Jonathan Goins is a co-leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology and Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice Groups. Relying on two decades of experience, Mr. Goins serves as lead counsel for Fortune 500, mid-size and profitable start-up companies in litigation across the country involving intellectual property, technology, entertainment, right of publicity (name, image and likeness), and complex business disputes. His trial experience includes “bet the company” cases with multimillion-dollar exposure, including obtaining a jury defense verdict in Kinon Surface Designs, Inc. v. Hyatt Corporation, Case No. 9:18-CV-81065 (S.D. Fla. 2019). Complementary to his litigation practice, Mr. Goins is a trusted business advisor for clients regarding a broad array of various IP issues – from major corporate transactions to emerging technology innovations. Mr. Goins manages the global trademark portfolio, for example, for one of the world’s most famous brands. Mr. Goins is consistently ranked in peer-recognitions and publications for his expertise in intellectual property, including Best Lawyers In America, Martindale-Hubbell (AV rated), Super Lawyers, and the World Trademark Review (WTR). Obtaining client feedback, WTR published recently that Mr. Goins is “a protean IP lawyer” who “litigates assertively, counsels deftly and negotiates deals proficiently.” WTR further notes that Mr. Goins “is comfortably at ease in any role – protector, litigator, deal broker – and covers a lot of ground for clients.” 

Recent representative clients include AMB Sports + Entertainment (National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons, Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United, and PGA TOUR Superstore), Arcadis,  McIlhenny (Tabasco Brands), NBCUniversal Media, Netflix, Liberty Mutual, and The Procter & Gamble Company. As reported by American Lawyer Media, Mr. Goins has “cultivated a booming niche practice,” which includes ground-breaking rulings in copyright, trademark, entertainment and technology law. He served as lead counsel in In re Jackson, which earned him among the nation’s Legal Lions by Law360 in 2020 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held for the first time that copyright preemption can apply to a right of publicity claim. The 66-page opinion has been cited already over a thousand times in various legal publications, including over two dozen court decisions spanning eight different states. Later that same year as lead counsel in Bayoh v. Afropunk, a U.S. District Court judge in New York nixed the plaintiff’s right to a jury trial over copyright infringement claims after failing to present any damages. In 2021, Mr. Goins obtained a favorable result for the leading streaming service provider in Pirtle v. Netflix, which adopted for the first time a recent U.S. Supreme Court jurisdictional-related decision. And in 2022, Mr. Goins obtained summary judgment for a software technology developer involving a breach of contract, which on appeal was affirmed earlier this year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Mr. Goins is active in diversity and inclusion-related business development and origination efforts, including serving as a current board member and past General Counsel to the National Bar Association, being recognized as a Law360 "Minority Powerbroker," and participating on the firm's Executive Marketing Committee. In 2019, he was given the “Presidential Award” for his exemplary service to the National Bar Association. He has been featured in Georgia Trend's Legal Elite, American Lawyer Media’s On the Rise, and more recently, Leadership Atlanta (class of 2023). 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 courses 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.

Publications

Professional Presentations

• Moderator, General Counsel Roundtable, National Bar Association’s (NBA) 37th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference (February 2024);
• The DE&I State of the Union Update, National Bar Association’s (NBA) 14th Annual Corporate Counsel Leadership Summit (July 2022); 
• Rivalry Game? Copyright, Right of Publicity and College Athletes, The Copyright Society Of The USA’s Annual Meeting (June 2022);
• With Great Power Comes Great Responsibil-IP: Protecting Animation, Visual Trademarks, and Copyrights, University of Georgia’s Journal of Intellectual Property Law Conference (April 2022); 
• Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Independence of the Female Attorney (The Male Perspective), Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys (LIWOCA) Annual Conference (March 2022);
• Copyright In Sports, The Copyright Society Of The USA (April 2021); 
• Promoting a Culture of Inclusion & Diversity in IP Law, American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section Annual Meeting (April 2021);  
• Right Of Publicity Law Update, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 18^th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2021);
• Copyright Law In The Entertainment Industry, UCLA Law School (Guest Lecturer, March 2021);
• Hip-Hop And The Law, Georgia State College Of Law (Guest Lecturer, February 2021);
• California Fair Pay to Play Act, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 17th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2020);
• Managing Your IP As Business Assets In The 4th Industrial Revolution, National Bar Association’s 33rd Annual Corporate Counsel Conference (February 2020);
• Emcee, National Bar Association’s 10^th Annual Corporate Counsel Leadership Summit (Microsoft Time Square) (July 2019);
• Issues In Entertainment Law, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 16th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2019);
• Rules of the Game: The Do’s & Don’ts For Outside Counsel, National Bar Association’s Peek Behind The Corporate Veil (UTC Aerospace Systems) (November 2018);
• Defending Intellectual Property & Advertising Injury Claims, Lewis Brisbois LLP’s Webinar Series (April 2018);
• Trademark & Entertainment Law Update, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 15th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2018);
• Defending Advertising Injury Claims: What Every Adjuster Should Know, Claims Litigation Management Southeast Conference (November 2017);
• Law Firm Management: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, National Bar Association’s Corporate Counsel Leadership Summit (August 2017);
• The Mystery of Image Advertising and Monetizing of Persona Rights, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 14th Annual  CLE Seminar (March 2017);
• Preparing UDRP Complaints: Determining Registrant Rights, Providing Evidentiary Support of Bad Faith Registration and Use, Strafford Webinar Series (November 2016);
• Defending Intellectual Property & Advertising Injury Claims, Lewis Brisbois LLP’s Webinar Series (September 2016);
• IP Rights in the Fashion Industry, International Trademark Association (“INTA”) Annual Meeting (May 2016);
• Anti(trust) of Persona Rights, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 13th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2016);
• Assessing and Protecting IP Rights in the Entertainment Industry, The New Global Paradigm for Entertainment, Arts and Sports Symposium (September 2015);
• Image Advertising & Right Of Publicity In Corporate Sponsorships & Promotional Marketing, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 12th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2015);
• Important Court Decisions Impacting the Entertainment Industry, Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association 34th Annual Conference (October 2014);
• Balancing Creativity with Caution: IP Considerations in Emerging Media and Promotions, National Bar Association’s 89th Annual Convention (July 2014);
• IP Boot Camp CLE, State Bar of Georgia’s Intellectual Property Section (October 2013);
• The (Dys)Functionality Defense In Trademark Law, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 10th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2013);
• Trademark Litigation Update, The Knowledge Group CLE Webinar (March 2013);
• Exploiting Intellectual Property (Without Being Exploited) in the New Digital Age, National Bar Association 26th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference (February 2013);
• Distribution Rights in TV and Film, BronzeLens Film Festival (November 2012);
• Intellectual Property Issues in Amateur Athletics, Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association 32nd Annual Conference (October 2012);
• Emerging Trends in IP & Technology, Association of Corporate Counsel-Georgia Chapter CLE Luncheon (June 2012);
• The Business of the Entertainment Industry, National Black MBA Association Entrepreneur’s Conference (May 2012);
• Avoiding Intellectual Property Pitfalls in Corporate Transactions, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice 8th Annual CLE Seminar (March 2012);
• New Media & Technology: Intellectual Property In The 21st Century & Beyond, National Bar Association 23rd Annual Corporate Counsel Conference (February 2010);
• Alternative Fee Arrangements, State Bar of Georgia’s 17th Annual Diversity Program CLE Luncheon (September 2009).

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the District of Oregon
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Admissions

Georgia

District of Columbia

U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Awards & Honors

• Best Lawyers in America (Trademark Law - 2024)
• Best Lawyers in America (Copyright Law - 2023)
• World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 – Ranked Among World’s Leading Trademark Professionals (2018-2024)
• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell (2015-2023)
• Georgia Super Lawyers (Intellectual Property Litigation) (2022-2024)
• Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star (Intellectual Property) (2013-2017)
• Law360's Media & Entertainment Editorial Advisory Board (2022-2024)
• Law360's Intellectual Property Editorial Advisory Board (2019-2021)
• Leadership Atlanta (class of 2023)
• America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® (2019)
• National Bar Association Presidential Award (2019)
• National Bar Association, General Counsel (2018-present)
• National Bar Association’s Commercial Law Section, Executive Board Member (2015-present)
• Law360 “Minority Powerbroker” (2015)
• American Lawyer Media-Daily Report’s On the Rise (2014)
• Intellectual Property American Inn of Court, Barrister (2013-present)
• Council on Litigation Management Alliance, Corporate Counsel Invitation Only (2013-present)
• Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite (2013)
• International Trademark Association, Internet Committee Member (2012-present)
• National Bar Association’s Top 40 Under 40 (2012)
• Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 40 Under 40 Up & Comers (2010)
• Outstanding Atlanta (2008)

Education

Howard University School of Law

Juris Doctor, 2002

University of Louisville

Bachelor of Arts, 1999

Representative Matters

• Obtained dismissal on jurisdictional grounds for Netflix in defending against claims of copyright and trademark infringement, see Pirtle v. Netflix, Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-02096 (N.D. Ga. 2021) (adopting U.S. Supreme Court precedent for the first time)
• Represented global music festival in receiving dismissal and awarded costs in copyright case after striking plaintiff's experts on Daubert grounds, obtaining summary judgment on the eve of a jury trial, and vacating the preliminary injunction order, see Bayoh v. Afropunk LLC, Case No. 18-cv-5820 (S.D.N.Y. 2021)
• Obtained summary judgment in major software technology-related contractual dispute, The Douglas Stewart Company, Inc. v. HiQo Solutions, Inc., Case No. 4:20-cv-00101 (S.D. Ga. 2022); argued on appeal and affirmed before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, Case No. 22-13288 (Jan. 2024)
• Granted summary judgment in favor of recording artist Rick Ross after court found that recording artist, actor and producer 50 Cent’s right of publicity claim was barred under federal copyright’s preemption doctrine, see Curtis Jackson v. William Roberts, Case No. 3:17-cv-00550-WWE (D. Conn. 2019); argued appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which affirmed the lower court’s preemption ruling and set precedent in 66-page opinion, Case No. 19-480 (2d Cir. Aug. 2020)
• Obtained summary judgment in major software technology-related contractual dispute, The Douglas Stewart Company, Inc. v. HiQo Solutions, Inc., Case No. 4:20-cv-00101 (S.D. Ga. 2022)
• Resolved favorably trademark case involving the famous Mr. CLEAN® brand, Mr. Clean Carwash & Mobile Detailing, LLC v. The Procter & Gamble Company et. al, Case No. SUV2021000484 (Ga. Super. Ct. 2022)
• Negotiated resolution of software copyright infringement case into a seven-figure acquisition, CallRail, Inc. v. PhoneWagon, Inc., Case No. 1:18-cv-02207 (N.D. Ga. 2021)
• Resolved favorably right of publicity and copyright infringement claims involving Giant Little Ones movie on behalf of film production and distribution entities, see Chlopecki v. Euclid 431 Pictures Inc., Vertical Entertainment, LLC, Storyboard Entertainment, LLC, Case No. 2:19-cv-06326 (C.D. Cal. 2019)
• Resolved favorably trademark infringement and dilution claims for reputable organization after extensive expert discovery rendered Plaintiff’s trademarks as generic and its $92 million demand without merit, see Springboards To Education, Inc. v. Teach For America, Case 3:16-cv-02435-SAL (N.D. Tex. Dallas Div. 2018)
• Resolved favorably trademark infringement claims by Fortune 100 brand involving website retailer, see AFLAC v. ooShirts, Inc., Case No.: 4:17-cv-00016-CDL (M.D. Ga. 2018)
• Granted summary judgment on RICO conspiracy and trademark counterfeiting claims on behalf of a Florida-based marketing agency facing $24 million in damages' exposure, see Delta Airlines, Inc. v. John Wunder et al., No. 1:13-cv-3388 (N.D. Ga 2015)
• Obtained over $616,000 award (including attorneys' fees) on summary judgment on behalf of a major luxury handbag designer involving trademark infringement claims, see Coach Inc. v. Chaos of Muncie, No. 1:11-cv-0505 (S.D. Ind. 2012)
• Prepared pre-trial and post-trial motions involving Lanham Act claims for one of the world’s largest sports apparel company against a major retail store, which resulted in the largest verdict in any trademark case ($305 million), see Adidas v. Payless, No. 01-1655 (D. Ore. 2008)
• Obtained precedential ruling in which the US Supreme Court’s eBay Inc. v. MercExchange decision was adopted for the very first time in Georgia, see Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Inc. v. Mortimer et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-00175 (N.D. Ga 2015) (W. O’Kelley) (denying plaintiff’s injunctive relief over trademark naming rights to the annual Sturgis bike rally and holding that trademark claims can no longer presume irreparable harm)
• Resolved Internet-related infringement and cybersquatting activity for the likes of a Fortune 100 paper product company and the NCAA’s exclusive licensing agency via demand letters and UDRP proceedings, see, e.g., University of Arizona v. Gee Whiz et al., No. D2008-1543 (WIPO, Jan 2009)
• Co-defended major sports agency and reputable agent in representation of notable NBA players of the Miami Heat in breach of contract claims involving over 20 million dollars, which after a three-day JAMS arbitration trial hearing resulted in an interim award of zero dollars and denial of all claims
• Obtained dismissal of Complaint regarding trademark infringement claims based on lack of personal jurisdiction and Rule 12(b)(6) grounds in representation of the world’s leading decorative paint expert, see Websters Chalk Paint Powder, LLC v. Annie Sloan Interiors, Ltd., No. 1:13-cv-2040 (N.D. Ga 2014)
• Received favorable court ruling that denied a motion to compel NBCUniversal Media, LLC to provide video footage from a successful reality TV show, see Bush v. Eichholz, Case No. STCV-16-01085 (Ga. 2018)
• Advised on several multi-million dollar advertising and promotional rights deals for Arrow Exterminators with the Atlanta Braves, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Rays, College Football Hall of Fame, Georgia Tech and Georgia Aquarium
• Successfully settled a breach of contract dispute (involving restrictive covenants and disputed commission fees) with a reputable sports agency involving over $3 million in contracts for several NFL professional players with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Negotiated life story rights, intellectual property clearance rights, and various talent-related contracts involving music, digital streaming, tv and film with ABC, CBS, FOX, NBCUniversal, CNN, Netflix, Apple’s Platoon, Artist Partner Group (APG), Universal Music (Def Jam/Republic), SpringHill, Revolt, Urban One and United Talent Agency (UTA)
• Negotiated favorable settlement for major international air-conditioning supplier accused of copyright infringement of certain photos of Beijing’s official site of the 2008 Olympics
• Negotiated and revised multi-million dollar advertising and promotional sponsorship agreements for two Fortune 500 companies involving a global digital media marketing agency, the world’s leading mixed martial arts event holder, a major college athletic association, and a popular Hispanic magazine publisher
• Negotiated and prepared promotional marketing campaign-related agreements, releases for user-generated videos, licenses for use of IP, and terms of use for website and mobile app for major international hotel brand with locations in New York, London, Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines
• Managed and enforced global trademark portfolios for some of the world's most famous brands, including preparing large-scale search clearance opinions and applications, and resolving challenges in U.S. Trademark Trial & Appeal Board proceedings, see, e.g., Chrysler LLC v. Pimpo, Opposition No. 91171962 (TTAB July 2008) (upholding prior use of the RAMBLER® mark for automobiles)