Congratulations to our colleagues selected by their peers to Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite 2024! Pictured left to right, top to bottom: Chris Graebe, Litigation; Will Graebe, Young Guns; Shannon Joseph, Litigation; Gene Jones, Business; John Kivus, Intellectual; Molly Stuart, Real Estate; and Jennifer Van Doren, Intellectual.

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What are the main challenges in the field of intellectual property law in the current global landscape?

As the metaverse expands and becomes more prevalent in our society, it is important to approach the concept of it as being “real” from a legal standpoint. While the metaverse may exist in the virtual world and whether you use it or not, the legal implications of its existence are very real. This makes for inevitable changes in IP and other related laws. Consequently, we will see that legal issues related to intellectual property, privacy, and virtual assets will continue to emerge.

What are your thoughts on artificial intelligence as it relates to intellectual property law? What, if anything, should people be aware of?

With the prevalence and expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) in our world today, users and attorneys ought to take into consideration the protection of intellectual property as it relates to AI. Take, for example, Boris Eldagsen, the photographer who submitted an AI-generated image (titled “Pseudomnesia: The Electrician”) to the recent Sony World Photography Awards and proceeded to win in the creative open category (which he then rejected). This begs the broader question of who owns the copyright in AI-generated work, particularly given Eldagsen’s claim of “co-creation” by him and AI of his award-winning image. Are the individual creator’s rights adequately protected? Protectability of IP created using AI raises complex legal issues that we should be thinking about, both as AI users as well as IP attorneys.

How do you stay up to date with changes in intellectual property law and regulations? Staying up to date with changes in laws and regulations is essential to effectively navigate the legal landscape, not only in the IP world (for example, in the privacy and data security space, as well).  I suggest subscribing to reputable newsletters and e-mail lists and keeping up with applicable caselaw. Joining associations such as the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Trademark Association (INTA), and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) are also great ways to stay in the loop on all things Intellectual Property- and Privacy-related, respectively.

The post For World IP Day, Partner Richard Caira Shares Thoughts on IP Challenges & Developments appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

We are pleased to announce, a bit belatedly (we’ve been nose-down working hard for our clients), that Morningstar Law Group was named to the list of Best Law Firms for 2023. At the national level, we were recognized for our work in Land Use & Zoning Law. And at the metropolitan level, we were recognized for work across the following practice areas.

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
• Copyright Law
• Corporate Governance Law
• Corporate Law
• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Employment Law – Management
• Labor Law – Union
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation – Antitrust
• Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Litigation – Labor & Employment
• Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
• Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions
• Litigation – Real Estate
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Real Estate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Securities Regulation
• Venture Capital Law

This recognition is more about our clients than it is about our firm. Without them, we’d not have the opportunity to exercise our experience and knowledge on their behalf and to help them achieve their business goals.

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Congratulations to our 2023 Lawyers of the Year, Ones to Watch, and Best Lawyers! Following is the official announcement.

25 Morningstar Law Group Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers^® Lists

Morningstar Law Group is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, four lawyers have received the honor of “Lawyer of the Year” for 2023 and two lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers has published their list for over four decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

“Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After four decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide,” says CEO Phillip Greer.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Morningstar Law Group would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list:

• Keith P. Anthony – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Litigation – Real Estate
• Jason L. Barron – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Real Estate Law
• William J. Brian, Jr. – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Litigation – Real Estate
• Patrick L. Byker – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law
• Amie Flowers Carmack – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Kenneth G. Carroll – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher Fulmer – Corporate Law
• Nil Ghosh – Real Estate Law
• Christopher T. Graebe – Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation
• Grayson S. Hale – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• J. Christopher Jackson – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• W.H. “Kip” Johnson III – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, and Venture Capital Law
• Gene A. Jones Jr. – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Shannon R. Joseph – Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
• John Kivus – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Michael J. Ovsievsky – Real Estate Law
• Lee A. Patterson III – Corporate Law
• Mack A. Paul IV – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law
• Scott Ryan – Corporate Law
• Molly Stuart – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law
• Mitchell A. Tuchman – Copyright Law
• Jennifer Collins Van Doren – Corporate Law
• Randy Whitmeyer – Copyright Law

Morningstar Law Group would also like to congratulate the four lawyers who received the honor of “Lawyer of the Year” for the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® list:

• Keith P. Anthony – Litigation – Land Use and Zoning in Raleigh
• Jason L. Barron – Land Use and Zoning Law in Raleigh
• Shannon R. Joseph – Arbitration and Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions in Raleigh
• Mitchell A. Tuchman – Copyright Law in Raleigh

Morningstar Law Group would also like to congratulate the two lawyers listed in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list:

• Harrison M. Gates – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment in Durham
• William Graebe – Commercial Litigation in Raleigh

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About Morningstar Law Group

Morningstar Law Group is a premier North Carolina business law firm with offices in Raleigh and Durham. Its attorneys have been recognized among the best in their field, with a special focus on business law, intellectual property and technology, litigation, and real estate and land use. The firm’s clients represent every aspect of the North Carolina economy, including entrepreneurs who have built successful companies from the ground up and those who are in the process of doing so.

Learn more at morningstarlawgroup.com.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

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Belated congratulations to our attorneys named to the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 22 in total including 2 recipients of Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year award – Shannon Joseph for Litigation – Antitrust and Mack Paul for Litigation – Real Estate. In addition, Harrison “Hank” Gates was named to Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.

Following are all attorneys named to the list.

• Keith Anthony: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
• Jason Barron: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• William Brian, Jr. : Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
• Patrick Byker: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Amie Flowers Carmack: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Kenneth Carroll: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher Fulmer: Corporate Law
• Nil Ghosh: Real Estate Law
• Grayson Hale: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• J. Christopher Jackson: Litigation – Intellectual Property
• W.H. “Kip” Johnson III: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, and Venture Capital Law
• Gene Jones, Jr.: Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Shannon Joseph: Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
• John Kivus: Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Michael Ovsievsky: Real Estate Law
• Lee Patterson III: Corporate Law
• Mack Paul IV: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
• Scott Ryan: Corporate Law
• Molly Stuart: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Mitchell Tuchman: Copyright Law
• Jennifer Van Doren: Corporate Law
• Randy Whitmeyer: Copyright Law

Best Lawyers has published their list for over four decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

The post 22 for 22! North Carolina Law Firm Morningstar Law Group Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers and Lawyer of the Year appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Mack Paul, a partner in our firm’s Real Estate and Land Use practice group, joined two other local business leaders in an interview with Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) regarding their business outlook for 2021.

Asked “Based on the information you have now, how do you see your company performing in 2021? What do you think will emerge as opportunities and potential headwinds for your business?”, Mack responded “As 2021 begins, we expect continued strong demand from our business clients confronting Covid-caused challenges. We are helping pharmaceutical companies continue their work on vaccines and therapies. Clients continue to need assistance with pandemic-related protocols and transitions with employees. We are working with many clients whose supply chains were disrupted as they solve those issues. And we are fielding an unprecedented number of calls from investors and real estate developers looking to get into a market known for its knowledge workers, wonderful amenities and healthy environment. Also, the productivity of our attorneys, and I suspect many others who have work at this time, is through the roof. The anxiety, sadness and boredom brought on by this pandemic has been largely channeled into work. Once we are all vaccinated later this year, we could see a mass exodus for a much-needed break in Tahiti. My hope and belief is that the local businesses, nonprofits and industries that require face-to-face interactions will see a massive resurgence.”

To provide a firm-wide perspective in his response, Mack consulted with fellow Morningstar Law Group partners Amie Carmack, Grayson Hale, Shannon Joseph, and Jennifer Van Doren.

The post Morningstar Law Group’s Mack Paul Looks at 2021 appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

What better way to celebrate Data Privacy Day than to congratulate Richard Caira on earning the designation of Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

The IAPP is the largest and most comprehensive global information privacy community and resource. Founded in 2000, the IAPP is a not-for-profit organization that helps define, promote and improve the privacy profession globally. The CIPP/US is considered the gold standard for industry professionals.

The post Partner Richard Caira Earns CIPP/US Certification appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Morningstar Law Group is proud to announce that eleven of our attorneys were selected to 2021 Super Lawyers, including three attorneys recognized as “Rising Stars.” These attorneys join an elite list of the best lawyers in North Carolina, as no more than 5% of the lawyers statewide are recognized as Super Lawyers. Only 2.5% of North Carolina lawyers receive the “Rising Star” distinction.

The designation is chosen by Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selections are made each year using a patented process which includes independent research, as well as a survey of statewide peer nominations and evaluations. For this reason, the list has become a reliable resource for those looking for proven legal representation.

Morningstar Law Group Attorneys Selected to 2021 Super Lawyers:

Keith Anthony, Business Litigation
Amanda Bambrick, Rising Star – Real Estate
Bill Brian, Land Use/Zoning
Amie Flowers Carmack, Employment & Labor
Grayson Hale, Mergers & Acquisitions
Chris Jackson, Business Litigation
Gene Jones, Business/Corporate
Shannon Joseph, Business Litigation
John Kivus, Rising Star – Intellectual Property Litigation
Jennifer Oxford, Rising Star – Real Estate
Mack Paul, Land Use/Zoning

Congratulations!

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