LOS ANGELES and EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. – Aug. 17, 2016 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Ian C. Ballon and Susan L. Heller have again been included in the Daily Journal’s list of “Top Intellectual Property Lawyers” in California. Both Ballon and Heller have consistently been named to the Daily Journal’s Top Intellectual Property list since its inception in 2003. Ballon, an IP and internet litigator, is co-chair of the firm’s global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice and Heller is chair of the firm’s global Trademarks and Brand Management Group.
“Ian and Susan continue to be leaders in their practices, and this recognition from the Daily Journal is a well-deserved addition to their impressive track records of success,” said Matthew B. Gorson, Senior Chairman of Greenberg Traurig.
Though Ballon and Heller’s practices differ, they frequently collaborate to more effectively service their clients. Among other tactics, they often employ strategic positioning and prosecution of brand portfolios to strengthen and better leverage both offensive and defensive litigation.
Ballon is an internet and intellectual property litigator based in both the firm's Silicon Valley and Los Angeles offices. He represents technology, media, and entertainment companies in complex copyright, Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Lanham Act, and internet- and mobile-related litigation, including the defense of data privacy, security breach, and TCPA class action suits. Ballon has served as lead counsel in numerous lawsuits that raised novel and complex IP issues involving copyright law and the DMCA, software copyright ability, trademark infringement, database protection and screen scraping, cybersquatting, sponsored link, and other online advertising, design patents, trade secrets, rights of publicity, fair use, and secondary liability issues applicable to internet, mobile, social media, and cloud service providers.
In addition to his litigation docket, Ballon is the author of West's best-selling four-volume treatise, E-Commerce and Internet Law: Treatise With Forms 2d Edition (Thomson West 2009 & 2016 Annual Supp.), the leading treatise in the field (www.IanBallon.net). He also serves as executive director of Stanford University Law School’s Center for E-Commerce. Recognizing his ongoing contribution to the field, Ballon has been the recipient of the State Bar of California Intellectual Property Law Section’s Vanguard Award, named as one of the 50 Game-Changing Attorneys in Variety's Legal Impact Report, and listed as both a Northern California and Southern California Super Lawyer.
Heller is known for having one of the pre-eminent and internationally recognized trademark practices in the country and for being a game-changer. When the stakes are high and critical brands are at risk, Fortune 500 companies, world-champion athletes, high-net-worth individuals, A-list celebrities, and highly visible pre-IPO companies rely on Heller for her strategic thought leadership and counsel, honed by her three decades of experience. At the forefront of the strategic management and monetization of big name brands on a worldwide level, she is known for developing cutting-edge branding strategies and solutions, most notably in "bet-the brand," high stakes trademark cases. Heller works directly with CEOs and senior executives, in and out of corporate boardrooms. Her practice has spanned over 30 years across virtually every industry and in most jurisdictions throughout the world.
Heller, who is also co-chair of the firm’s Global Women’s Initiative, has received numerous prestigious honors and awards from highly regarded organizations and publications, naming her a leading California, U.S., and international trademark attorney. She has served as the sole outside director on the Board of Directors of Intangible Holding Companies for a number of highly visible Fortune 500 companies, where she honed her ability to assess and apply business objectives and marketing strategies to her client’s branding challenges. Heller began her career as an examining attorney at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and has gone on to build a practice that has spanned more than 30 years, across virtually every industry and in most jurisdictions throughout the world.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Intellectual Property & Technology Practice
With more than 180 intellectual property attorneys and agents in the United States, Asia, and Europe, Greenberg Traurig provides a broad range of patent, trademark and copyright protection and strategic counseling. Greenberg Traurig was named a “National Tier 1” Law Firm for IP Litigation, Patent Law, Trademark and Information Technology Law by U.S. News and Best Lawyers, 2017 “Best Law Firms Rankings.”
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One firm worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.