MUNCK WILSON MANDALA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Principal
- Principal Attorney / Dallas
Aaron B. Gottlieb is a principal attorney in the complex litigation/dispute resolution group where he concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and high-stakes litigation. Aaron has extensive legal experience assisting clients in various stages of complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy litigation, consumer finance litigation, corporate governance, and commercial lease review.
Aaron received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, graduating in the top 25% of his class. Prior to law school, he earned his B.A. in government and business foundations from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Dallas Bar Association. He is the founder and director of the Special Olympics Delegation and regional board member of the Anti-Defamation League. Aaron previously worked as an associate for McGlinchey Stafford in Dallas.
Experience
Representation of clients in commercial matters including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate / Dallas
Aaron C. Dilbeck is a senior associate at Munck Wilson Mandala, practicing in the complex litigation/dispute resolution group. His practice is focused on intellectual property disputes and commercial litigation.
Aaron advocates for national and international clients throughout the country and on both sides of the docket. He has experience with matters involving business torts, fraud, and breaches of fiduciary duties; complex contractual relationships; broker and finder controversies; confidentiality and non-disclosure disagreements; trade secret and patent infringement battles; partnership and investment disputes; securities fraud litigation; and tortious interference claims.
Aaron advocates for national and international clients throughout the country and on both sides of the docket. He has experience with matters involving business torts, fraud, and breaches of fiduciary duties; complex contractual relationships; broker and finder controversies; confidentiality and non-disclosure disagreements; trade secret and patent infringement battles; partnership and investment disputes; securities fraud litigation; and tortious interference claims.
Aaron received his J.D. with honors from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law where he was executive editor of the SMU Science and Technology Law Review. Prior to law school, Aaron worked as a ceramics engineer providing research and development as well as quality assurance and control. Aaron is also the first listed inventor on US Patent Nos. 10,047,002; 10,899,655; and 11,565,465.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Dallas
Alex Jablonski is an associate in the litigation group. He focuses his practice on patent litigation and commercial litigation. Alex earned his J.D. from Texas A&M University School of Law, where he graduated in the top 2% of his class. While in law school, he was a member of the Texas A&M Law Review and participated in the Patent Clinic.
Prior to law school, Alex received a B.S. in chemical engineering from The University of Oklahoma. He participated in the Campus Activities Council and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. During his academic years, Alex worked on IP issues for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, he served as a judicial intern for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Alex was the top scorer on the July 2022 Texas Bar Exam.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Dallas
- Litigation Associate and Member
Allison R. Ainsworth is a litigation associate and member of MWM's award-winning litigation team. She earned her Bachelor of Science in political communication from the University of Texas where she was the chair of UT's Student Government Legislative Policy Council and a College of Communication representative for the Student Government. She was heavily involved in various leadership roles in student government on campus.
Allison earned her J.D. at American University Washington College of Law where she developed her courtroom skills through Washington College of Law's Mock Trial Honor Society. She competed in several national mock trial competitions and was named a semi-finalist in the Gate University School of Law's 2020 Mock Trial Competition. Allison also served as note and comment editor of the Washington College of Law International Law Review, and she was awarded the 2020-2021 Belva A. Lockwood Endowed Scholarship.
Allison's professional experience includes serving as a legislative intern for the U.S. House of Representatives House Judiciary Committee and clerking for law firms in Dallas, Texas, and Washington, DC. An avid philanthropist in her spare time, Allison has volunteered for organizations such as Makarios International as a Dominican Republic Volunteer and Reading is Fundamental as a Kappa Kappa Gamma Volunteer.
Amanda K. Greenspon is a partner in the technology/intellectual property law group. Amanda advises companies on trademarks and copyrights and works with them on all aspects of their trademark and copyright portfolios. This includes branding and licensing as well as prosecution and enforcement actions at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in the federal courts. Amanda's experience with trademarks is particularly comprehensive as it runs the gamut from assisting clients with brand development to bringing actions against infringement of a client's famous marks.
Amanda has represented companies in a variety of fields including consumer packaging, fashion, adult beverage, travel, restaurant services, toys, furniture, technology and financial services regarding their intellectual property portfolios.
Prior to law school, Amanda worked for a global management consulting, technology service and outsourcing company on projects in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Zurich, Switzerland as well as at a global executive search and consulting organization.
Experience
Represented footwear company in trademark lawsuit pertaining to phonetically identical marks
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- of Counsel / Austin
Andrew C. Graham is of counsel in the technology/intellectual property law group. Andrew is a registered U.S. patent attorney and focuses on patent matters in the electrical and electronic arts, with an emphasis on patent preparation and prosecution, client counseling related to patent acquisition and portfolio management strategies, patent invalidity activities, and licensing.
Andrew has extensive experience in the patent acquisition process, including inventor interactions and invention disclosures, evaluations of patentability, and the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and coordination with foreign patent counsel in the prosecution of foreign applications.
Andrew has extensive experience in the patent acquisition process, including inventor interactions and invention disclosures, evaluations of patentability, and the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and coordination with foreign patent counsel in the prosecution of foreign applications.
Prior to joining Munck Wilson Mandala, Andrew was a partner with Howison & Arnott. Before his time at Howison & Arnott, Andrew was a partner for 15 years at Zagorin O'Brien Graham LLP, a firm he co-founded in 1998. Andrew began his legal career in 1992 at the Austin office of Skjerven Morrill MacPherson, initially as a technical writer, then as a Patent Agent while in law school, then as an attorney.
Andrew began his technical career in 1976 at Mostek Corporation, where he held design engineering and engineering management positions related to semiconductor memory product design, including dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), static RAMs, and programmable memory devices. In 1984, he joined GigaBit Logic and served as Director of Memory Development, overseeing the development of ultra high-speed gallium arsenide memory devices. Andrew co-founded Gazelle Microcircuits in 1985 and served as Vice-President of Engineering until 1991 when Gazelle was acquired by TriQuint Semiconductor (now QORVO).
Andrew is a named inventor in 19 U.S. patents.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Partner
- Partner / Los Angeles
Mr. Handal is a skilled litigator dedicated to navigating complex business disputes involving Intellectual Property, breaches of fiduciary duty, partnership break-ups, professional liability, product liability, trademark infringement, Trade Secrets, data breaches, and Lanham Act violations. He has over 40 years of first-chair litigation experience in Federal, State, and Administrative tribunals. He has represented clients from all over the World, tried over 100 matters, and has been lead counsel in over 170 patent litigation cases.
Mr. Handal is well known, at home and abroad, for his skills in complex litigation involving IP, business break-ups, trademark infringement, trade secret litigation, data breaches, and Lanham Act violations. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board, and various Federal Appeals Courts, District and State Courts. He represented clients in 17 IPRs, trying three to successful conclusion and he successfully tried cases before the International Trade Commission.
Mr. Handal regularly advises international clients in the United States as well as American clients on doing business overseas. His international reach extends from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the entire Middle East to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and the rest of the Pacific Rim.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Handal advises and represents clients in buy/sell side mid-sized M&A transactions, including leading due diligence, data room management, contract negotiations, and drafting purchase and sale documents.
Experience
Race Winning Brands v. Gearhart. 8:22-cv-01446-FWS. Central District of California. Employer action against employee who left to work for a competitor. Trade Secret, Cyber theft, breach of contract
Tony is a recognized leader in intellectual property controversies, having been involved in all manner of disputes worldwide, including trials, arbitrations, IPRs, and product clearance investigations.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Chair - Employment and Labor
- Co - Chair - Employment and Labor / Dallas
Audrey E. Mross is a partner and co-chairs the employment and labor law group. Audrey is highly regarded as a legal adviser to companies and HR departments locally and nationally. She worked for 11 years as a human resource professional prior to her legal practice. Audrey represents clients in matters involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and she guides human resource professionals in proactive measures to avoid litigation.
Among the many services Audrey provides to clients, she assists with drafting employment agreements, handbooks, and other employment-related documents to comply with federal, state, and local law, for single and multi-state employers.
Audrey is an avid presenter. She receives frequent requests to give speeches, present, and serve on employment law discussion panels at employment law and HR professional conferences and seminars. Audrey has given more than 700 speeches, radio broadcasts, and webcasts since 1995. She is sourced and published in USA Today, CNN/Money, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, National Law Journal, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Business Journal, HR Magazine, SHRM Legal Report, HR Matters magazine and Dallas Bar Association's Headnotes.
Experience
Company-wide audits and edit of job descriptions, with analysis of FLSA exempt vs. nonexempt and employee vs. contractor status
Bill is of counsel in MWM's intellectual property practice. He advises companies on trademarks and copyrights and works with them on all aspects of their trademark and copyright portfolios.
Bill's represent clients in intellectual property matters with an emphasis on trademark and trade dress counseling, prosecution, and litigation. He also has substantial experience representing clients in IP litigation issues relating to trademarks, trade dress, dilution and unfair competition.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Principal
- Principal Attorney / Los Angeles
Brent Lehman is a principal attorney practicing in the award-winning litigation group. Brent focuses on entertainment and litigation matters, specializing in the entertainment industry and emerging tech. Trusted deeply by his diverse list of clients, Brent maintains a client-first mentality that is evident in how fiercely he advocates for their interests.
He has represented clients from the music, film, technology, and video game industries in matters including IP disputes, breach of contract, failure to pay contingent compensation, breach of fiduciary duty, white-collar defense, and fraud.
Named a 2022 Super Lawyer Rising Star, Brent continues to establish himself in the Los Angeles and greater California area as a go-to civil litigation attorney. He's spent more than a decade building this reputation and honing his litigation skills at reputable boutique and large firms.
Experience
Obtained six figure settlement on behalf of model from corporate entity that continued to use her image in advertising after the company's license for use of her image had expired
Brian D. Walker is a partner in the technology/intellectual property law group. Brian focuses his practice on the procurement and management of intellectual property, with an emphasis on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in electrical and software-related technologies. He also has experience with obtaining trademark and copyright protection, infringement and validity analysis, patent and trademark licensing and litigation support relating to patent matters.
Brian previously worked as a partner with a major Texas law firm in the Intellectual Property section. In this capacity, he secured domestic and international patent coverage for several Fortune 500 clients in the telecommunications, semiconductor, E-commerce, computer and software industries. He also counseled companies in the development, protection, and exploitation of intellectual property assets.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Dallas
Caitlin Paulden is an associate in the award-winning litigation group. While in law school, Caitlin worked as a senior executive editor of the Baylor Law Review, was a member of the Baylor Barrister Society, and served as a student ambassador. Caitlin enjoyed competing in Moot Court competitions such as the Dawson & Sodd Moot Court Competition - for which she was a quarterfinalist - and the Frank A. Schreck Gaming Law Moot Court Competition. Caitlin served as a legal extern for the Honorable Alan Albright, and the Honorable Amos Mazzant III. She also worked as a research assistant at Baylor Law School.
During her undergraduate years at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Caitlin was heavily involved in Delta Gamma, serving as her chapter's president, and vice president of finance, and she received the Delta Gamma Award of Excellence. A philanthropic organization that has remained close to Caitlin's heart for many years is Service for Sight - which is dedicated to providing access and advocacy for people in the blind or visually impaired community. Caitlin has volunteered with the organization since 2015.
Carroll Shelby v. Halicki. Case No. 820-cv-01344 MCS (DFMx) Central District of California. Trade dress, Trademark, breach of contract. High value dispute over the Shelby GT500CR vehicle and its alleged impersonation of the "Eleanor" car character from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate / Dallas
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- Principal Attorney / Dallas
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- Principal Attorney / Dallas
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- Principal Attorney / Dallas
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Director at Large
- Director on the Board of the University of San Diego Law School Alumni Association / Orange County Chapter
- Lead Counsel
- Partner / Los Angeles
Eve Brackmann serves as lead counsel in jury and bench trials in all California state and federal courts and she is well known for her effective private arbitration work. Her real estate practice covers high-stakes litigation for casino developers, shopping center owners, mortgage companies, and big-box retailers. Her business litigation practice covers disputes in venture partnerships, manufacturer and distributor disputes, contract-related lawsuits, fiduciary duty, unfair competition, defamation, trade secret, and anti-SLAPP lawsuits. Eve also has significant experience with high-stakes Homeowners' Association Disputes, as well as cannabis-related matters.
In the community, Eve serves as Director at Large on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) as well as co-chair of the OCBA Mentoring Committee, a member of Litigation and Real Property law sections in both the Los Angeles County and Orange County Bar Associations, the Cannabis law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and she has served for over a decade as an arbitrator on the OCBA's Mandatory Fee Arbitration Panel.
Eve also serves as a director on the board of the University of San Diego Law School Alumni Association/Orange County Chapter, and she is a member of the University of Southern California Alumni Association. Other organizations to which Eve devotes significant time include California Women Lawyers, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, the American Bar Association, and the National Order of the Barristers. She is also a longstanding member of the Banyard Inn of Court (Master Bencher/Barrister).
Experience
Won at trial in post-pandemic Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of a medical office tenant defrauded by a landlord
Eve has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America since 2018 and a Southern California Super Lawyer since 2016
Eve is a force of nature in both commercial real estate and high-stakes commercial litigation. Clients also seek her for her winning record on appeal, including several published, groundbreaking appeals
Job Titles:
- Co - Managing Partner / Los Angeles
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- Co - Managing Partner / Austin
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- Co - Managing Partner / Los Angeles
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- Chairman - Entertainment / Los Angeles
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- Co - Chair - Litigation / Dallas
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- Managing Partner / Houston
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- Senior Associate / Dallas
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- Senior Associate / Dallas
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- Chairman - Transactional Law / Dallas
Mandala, Ray and Kaliser are members of MWM's corporate practice. Mandala is a name partner and member of the executive committee and chairs MWM's corporate practice. Ray and Kaliser are both partners in the corporate practice. Martinez is a senior partner in MWM's complex litigation/dispute resolution practice. She is a trial attorney with a versatile
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- Principal Attorney / Dallas
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- Chairman - Large Loss Property Subrogation / Dallas
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- Co - Chair - Litigation / Dallas
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- Co - Chair - Patent Litigation / Dallas
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- Managing Partner / Austin
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- Principal Attorney / Dallas
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- Co - Chair - High Stakes Litigation
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- Principal Attorney / Dallas
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- Corporate Counsel / Dallas
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- Principal Attorney / Austin
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- Principal Attorney / Houston
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- Senior Associate / Dallas