With 20 years of intellectual property experience, Erik advises clients on litigation, licensing, and counseling in trademark, trade dress, copyright, patent, and trade secret matters. World Trademark Review 1000 has noted he is “most at home in the courtroom” (2024) and his litigation experience includes a full range of pre-suit diligence, discovery, depositions, motions practice, oral argument, trial, and appellate work before federal courts, state courts, the US International Trade Commission (ITC), Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), and the US Supreme Court. He has served as first or second chair in a number of matters.

Erik also prosecutes trademarks, copyrights, and software patents. He prepares infringement and invalidity analyses and opinions in the fields of computer science, telecommunications, and Internet-based standards and services. And he works closely with clients to draft, structure, and negotiate complex IP and technology contracts. He handles joint development agreements, patent and technology license agreements, software and data licenses, trademark license agreements, open source software compliance agreements, SaaS agreements, and IP and technology transfer agreements – often within the context of M&A transactions.

In addition to securing, protecting, and enforcing clients’ rights, Erik routinely counsels clients on other IP related matters including e-commerce, artificial intelligence (AI), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), smart contracts, digital certificate technologies, token-based and biometric authentication, ICANN domain name Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) disputes, digital rights management, web services and end user license agreements (EULA), compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), website privacy policies, Consumer Product Safety Commission compliance, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliance, website disclaimers, and Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) compliance.

In addition to his recognition in the World Trademark Review 1000 (2023-2024), Erik has been named a Rising Star in the IP Stars Handbook by Managing Intellectual Property (2020-2023).

Early in his career, Erik served as a law clerk in the United States Court of Federal Claims and served in the DC office of US Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, The George Washington University Law School, with honors, The Public Contract Law Journal, member, Trial Court Board, 2004

BS, Computer Science, Muhlenberg College, summa cum laude, Dean’s List, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Sigma Tau, Pi Sigma Alpha, Muhlenberg Scholar, Anthony J. Marino Award in Computer Science, 2001

BA, Political Philosophy, Muhlenberg College, summa cum laude, 2001

• The Federal Circuit Extends the Doctrine of Prosecution History Estoppel to Design Patents
• Copyright Office Promulgates New Regulations for Designation of Registered Agent Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
• IP Issues to Watch in 2013
• The Supreme Court Holds that Laches Can No Longer Be Used as a Defense Against Damages Claims in Patent Cases Brought within the Patent Act’s Six-Year Limitations Period