James W. Beard is an IP attorney in Merchant & Gould’s Denver office. While his practice involves all facets of intellectual property law, James focuses on patent, trade secret, and trade dress litigation for clients from a diverse range of industries.
IP Litigation Attorney With Over 10 Years of Experience
James brings over ten years of litigation experience on complex matters to the table. His experience includes representing high-technology household names and Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of industries such as:
- Computer hardware and software
- Electronics
- Consumer products and technology
- Biotechnology
- Medical devices
James works in all stages of litigation, from general advice and counseling to complex discovery, trials, and appeals. His experience also includes motion practice, claim construction, and post-trial motion practice and appeal. In the past, he’s represented clients in district courts around the country, the International Trade Commission and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Dedicated to Creating Innovative Strategies for IP Cases
Intellectual property cases are complex and require a great depth of strategy to address each client’s overarching business goals. James prides himself on being able to find novel and innovative arguments based on complex fact patterns and aligning his clients’ business interests with their litigation needs.
Litigation Requires Curiosity
Litigation requires curiosity; attorneys must enjoy seeking new challenges, arguments, and ideas to best serve their clients. As an inquisitive litigator, James is passionate about new technology as well as discovering how innovative techniques and methods can benefit his clients.
James received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. He has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers Rising Stars Edition lists each year from 2013 to 2019. He has also authored multiple publications, including:
- Chapter Editor, Annual Review of Intellectual Property Law Developments, American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section (2011).
- Karen Boyd and James Beard, Patent Marking: True AND False in 11th Annual Silicon Valley Advanced Patent Law Institute, Advanced Patent Law Institute (2010).
- James Beard, Note: A Better Carrot: Incentivizing Patent Reexamination, 1 Hastings Sci. & Tech. L.J. 169 (2009).
- James Beard and Albert Halluin, An Analysis of CIGS Solar Cell Technology, 6 Nano. L. & Bus. 19 (2009).
- James Beard, The Limits of Licensing: Quanta v. LGE and the New Doctrine of Simultaneous Exhaustion, 2008 UCLA J. L. Tech. 3 (2008)
- James Beard, Weeds in the Docket: Patent Continuation Reform and Its Effects on the Biotechnology Industry, 90 J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc’y 423 (2008).
In his spare time, James enjoys downhill skiing, road cycling, home brewing, and Texas-style barbecue.