Mark A. Watkins

Practice Areas

Mark is a partner in the Vorys Akron office and a member of the intellectual property (IP) group. His practice focuses on all facets of intellectual property protection, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrets and intellectual property litigation.

Mark provides IP counsel to many Fortune 1000 companies across the U.S. and around the world, helping companies create IP strategies for the procurement and protection of their IP rights. He develops company policies concerning protection of trade secrets, internal and external invention disclosure policies, inventor recognition programs, non-competition, confidentiality, and non-solicitation policies and agreements for employees and third parties. He also develops and manages systems for periodic review of company IP portfolios (domestic and international). In addition, Mark has experience in evaluation and counseling concerning IP rights acquired or divested in mergers and acquisitions; and in evaluation, counseling and negotiations on behalf of clients concerning transfer of intellectual property rights, including assignments and licenses.

Mark has also participated in the enforcement and defense of a wide range intellectual property matters, including patent, trademark and copyright infringements, and misappropriation of trade secrets. In addition, Mark's experience in the entertainment industry is extensive. He has represented a variety of celebrities and athletes in the areas of product endorsement, brand licensing, development and protection of celebrities as brands, as well as in the enforcement of trademark and brand infringements worldwide.