Gavin Parsons is a widely experienced litigator who represents clients across numerous industries in high exposure civil litigation in state and federal courts, the North Carolina Business Court, and the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. A former partner at an AmLaw 100 firm with over 22 years of trial experience, he approaches each engagement with a solution-first focus, utilizing thoughtful planning, creative strategy, and resourcefulness to achieve successful resolutions for his clients in an efficient manner.

Gavin represents businesses ranging in size from large international corporations to regional and local companies, along with individuals. He divides his time equally between commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. He has litigated claims involving business disputes, intellectual property (trademark, copyright, patent claims, and trade secrets), unfair and deceptive trade practices, antitrust, breach of contract, business torts, land use and property rights, franchise disputes, and insurance coverage disputes. In addition to his civil litigation practice, Gavin has also represented businesses and individuals in disputes with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.

Some of his representative matters include:

Patent Infringement Litigation

• Successfully represented a patent holder in a jury trial and appeal to the Federal Circuit on patent infringement claims regarding a cinch for a bath sponge. Obtained confidential settlement following appeal. (U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas)
• Successfully defended an online retailer against patent infringement claims on a utility patent directed to a locking box for installation on a vehicle. Obtained dismissal with prejudice after service of Rule 11 letter and motion. (U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina)
• Successfully defended a patent infringement action regarding valves on commercial dishwashers. (U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina)
• Successfully defended a battery separator manufacturer against patent infringement claims. (U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina)

Trademark & Trade Dress Infringement Litigation

• Successfully defended an online retailer against trade dress infringement claims over after-market truck body mounts. Obtained dismissal without payment of any funds after close of discovery. (U.S. District Court, Central District Court of California)
• Successfully defended client against trademark infringement claims. Obtained dismissal of all claims with no settlement payment and a minor change to labels. (U.S. District Court, Central District Court of California)
• Successfully represented trademark plaintiff in infringement suit against a rival magazine publisher, resolved by confidential settlement. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia)
• Obtained an order of arrest of trademark infringement defendant for violation of a preliminary injunction which led to a $189,000 judgment for attorneys’ fees and damages for infringement and cybersquatting. (U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina)
• Successfully obtained judgment with permanent injunction against a foreign defendant for trademark infringement and copyright infringement against YouTube personality resulting in closure of defendant’s Amazon Marketplace. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina)

Trade Secret Litigation

• Successfully defended a client against federal and Alabama trade secret misappropriation claims related to electronic files improperly handled by a new hire without client’s knowledge. (U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama)
• Successfully represented a plaintiff business in trade secret litigation that resulted in confidential settlement as part of the sale of the business. (N.C. Business Court, Wake County)

Commercial Litigation

• Successfully represented a minority shareholder in an action against the majority owner to recover the value of his share of the business upon his leaving employment. Negotiated a confidential settlement and payout for his shares. (Wake County Superior Court)
• Successfully defended the purchaser of a business against breach of contract claims regarding indemnity in dispute over a multi-million indemnification escrow for seller’s breach of indemnification provisions in a corporate purchase agreement. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia)
• Successfully represented the owner of a minority interest in a limited liability company in a dispute with the majority interest holders over a buyout and valuation of his interest.
• Successfully defended a petroleum supplier in a civil action brought by a competitor that challenged an encroachment granted by NCDOT. The competitor obtained a preliminary injunction that jeopardized a $12 million project. Obtained a dissolution of the injunction and summary judgment on all of the competitor’s claims. (Johnston County Superior Court)
• Successfully represented trademark holders in cancellation proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
• Successfully represented a group of physicians before the NC Business Court in a contract dispute with a large accountable care organization that attempted to terminate the physicians’ lucrative agreement. Obtained a TRO prohibiting the termination of the agreement which resulted in an early settlement on favorable terms to our client. (N.C. Business Court, Wake County)
• Trial counsel for a nationwide book distributor in a federal jury trial involving breaches of personal guarantees, resulting in a judgment of over $29 million in favor of our client. (U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina)
• Successfully represented a nationwide book distributor in post-judgment proceedings seeking to enforce a $29 million judgment the debtor claimed was uncollectible. Ultimately prosecuted a federal equitable marshaling and corporate veil piercing action against the judgment debtor, his closely held companies, family limited partnerships and his mortgage holder. As a result of targeted discovery and the potential for veil piercing the debtor’s entities, successfully negotiated a significant settlement from the debtor and a release of the debtor’s collateral by the mortgage holder. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas)
• Successfully prosecuted a breach of contract action for a municipality before the NC Business Court in a dispute over the interpretation and enforcement of a regional water system agreement. Following initial motions, negotiated an early, favorable settlement which affirmed our client’s contractual rights and created additional opportunities for it to sell water to industrial and commercial customers. (N.C. Business Court, Vance County)
• Successfully prosecuted a private animal welfare action against a roadside zoo that resulted in a permanent injunction terminating the zoo’s ownership of a bear, prohibited the zoo from ever owning bears again, and transferred the bear to a sanctuary in California. https://aldf.org/article/gavin-parsons/ (Cumberland County Superior Court)

Copyright Litigation

• Successfully defended a small business against copyright infringement action brought by competitor also asserting trade dress claim. Obtained dismissal of all claims. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina)
• Successfully prosecuted a copyright infringement lawsuit regarding an architectural work on behalf of a home designer against builder, draftsperson, and homeowners. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas)
• Successfully prosecuted a copyright infringement claim against the manufacturer of baby garments for a confidential settlement. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina)
• Successfully defended a general contractor, draftsman and homeowners in a copyright infringement action over an architectural work. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina)