Intellectual Property (IP) in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Larry Sandell, a registered patent attorney with Mei & Mark LLP and the head of the firm’s cannabis practice, focuses his practice on counseling clients on strategic intellectual property matters; drafting and prosecuting patent applications; litigating infringement and other matters in federal district courts and the International Trade Commission; arguing federal appeals; and handling Amazon.com take-down disputes. Mr. Sandell has a passion for advising start-ups and other innovative companies on Intellectual Property matters – and focuses on cannabis, consumer electronics, medical devices, food science, artificial intelligence, and software technology areas. He has argued in the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal Circuit, the Ninth Circuit, and D.C. Circuit. Mr. Sandell is frequently quoted in media regarding the intersection of IP and the cannabis business, including by Forbes.com and Marijuana Moment. Before law school, Larry fought for marijuana law reform, serving as the Marijuana Policy Project’s Assistant Director of State Policies and running a signature drive that placed a cannabis legalization initiative on Nevada’s 2006 ballot. Larry is a member of the California and District of Columbia Bars, and is admitted to practice before various federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States. He earned his J.D., with high honors, for The George Washington School of Law, where he was awarded membership in the Order of the Coif. Larry earned a B.S.E., with distinction, from Duke University with a double major in biomedical and electrical engineering.

Jeff focuses his practice on IP litigation. A regular columnist, Jeff is currently writing a series on the legal issues, including patent and copyright issues, of using artificial intelligence like ChatGPT. Jeff is the founder of www.justcites.com, built and coded for lawyers so they don’t have to flip through tables in the back of The Bluebook®. Jeff’s experience in business and law also allows him to pursue his passion: helping entrepreneurs, inventors, and pioneers in science, art, and business. Jeff is one of the original team members of grIP Venture Studio (www.gripventure.com/jeff-pearson), where he helps emerging companies grow. He is also the founding sponsor of Clemson University’s CATALYST program (https://scienceweb.clemson.edu/catalyst), a two-semester program and competition that brings Science and Entrepreneurship together. In December of 2020, Clemson World Magazine recognized Mr. Pearson for his accomplishments as an attorney, a veteran, and a best-selling author. You can read about some of Jeff’s efforts in the articles linked below. Jeff advises companies of all sizes, from startups to trillion-dollar corporations. He’s advised companies on using their patents and other IP as part of their business strategy. He has drafted, negotiated, and closed deals on major licensing agreements. Jeff also advises publishing companies and authors on protecting and licensing their copyrighted work. A columnist at the Chronicle-Independent, Mr. Pearson shares some of his works at www.acrossthemarsh.com. He is the author of the novel Forever Across The Marsh, a #1 Amazon Best Seller in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Before joining Mei & Mark LLP, Jeff taught law at the Naval Justice School, where he trained attorneys on trial advocacy, criminal procedure, and the rules of evidence. Before teaching, he served as a lead counsel to military commanders overseas, advising on all matters with a majority of his practice dedicated to international law. A veteran of foreign wars, he has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Prior to serving in the U.S. Navy, Jeff worked as a law clerk and patent agent at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP in Washington, DC. His engineering experience includes work on gas turbines at General Electric as part of GE’s Early Identification Program. He also graduated magna cum laude with honors from Clemson University’s College of Engineering and Science before receiving a juris doctor from George Washington University.