John Carson

John Carson is of counsel in Lewis Roca’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Clients turn to John for strategic planning and licensing, and all phases of eCommerce, patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law. John is particularly well-versed in computer hardware and software, electrochemical, optics, and electromechanical systems.

With more than 50 years of experience in intellectual property law, and an impressive array of leadership positions in professional and community organizations, John is often called upon as an arbitrator and mediator, and is considered a national authority on ethics and intellectual property issues. John started his own firm before becoming a partner at a leading international law firm. He has also been a trademark consultant to the California and Idaho secretaries of state. 

John’s interest in the arts has led to involvement with the Huntington Library and memberships with their Art Collectors Council, art overseers, and library overseers. He is also a volunteer for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and Pasadena Humane Society.

More About John Carson

Education

• J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1967
• B.S., Engineering, Santa Clara University, 1964

Bar Admissions

• California, 1968
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Court Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Community

• Hastings College of Law Alumni Association, Governor, 1972-1973; Los Angeles Chapter, Vice President, 1971-1972
• Huntington Library Overseers, Board of Governors
• Huntington Art Overseers, Member
• Huntington Art Collectors Council, Member
• CaltechMIT Enterprise Forum, Executive Committee, Prior Member
• Asia Society, Prior Member
• Chancery Club, Member
• Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Volunteer
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Law and Justice Committee, Prior Member
• Los Angeles Business Journal, Editorial Advisory Board, Prior Member
• Pasadena Bar Association
• Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association LAIPLA, Prior Member
• American Bar Association, Prior Member
• Superior Court, Judge Pro Tem
• US Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Member, 2000–present; Historical Society, Director, 2005–present;  Strategic Planning Committee, Chair, 2007; Audit and Risk Management Committee, Chair, 2017-present
• Central District of California, Standing Committee on Attorney Discipline, Member, 2001–present; Chair, 2006–2011
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, President, 1994-1995; Senior Lawyers Section, Executive Committee, 2009–present; Senior Lawyers Section, Chair, 2015-2016
• Federal Bar Association, Board of Governors; State of the Circuit Program; Intellectual Property and Pro Bono Teaching Programs
• American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator in Intellectual Property, Complex Litigation and International Cases
• Central District of California, Attorney Admission Fund Board, 2016-present

Representative Matters

• Successfully represented defendant, AgaMatrix, in patent infringement litigation where plaintiff's conduct bordered on bad faith, helping to secure a $1.3 million award of lawyers' fees for our client.
• Successfully represented Herbalife in a trademark infringement and breach of contract suit in the District Court of Oregon.
• Stopped numerous IP counterfeiting operations, both in the U.S. and internationally.
• Manages international trademark portfolios.
• Authored or co-authored several pieces of California legislation, including:
  • Anti-Counterfeiting Law – Civil – Business and Professions Code Sections 14340-14342; Criminal – Penal Code Section 350
  • Trade Secret Act – Civil Code Section 3426 et seq.; Code of Civil Procedure Section 2036.5 et seq.
  • Trademark Use on Collateral Products – Business and Professions Code Section 14330
  • Employee Rights in Inventions – Labor Code Section 2870
  • Prior Trademark Use – Business and Professions Code Section 14342 

News

Blog Posts

Events

• Co-Moderator, "The Price of Virtue: Walking the Tightrope Between Privacy and Security,” Los Angeles Federal Bar Association Seminar, September 2014
• Co-Panelist, "Let’s go to the video tape: What in-house counsel needs to know about licensing music, videos and photos," Association of Corporate Counsel Southern California In-House Counsel Conference, January 2012