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Morgan Pietz is the managing partner of Merchant’s Los Angeles office.

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Morgan Pietz is the managing partner of Merchant’s Los Angeles office.

He is a trial attorney known for winning high-stakes cases. His deep expertise in intellectual property, media, and entertainment law brings a unique set of skills to help clients protect and enforce their intellectual assets. As part of Merchant’s growing West Coast IP litigation practice, Morgan is strengthening the firm’s presence in Los Angeles and across the region.

He is a trial attorney known for winning high-stakes cases. His deep expertise in intellectual property, media, and entertainment law brings a unique set of skills to help clients protect and enforce their intellectual assets. As part of Merchant’s growing West Coast IP litigation practice, Morgan is strengthening the firm’s presence in Los Angeles and across the region.

Morgan's practice has spanned across numerous industries, from fashion and apparel to media and entertainment, providing his expertise to talented creative clients and even high-profile celebrities. His work in complex litigation has influenced copyright law nationwide.

Morgan's practice has spanned across numerous industries, from fashion and apparel to media and entertainment, providing his expertise to talented creative clients and even high-profile celebrities. His work in complex litigation has influenced copyright law nationwide.

Known as a trial lawyer first, Morgan became well-known for the takedown of the copyright trolling collective, Prenda Law, in a case that garnered national media attention, including Business Week, the Los Angeles Times and the ABA Journal. The case marked the first major criminal conviction for copyright extortion.

Known as a trial lawyer first, Morgan became well-known for the takedown of the copyright trolling collective, Prenda Law, in a case that garnered national media attention, including Business Week, the Los Angeles Times and the ABA Journal. The case marked the first major criminal conviction for copyright extortion.

Before joining Merchant, Morgan began his career at a prominent IP firm in Los Angeles. He later led his own practice in Manhattan Beach, continuing to build a niche practice in IP and entertainment litigation.

Before joining Merchant, Morgan began his career at a prominent IP firm in Los Angeles. He later led his own practice in Manhattan Beach, continuing to build a niche practice in IP and entertainment litigation.

Morgan is the former President of the California Society of Entertainment Lawyers and a former Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Delegation to the Conference of California Bar Associations. He is also active with the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Entertainment and IP Sections and has authored a legislative proposal to amend California’s Anti-SLAPP law. In recognition of his pro bono work, the ACLU of Southern California awarded him the Humanitarian Award in 2010.

Morgan is the former President of the California Society of Entertainment Lawyers and a former Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Delegation to the Conference of California Bar Associations. He is also active with the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Entertainment and IP Sections and has authored a legislative proposal to amend California’s Anti-SLAPP law. In recognition of his pro bono work, the ACLU of Southern California awarded him the Humanitarian Award in 2010.

Outside the office, Morgan enjoys media production, creative projects, and staying engaged with the Los Angeles legal and entertainment community.

Outside the office, Morgan enjoys media production, creative projects, and staying engaged with the Los Angeles legal and entertainment community.

USC Law School, J.D.

Los Angeles

Pietz brings unique IP perspective and experience to the West Coast market



Merchant & Gould is pleased to announce that Morgan E. Pietz has joined the firm as Managing Partner of its Los Angeles office. Pietz brings a wealth of experience in intellectual property and entertainment litigation, further strengthening Merchant & Gould’s growing West Coast presence and capabilities.



“Joining Merchant & Gould presents an exciting opportunity to expand our practice,” said Pietz. “Advancements in AI and emerging technologies are redefining the landscape of copyright law, and Merchant’s forward-thinking approach makes it the ideal place to continue serving clients across fashion, entertainment, and media, and to help shape the future of copyright nationwide.”



Morgan brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to the team, beginning at a large firm before transitioning to a sole practitioner, where he developed a niche practice defending individuals in copyright infringement lawsuits. He later joined a mid-sized firm in Century City, where he gained valuable trial experience and established a reputation for success in IP and entertainment litigation. He then formed his own partnership, continuing to represent clients in complex intellectual property and media disputes.



“Morgan’s arrival underscores Merchant & Gould’s continued commitment to serving clients in California and nationwide in the fashion, entertainment and media industries,” said Heather Kliebenstein, Managing Director of Merchant & Gould. “His strong record in high-stakes IP and entertainment litigation will be a tremendous asset to our clients and to the firm’s broader litigation team.”

Morgan Pietz to Lead Merchant & Gould Los Angeles Office

Last week, the  U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion in <a href="https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/26a0192p-06.pdf">Nelson v. MillerKnoll, Inc., No. 25-1940 (July 7, 2026)</a>, affirming summary judgment for MillerKnoll in a dispute over trademarks associated with George Nelson’s iconic Bubble Lamp designs. 



The dispute arose from George Nelson’s Bubble Lamp designs. After Nelson’s death, his widow entered into a royalty agreement with Herman Miller (now MillerKnoll), which was later amended to cover Nelson-branded lamp products. Following litigation against Modernica, MillerKnoll acquired the Bubble Lamp trademarks, including two configuration marks and the “BUBBLE LAMP” word mark. Members of the Nelson family later sued MillerKnoll, asserting trademark infringement, fraud, unjust enrichment, and seeking cancellation of the trademark registrations. The district court granted summary judgment to MillerKnoll on all counts on grounds that Plaintiffs authorized MillerKnoll’s use and ownership of the asserted IP in a 2015 Addendum to a 2006 Royalty Agreement and ratified that use by accepting millions in royalty payments. Plaintiffs appealed.



The Sixth Circuit affirmed. Applying Michigan contract law, the Sixth Circuit held that the parties’ agreements unambiguously granted MillerKnoll ownership—not merely a license—in the Bubble Lamp IP. Because the agreements authorized MillerKnoll’s ownership and use of the Bubble Lamp IP, Plaintiffs could not maintain claims for infringement under § 1125(a). In reaching that conclusion, the Court relied on decisions from other circuits and the parallel structure of §§ 1114 and 1125 before expressly holding that authorization defeats claims for infringement of unregistered trademarks under the Lanham Act. The Court likewise held that authorization barred the plaintiffs’ Michigan common law trademark and related tort claims.  Although the authorization defense is well recognized in actions involving registered trademarks under 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1), it has been less clear whether the same defense applies to claims involving unregistered marks under § 1125(a), which does not expressly reference consent. The Court’s ruling resolved that question.



The Court also affirmed on the independent ground of ratification, finding that Plaintiffs continued accepting royalty payments after learning that MillerKnoll claimed ownership of the Bubble Lamp IP. Finally, the Court rejected the Plaintiffs’ request to cancel the trademark registrations, finding insufficient evidence that they had been fraudulently procured.

Morgan E. Pietz

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