms. Hall advises and represents U.S and international for-profit and nonprofit clients on a broad range of intellectual property and related issues with an emphasis on securing, enforcing, licensing and litigating IP rights. Ms. Hall’s experience includes music law, trademark, patent, trade secret, copyright and trade dress litigation, commercial litigation, trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, false advertising and internet disputes, and releases, licensing and insurance issues for film production. She also has experience with related issues including privacy and media law, noncompetes and nondisclosure agreements, and insurance coverage for hacking and other cyberattacks.

Beyond litigation and enforcement, Ms. Hall’s practice includes drafting and reviewing intellectual property licensing agreements, record contracts, music publishing deals, trademark co-existence agreements, work-for-hire and related provisions in employment or contracting agreements, and policies concerning social media, privacy, and the ownership of intellectual property; trademark and trade dress clearance; and protecting intellectual property rights during estate planning. Ms. Hall’s previous career was in the nonprofit sector and focused on grantwriting, fundraising, and project management in the areas of educational technology, charter schools, and the arts.

Representative Experience

• Seven years as a core member of the litigation team representing Carnegie Mellon University in its successful patent infringement suit against semiconductor manufacturer Marvell. Ms. Hall worked on all phases of this litigation, from the motion to dismiss phase through discovery, summary judgment motions, trial, appeal and settlement. After winning a $1.2 billion jury verdict and partially prevailing on appeal, CMU settled the case for $750 million.
• Member of successful trial and settlement teams in counterfeiting and knockoff litigation on behalf of U.S. and international corporations in the areas of trademark, trade dress, unfair competition and false advertising, including both Lanham Act and state law claims.
• Advised nonprofit national sports league on how to protect its trademarks without filing or inviting litigation.
• Advised nonprofit community development organization on fundraising and governance issues, including emergency management of a rogue board member.
• Member of trial team representing a major academic medical system in a successful jury trial for enforcement of a noncompete against a prominent surgeon; member of investigative team that prepared litigation against other doctors in violation of noncompetes and successfully settled those claims; assisted in advising healthcare and high-tech clients on noncompetes and nondisclosure agreements.
• Assisted with settlement negotiations between healthcare providers and their insurers concerning insurance coverage for cyberattacks that had compromised sensitive patient information.
• Extensive trademark clearance and prosecution experience, including Office Actions and TTAB proceedings, for broad range of clients including industrial manufacturers, retailers, arts/entertainment entities, sports organizations and athletes, food & beverage manufacturers, healthcare, high tech and energy companies.
• Provided trade dress clearance for national retailers prior to introduction of new clothing and furniture designs onto U.S. market.
• Drafted and negotiated music licensing agreements, publishing deals, production deals, recording contracts and distribution deals on behalf of record companies and musicians.
• For filmmakers, drafted personal, location and materials releases and advised on obtaining production-related insurance.
• Advised authors on terms of potential publication contracts and on their rights and remedies under existing contracts, including royalty issues.
• Assisted in litigating and successfully settling cases involving the infringement of copyrights in architectural designs.
• Handled numerous DMCA takedowns and related negotiations on behalf of clients in the retail, financial and technology industries.
• Advised estates & trusts attorneys on the identification and proper handling of IP rights and rights in artwork during estate planning.