Todd S. Sharinn
Partner tsharinn@thsh.com 212-702-3171
Practice Areas
Biography
Todd Sharinn is Chair of Tannenbaum Helpern’s Intellectual Property practice. His multifaceted practice focuses on the worldwide registration, management, commercialization, protection, and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
For more than three decades, Todd has served as a strategic advisor and in many cases as an outside general counsel to clients in connection with the development of local and global branding strategies. Clients seek out Todd for his vast expertise with crafting and implementing programs to police and enforce their assorted patents, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, product configurations, copyrighted works, and marketing and advertising efforts.
Todd has litigated more than one hundred successful patent, trademark and copyright infringement matters in domestic and foreign jurisdictions. He has worked with the United States Customs Service (both I.C.E. and Homeland Security), the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Treasury Department, the United States Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency (ATF), Interpol, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and numerous international, U.S., and local law enforcement agencies in connection with the prevention of illicit trade, including smuggling, parallel imports and the manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods, as well as the freezing and seizure of assets derived from such illegal activities.
Todd’s expertise additionally includes patent litigation and licensing matters in the pharmaceutical, medical device, electronics, cosmetics, heavy machinery, and consumer goods industries, among others. He also has considerable experience representing entities and individuals in the sports and entertainment industries, specifically professional athletic leagues and teams, as well as media companies, producers, and distributors.
Todd is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University – James E. Beasley School of Law, and lectures extensively within the legal community and before industry groups and business management programs, and is widely published.
- Create, implement and prosecute multi-jurisdictional foreign/domestic anti-counterfeiting/anti-money laundering initiatives on behalf of multi-national Fortune 50 companies. Assist companies with acquiring real-time financial records and electronic communications exchanged between criminal syndicate members and accomplices without the criminals’ knowledge.
- Support multinational companies with the creation and implementation of internal anti-white collar crime and anti-illicit trade policies and various compliance initiatives. Liaise on behalf of these companies with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, ATF, Secret Service, Scotland Yard, INTERPOL, U.S. and U.K. Embassies in multiple countries) to design, coordinate and conduct multiple intelligence and evidence gathering joint civil and criminal initiatives.
- Assisted Fortune 20 company with designing, creating, executing and governance of an internal worldwide Anti-Illicit Trade unit.
- Representation of Fortune 50 companies in multi-national, multi-forum trade secret/copyright case. Awarded judgment in excess of $12.5 million dollars, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs of over $500,000. Assisted U.S. Customs Service in criminal conviction of counterfeiters. Oversaw and coordinated simultaneous civil raids, asset freezes and seizures in multiple U.S. States (New York, South Carolina, Las Vegas, and Sacramento) and foreign countries (India and Singapore).
- Successfully litigated more than 500 ex parte counterfeiting cases concerning parts for heavy machinery, cars and tractors, luxury products (watches and jewelry), clothing (shoes, sneakers, sports apparel, and event merchandise), cosmetics, sporting goods and pharmaceuticals. Exposed multiple counterfeiting and smuggling syndicates and enterprises relying on civil ex parte proceedings and remedies. Located, froze and recovered nearly $300 million of ill-gotten assets hidden in several foreign jurisdictions including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, India, Malaysia, Paraguay, Romania, and Singapore.
- Representation of investors in a patent infringement case against a publicly-traded licensor that broke its license agreement with the investors and stole the technology. Case settled favorably for client.
- Representation of medical device, apparel, footwear, sporting goods, multimedia and entertainment companies in worldwide brand development and protection programs, including trademark, patent and copyright counseling and prosecution. Created, negotiated and implemented manufacturer and distributor agreements and product, supply, purchase, license and development agreements.
- Tried patent infringement cases concerning pharmaceuticals, electrical devices, mechanical devices, medical devices, sporting goods, garbage bags and consumable products and their packaging.
- Litigated right of publicity case concerning Defendants theft and use of a celebrity’s persona and trademark to unfairly compete with that celebrity’s products.
- Representation of film distributor in arbitration for North American DVD and VHS distribution rights of a blockbuster film. Settled favorably for client.
- Outside general counsel to professional athletic leagues and teams. Drafted and enforced standard players’ agreements. Created and implemented sponsorship and licensing programs, including league merchandising and video gaming rights. Represented parties in connection with the purchase and sale of teams.
- Negotiated and implemented an exclusive worldwide, multi-platform Software License and Development Agreement between a publicly-traded video game manufacturer and a major national professional sports league.
- Representation of entities in connection with the creation, launching, operation, and management of two sports leagues.
College:
- B.A., Biology, Boston University (Cum Laude with Distinction)
- Dean’s List
- Dean William Randall Marshall Award Finalist, 1987
- Rhodes Scholarship (University Finalist), 1988
- Alpha Epsilon Delta (Medical Honor Society), 1987
- Department of Biology Undergraduate Assistant, 1985
- Boston University Varsity Ice Hockey and Baseball
- Recipient of Sigma Chi Research Grant, 1985
- Accepted B.A./M.A. Honors Program, 1984
- Department of Biology Research Fellow, 1984-1987
- Department of Chemistry Teaching Assistant, 1987
Law School
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Cum Laude)
- Moot Court Board Member, 1989-1991
- Advocacy Editor, 1990-91
- Gilbride, Tusa, Last & Spellane LLC
- Harris Beach PLLC
- Baker McKenzie
- Greenberg Traurig LLP
- International Trademark Association’s Anti-Counterfeiting Committee
- The Bar Association for the City of New York (Sports Law Executive Committee)
- The Sports Lawyers Association
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Eastern Districts of New York
- United States District Courts for the Northern Districts of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern Districts of New York
- United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuits
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Connecticut Law Tribune, Connecticut Legal Awards, Professional Excellence – Distinguished Leader 2020
- Lawyers of Distinction Intellectual Property 2021-2024
- Lawyers of Distinction Civil Litigation 2021-2023
- 10 Best Civil Litigation Attorneys, Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service 2021 - Connecticut
- 10 Best Intellectual Property Attorneys, Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service 2021 - Connecticut
- Moderator and Presenter, “Strategizing Left and Right of the Dot.” International Trademark Association (Spring 2015).
- Co-Author, USPTO Will E-Mail Post Registration Reminders, Gilbride, Tusa, Last & Spellane LLC, October 30, 2014
- Moderator and Presenter, “The Office Action: A Challenge or a Cinch?” International Trademark Association (Round Table, Summer 2014).
- Presenter, Panamanian Government – Border Patrol and Customs Agency (August 2010).
- The U.S. Dollar, Today’s Divining Rod for Identifying and Combatting I.P.R. Criminals.
- Presenter, “Hitting Illicit Traders Where It Hurts - Their Wallets! A Joint Criminal and Civil Approach.” Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (May 2010).
- Presenter, Costa Rican Government – Border Patrol and Customs Agency (August 2010).
- Coordinating Multi-National Civil and Criminal Anti-Illicit Trade Initiatives.
- Presenter, “Combating I.P.R. Crimes” U.S. Department of State. International Visitor Leadership Program (February 2010).
- Presenter, “Intellectual Property Rights in the Tri-Border Area of South America, Tracing/Financing Investigation/Asset Recovery” (August 2009).
- Presenter, “Use of Asset Restraining Orders to Combat Counterfeiting on a Worldwide Basis”
- International Trademark Association Sprint Conference (May 2009).
- Presenter, “Overview of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”
- International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition Spring Conference (May 2009).
- Presenter, “Asset Forfeiture”
- International Anti-Counterfeiting Fall Conference (October 2006).
- Article subject, “Sports Lawyer Scores with New Law: New Law Championed by CBA Sports Law Chair Targets Underhanded Agents,” Connecticut Law Tribune (August 2004).
- Presenter, Sports Lawyers Association Conference (Spring 2003).
- Review of State by State Agent/Athlete Regulations and Amendments.
- Presenter, “Insuring Adequate Protection of Intellectual Property.” Beyond Genomics: Financing Strategies for Biotechnology, Marcus Evans Conference (November 2000).
- Author, “Patenting Business Methods,” The Journal of New England Technology (November 2000).
- Presenter, “Acquisition and Control of Major League Sports by Entertainment Conglomerates.” Get Wired 2000: Arts, Entertainment, Media & Sports Law in the Digital Age, Association of the Bar for the City of New York (October 2000).
- Presenter, “Broadcasting of Sports Games, Programs & Movies Over the Internet.” Get Wired 2000: Arts, Entertainment, Media & Sports Law in the Digital Age, Association of the Bar for the City of New York (October 2000).
- Author, “Police, Protect Those Intangible Assets,” Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal (November 1997).
Todd Sharinn is Chair of Tannenbaum Helpern’s Intellectual Property practice. His multifaceted practice focuses on the worldwide registration, management, commercialization, protection, and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
For more than three decades, Todd has served as a strategic advisor and in many cases as an outside general counsel to clients in connection with the development of local and global branding strategies. Clients seek out Todd for his vast expertise with crafting and implementing programs to police and enforce their assorted patents, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, product configurations, copyrighted works, and marketing and advertising efforts.
Todd has litigated more than one hundred successful patent, trademark and copyright infringement matters in domestic and foreign jurisdictions. He has worked with the United States Customs Service (both I.C.E. and Homeland Security), the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Treasury Department, the United States Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency (ATF), Interpol, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and numerous international, U.S., and local law enforcement agencies in connection with the prevention of illicit trade, including smuggling, parallel imports and the manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods, as well as the freezing and seizure of assets derived from such illegal activities.
Todd’s expertise additionally includes patent litigation and licensing matters in the pharmaceutical, medical device, electronics, cosmetics, heavy machinery, and consumer goods industries, among others. He also has considerable experience representing entities and individuals in the sports and entertainment industries, specifically professional athletic leagues and teams, as well as media companies, producers, and distributors.
Todd is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University – James E. Beasley School of Law, and lectures extensively within the legal community and before industry groups and business management programs, and is widely published.
- Create, implement and prosecute multi-jurisdictional foreign/domestic anti-counterfeiting/anti-money laundering initiatives on behalf of multi-national Fortune 50 companies. Assist companies with acquiring real-time financial records and electronic communications exchanged between criminal syndicate members and accomplices without the criminals’ knowledge.
- Support multinational companies with the creation and implementation of internal anti-white collar crime and anti-illicit trade policies and various compliance initiatives. Liaise on behalf of these companies with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, ATF, Secret Service, Scotland Yard, INTERPOL, U.S. and U.K. Embassies in multiple countries) to design, coordinate and conduct multiple intelligence and evidence gathering joint civil and criminal initiatives.
- Assisted Fortune 20 company with designing, creating, executing and governance of an internal worldwide Anti-Illicit Trade unit.
- Representation of Fortune 50 companies in multi-national, multi-forum trade secret/copyright case. Awarded judgment in excess of $12.5 million dollars, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs of over $500,000. Assisted U.S. Customs Service in criminal conviction of counterfeiters. Oversaw and coordinated simultaneous civil raids, asset freezes and seizures in multiple U.S. States (New York, South Carolina, Las Vegas, and Sacramento) and foreign countries (India and Singapore).
- Successfully litigated more than 500 ex parte counterfeiting cases concerning parts for heavy machinery, cars and tractors, luxury products (watches and jewelry), clothing (shoes, sneakers, sports apparel, and event merchandise), cosmetics, sporting goods and pharmaceuticals. Exposed multiple counterfeiting and smuggling syndicates and enterprises relying on civil ex parte proceedings and remedies. Located, froze and recovered nearly $300 million of ill-gotten assets hidden in several foreign jurisdictions including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, India, Malaysia, Paraguay, Romania, and Singapore.
- Representation of investors in a patent infringement case against a publicly-traded licensor that broke its license agreement with the investors and stole the technology. Case settled favorably for client.
- Representation of medical device, apparel, footwear, sporting goods, multimedia and entertainment companies in worldwide brand development and protection programs, including trademark, patent and copyright counseling and prosecution. Created, negotiated and implemented manufacturer and distributor agreements and product, supply, purchase, license and development agreements.
- Tried patent infringement cases concerning pharmaceuticals, electrical devices, mechanical devices, medical devices, sporting goods, garbage bags and consumable products and their packaging.
- Litigated right of publicity case concerning Defendants theft and use of a celebrity’s persona and trademark to unfairly compete with that celebrity’s products.
- Representation of film distributor in arbitration for North American DVD and VHS distribution rights of a blockbuster film. Settled favorably for client.
- Outside general counsel to professional athletic leagues and teams. Drafted and enforced standard players’ agreements. Created and implemented sponsorship and licensing programs, including league merchandising and video gaming rights. Represented parties in connection with the purchase and sale of teams.
- Negotiated and implemented an exclusive worldwide, multi-platform Software License and Development Agreement between a publicly-traded video game manufacturer and a major national professional sports league.
- Representation of entities in connection with the creation, launching, operation, and management of two sports leagues.
College:
- B.A., Biology, Boston University (Cum Laude with Distinction)
- Dean’s List
- Dean William Randall Marshall Award Finalist, 1987
- Rhodes Scholarship (University Finalist), 1988
- Alpha Epsilon Delta (Medical Honor Society), 1987
- Department of Biology Undergraduate Assistant, 1985
- Boston University Varsity Ice Hockey and Baseball
- Recipient of Sigma Chi Research Grant, 1985
- Accepted B.A./M.A. Honors Program, 1984
- Department of Biology Research Fellow, 1984-1987
- Department of Chemistry Teaching Assistant, 1987
Law School
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Cum Laude)
- Moot Court Board Member, 1989-1991
- Advocacy Editor, 1990-91
- Gilbride, Tusa, Last & Spellane LLC
- Harris Beach PLLC
- Baker McKenzie
- Greenberg Traurig LLP
- International Trademark Association’s Anti-Counterfeiting Committee
- The Bar Association for the City of New York (Sports Law Executive Committee)
- The Sports Lawyers Association
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Eastern Districts of New York
- United States District Courts for the Northern Districts of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern Districts of New York
- United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuits
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Connecticut Law Tribune, Connecticut Legal Awards, Professional Excellence – Distinguished Leader 2020
- Lawyers of Distinction Intellectual Property 2021-2024
- Lawyers of Distinction Civil Litigation 2021-2023
- 10 Best Civil Litigation Attorneys, Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service 2021 - Connecticut
- 10 Best Intellectual Property Attorneys, Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service 2021 - Connecticut
- Moderator and Presenter, “Strategizing Left and Right of the Dot.” International Trademark Association (Spring 2015).
- Co-Author, USPTO Will E-Mail Post Registration Reminders, Gilbride, Tusa, Last & Spellane LLC, October 30, 2014
- Moderator and Presenter, “The Office Action: A Challenge or a Cinch?” International Trademark Association (Round Table, Summer 2014).
- Presenter, Panamanian Government – Border Patrol and Customs Agency (August 2010).
- The U.S. Dollar, Today’s Divining Rod for Identifying and Combatting I.P.R. Criminals.
- Presenter, “Hitting Illicit Traders Where It Hurts - Their Wallets! A Joint Criminal and Civil Approach.” Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (May 2010).
- Presenter, Costa Rican Government – Border Patrol and Customs Agency (August 2010).
- Coordinating Multi-National Civil and Criminal Anti-Illicit Trade Initiatives.
- Presenter, “Combating I.P.R. Crimes” U.S. Department of State. International Visitor Leadership Program (February 2010).
- Presenter, “Intellectual Property Rights in the Tri-Border Area of South America, Tracing/Financing Investigation/Asset Recovery” (August 2009).
- Presenter, “Use of Asset Restraining Orders to Combat Counterfeiting on a Worldwide Basis”
- International Trademark Association Sprint Conference (May 2009).
- Presenter, “Overview of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”
- International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition Spring Conference (May 2009).
- Presenter, “Asset Forfeiture”
- International Anti-Counterfeiting Fall Conference (October 2006).
- Article subject, “Sports Lawyer Scores with New Law: New Law Championed by CBA Sports Law Chair Targets Underhanded Agents,” Connecticut Law Tribune (August 2004).
- Presenter, Sports Lawyers Association Conference (Spring 2003).
- Review of State by State Agent/Athlete Regulations and Amendments.
- Presenter, “Insuring Adequate Protection of Intellectual Property.” Beyond Genomics: Financing Strategies for Biotechnology, Marcus Evans Conference (November 2000).
- Author, “Patenting Business Methods,” The Journal of New England Technology (November 2000).
- Presenter, “Acquisition and Control of Major League Sports by Entertainment Conglomerates.” Get Wired 2000: Arts, Entertainment, Media & Sports Law in the Digital Age, Association of the Bar for the City of New York (October 2000).
- Presenter, “Broadcasting of Sports Games, Programs & Movies Over the Internet.” Get Wired 2000: Arts, Entertainment, Media & Sports Law in the Digital Age, Association of the Bar for the City of New York (October 2000).
- Author, “Police, Protect Those Intangible Assets,” Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal (November 1997).