James P. Youngs is Chair of the Litigation Department. He represents companies, organizations and individuals in a broad range of matters, including business and contract disputes, unfair competition and trade secrets claims, and environmental, construction, employment and products liability litigation.
Mr. Youngs is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice, defending and prosecuting trademark and copyright infringement cases, and helps clients develop, prosecute and monitor trademark and copyright portfolios before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office.
Mr. Youngs also assists entrepreneurs, startup companies and emerging businesses in identifying, assessing and protecting their intellectual property assets and rights. He helps emerging companies that are in all stages of maturity develop and implement IP management and enforcement strategies, including registration, licensing and, when necessary, litigation. Mr. Youngs regularly advises new and existing businesses seeking to obtain Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification with New York State and the federal government.
Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Youngs was a law clerk at the United States Department of Justice, Office of Legal Policy, where he assisted with federal judicial nominations, including the nomination and confirmation of two United States Supreme Court Justices.
Representative Matters
- Obtained a unanimous decision from the Appellate Division, Third Department annulling a denial by the New York State Division of Minority and Women Business Development of MWBE certification.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of solar energy developer in an anti-SLAPP Act case brought by competitor in federal court, and successfully cleared pending real estate litigation to permit an approximately $25 million project to proceed.
- Obtained dismissal of a products liability suit against an out-of-state client based on the lack of New York court jurisdiction.
- Secured dismissal of a class action lawsuit brought against a city in Upstate New York by over two dozen property owners alleging damages as a result of lead and arsenic contamination allegedly emanating from a city-owned property.
- Secured summary judgment of behalf of the former state prosecutors in a malicious prosecution and false imprisonment case brought by criminal defendants acquitted of murder.
- Obtained an order in an Article 78 proceeding on behalf of a public library district, directing two municipal boards to fund a construction project through a special tax levy.
- Won summary judgment on behalf of a sitting New York State judge sued on federal constitutional grounds by the father of a minor criminal defendant charged with hate crimes and attempted murder.
- Defended a local business against trademark infringement, unfair competition and other Lanham Act claims brought by a national company in federal court, obtaining dismissal of the suit and favorable resolution by way of a coexistence agreement.
- Advise dozens of businesses through New York State regarding Empire State Development review of application for MWBE certification; won agency hearing on appeal challenging denial of certification for defense contractor.
- Obtain cancellation of trademark registrations before the PTO Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, permitting subsequent registration of clients’ competing marks.
