Overview

An experienced litigator, Jeffrey Techentin is co-chair of Adler Pollock & Sheehan’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Group. His practice spans an array of complex litigation matters with a focus on IP, including internet and technology law, patent and trademark infringement (particularly in the software and social media areas), trade secret matters, and copyright. Jeff’s experience includes the full range of dispute resolution, from direct negotiations to mediations and arbitrations to bench and jury trials. He also counsels clients on the establishment and protection of IP rights necessary to the conduct and promotion of their business interests.

Combining breadth of knowledge and experience, keen business insights and attention to technology trends, Jeff provides clients with timely, sound, strategic advice on development and protection of various types of IP as well as tactical advice necessary to implement clients’ strategic plans.

Jeff’s experience as a trial attorney goes beyond IP-related matters. He has been conducting jury trials and other in-court proceedings for nearly two decades, going back to the beginning of his career when he served as a prosecutor in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps to his current position as a prominent litigator in the Rhode Island bar.

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1993)
  • Kalamazoo College (B.A., 1990)

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Representative Matters
  • Jeff has successfully stopped the infringing use of trade names for a variety of clients including manufacturers, retailers, and hospitality businesses, often without resort to courts. But when court action has been necessary, he has obtained rapid and complete relief for clients facing misuse of their trademarks and names.
  • Jeff has represented numerous clients in patent disputes involving software, mechanical, electronic, and software patents, as plaintiffs and defendants, including all phases of the dispute resolution process, from pleadings and motion practice, to all phases of discovery, to expert witness matters, through either negotiated resolution or trial.
  • On behalf of a group of clients, Jeff successfully established that the plaintiff’s breach of contract claims, which carried enormous potential damages, were preempted by the federal Copyright Act, significantly reducing the clients’ financial exposure in litigation.
  • Jeff successfully defended a client’s use of a third party trademark in a decision establishing the “nominative fair use” doctrine in the First Circuit. That doctrine permits use of another’s trademark where it is necessary to identify the nature of goods offered for sale.
  • As co-lead counsel with another Adler Pollock & Sheehan attorney, Jeff defended a complex trade secret case on behalf of a specialty chemical manufacturer. Facing a demand of more than $300,000,000, the parties reached a favorable settlement during the jury trial.
  • Jeff defended a small manufacturer facing a claims of false patent marking and commercial disparagement, obtaining favorable rulings from the court during the jury trial, which led to a favorable settlement for the client.
  • His intimate familiarity with the Rhode Island judiciary, and especially its federal judiciary, have enabled clients to obtain speedy and efficient resolution of intellectual property claims, including through the use of federal district court judges and magistrate judges as mediators at no cost to the client.
  • Jeff’s experience in trademark law coupled with his understanding of digital technology resulted in $500,000 settlement for his client in a trademark infringement/cybersquatting suit in Rhode Island and Florida federal courts. In addition, the defendant relinquished the infringing domain names.
  • He won a rapid settlement in a $1 million dispute without resort to litigation. For a small apparel-manufacturer in a trademark infringement matter, Jeff’s knowledge of the industry and key players won the issuance of corrective public statements disclosing previous misstatements of the origin of goods.
  • In a $40 million suit against Jeff’s client, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, by a construction company, he and his team won summary disposition of all claims in a bench trial—thanks to an aggressive and efficient litigation plan—that allowed the project to move forward.
  • For a large toy and entertainment company in an $8 million breach of contract suit, Jeff and his team won a jury verdict awarding damages and completely rejecting counterclaims.
  • In Rhode Island federal court, Jeff helped the New England Gas Company win a declaration that state labor-relations statutes were preempted by federal law. A close-knit trial team with intimate knowledge of the industry and the client worked to challenge the state statutes.
Seminars / Publications Honors
  • Professional Excellence in the Law, IP Rights, Rhode Island Monthly, 2019 – 2022.
  • Named an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine, 2013 – 2022.
RI Monthly
Professional Affiliations
  • Member, Board of Bar Admissions, Instructor on Federal Jurisdiction.
  • Member, District of Rhode Island Ad Hoc Electronic Discovery Subcommittee.
  • Member, ABA Intellectual Property Section.
  • Member, Federal Bar Association, Defense Counsel of Rhode Island.
  • Member, Program Committee for Leadership Rhode Island and former Co-chair of Program Committee.
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