In this program, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin attorneys Rocco Cavaliere, a partner in the Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring Practice, and Amy Goldsmith, Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice, explain what can happen to intellectual property assets in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Mr. Cavaliere and Ms. Goldsmith will first review the treatment of copyright and patent licenses under section 365(n) of the Bankruptcy Code. Then they will focus on the recent Supreme Court decision resolving a circuit split. In Mission Product Holdings, Inc. (2019), the Court favored protection of the trademark licensee after the bankruptcy court rejection of the trademark license. Lastly, Mr. Cavaliere and Ms. Goldsmith will discuss how intellectual property licensors and licensees may negotiate new licenses or amend existing licenses in light of Mission Product and other cases.
Learning Objectives:
Successful, profitable businesses share certain characteristics: immediately recognizable brands, desirable products or services, and a strategic plan which minimizes legal risks. As co-chair of the Intellectual Property Group at Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, Amy B. Goldsmith partners with clients to provide practical legal advice and connections to grow their businesses. A strategic advisor, she guides clients in all stages of their development from idea conception and protection, to funding, manufacturing and enforcement. Copyrights and patents are an important part of a company’s strategy, and understanding when protection is likely (or not) to be granted is critical in the design process.
Rocco Cavaliere is an advocate for distressed companies and high-net-worth individuals in their most perilous times, helping them preserve enterprise value, restructure their obligations and achieve other objectives. A partner in the Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Group, Rocco devotes a large part of his practice to representing clients that need workouts or bankruptcy relief. He also often represents creditor committees, unsecured creditors, secured creditors, landlords, license parties, shareholders and corporate officers and directors, and other parties in interest, in protecting their rights and preserving value in a bankruptcy case or in an out-of-court restructuring.
When a Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 case is commenced, it is common for debtors in possession or trustees to investigate the reasons which led to the bankruptcy filing and then possibly pursue litigation against third parties that may be blamed for the debtor’s demise. Rocco is often called on by Chapter 7 trustees and other estate representatives to assist in such investigations and commence lawsuits when the pursuit of claims may benefit the bankruptcy estate. Rocco also has significant experience representing defendants in bankruptcy court adversary proceedings, involving many causes of action such as fraudulent and preferential transfers, equitable subordination, turnover, and breach of fiduciary duty and related director and officer claims.
Rocco was recently appointed as a mediator on the Mediator Panel for the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. In this role, he applies his extensive experience in contentious bankruptcy matters to a mediation context to help other parties achieve a successful and cost-effective settlement of their own legal disputes.
Distressed situations also create opportunities for parties to purchase a debtor company’s assets, including real estate, in a section 363 sale or through a plan of reorganization. Rocco regularly represents purchasers in all aspects of a sale transaction (including “loan to own” scenarios) in a bankruptcy case and in out-of-court workouts.
Prior to joining Tarter Krinsky & Drogin in 2012, Rocco received his legal training as an associate in the Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy Department of Blank Rome. In January 2017, Rocco was named co-chair of the New York County Lawyers’ Association’s Bankruptcy Law Committee.
good speakers
Very insightful and excellent presenters
If your case involves intellectual property watch this course. Or, if you love Gucci watch the course.
Good presentation on a dense topic.
Timely stuff; well-presented.
Both of these presenters showed excellent knowledge of their practice areas. I would look for their presentations again in the future.
Gave me some ideas on future Ch 7 cases involving intellectual property.
Instructors were very knowledgeable.
Awesome information.
good perspective from 2 experts
Very detailed analysis.