David counsels clients in nearly every area of intellectual property, and handles business transactions involving trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets and technology. He has handled the prosecution or maintenance of more than 2,500 trademark and copyright registrations, both within the United States and internationally.  

Among other honors and awards, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro for Litigation--Intellectual Property (2014), Trade Secrets Law (2017) and Trademark Law (2019) by Best Lawyers (formerly The Best Lawyers in America©). He also has been listed annually since 2008 in Best Lawyers for various fields including Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Trademark Law, and Trade Secrets Law, in North Carolina Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property Litigation (2014-2020 and 2009-2010, Rising Star), and in Business North Carolina as a "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property (formerly Patents/Intellectual Property (2005-2008, 2010-2020)) and as a "Young Gun" (2008).

A client quoted in the 2019 Chambers USA guide stated that David "'is a very intelligent, well-spoken and approachable person, and moreover a very good intellectual property attorney.’”

David serves as a member of the Local Patent Rules Committee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2019-present).

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David represents clients in commercial disputes and matters pertaining to technology and intellectual property. He litigates and tries cases in state and federal courts, as well as before government agencies. 

Among other honors and awards, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro for Litigation--Intellectual Property (2014), Trade Secrets Law (2017) and Trademark Law (2019) by Best Lawyers (formerly The Best Lawyers in America©).  He also has been listed annually since 2008 in Best Lawyers for various fields including Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Trademark Law, and Trade Secrets Law, in North Carolina Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property Litigation (2014-2020 and 2009-2010, Rising Star), and in Business North Carolina as a "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property (formerly Patents/Intellectual Property (2005-2008, 2010-2020)) and as a "Young Gun" (2008).

David serves as a member of the Local Patent Rules Committee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2019-present).

Learn more about this practice area

David has extensive experience writing and negotiating software and technology licenses for businesses. He counsels and assists clients with all manner of software licenses, celebrity endorsement contracts, brand licenses, and collaborative technology development contracts.

Among other honors and awards, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro for Litigation--Intellectual Property (2014), Trade Secrets Law (2017) and Trademark Law (2019) by Best Lawyers (formerly The Best Lawyers in America©).  He also has been listed annually since 2008 in Best Lawyers for various fields including Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Trademark Law, and Trade Secrets Law, in North Carolina Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property Litigation (2014-2020 and 2009-2010, Rising Star), and in Business North Carolina as a "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property (formerly Patents/Intellectual Property (2005-2008, 2010-2020)) and as a "Young Gun" (2008).

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Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Intellectual Property Law (2016-2020)

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Intellectual Property Litigation, Litigation—Patent, Patent Law, and Trademark Law (2008-2020); Trade Secrets Law (2016-2020); and as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Greensboro for Litigation—Intellectual Property (2014), Trade Secrets Law (2017, 2020) and Trademark Law (2019)

Recognized as a "Trademark Star" by Managing Intellectual Property's IP STARS (2019)

Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Intellectual Property Litigation (2014-2020); Top 100 attorneys (2018); “Rising Star” (2009-2010), Law and Politics Magazine 

Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition in Intellectual Property Litigation (2015)

Recognized by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in Patents and Intellectual Property Law (2005-2007), Intellectual Property Law (2008, 2010-2020) and “Young Guns” (2008)

Recognized by his peers as a Fellow in The Litigation Counsel of America, trial lawyer honorary society, 2014-2015

40 Leaders Under Forty Award Recipient, Triad Business Journal (2007)

Local Patent Rules Committee, United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2019-present)

Chairman (2011-2012), Vice Chairman (2010-11), Treasurer (2009-10), Secretary (2008-09), Pro Bono / Information Chair (2007-08), Newsletter Chair (2005-07), Intellectual Property Section of North Carolina Bar Association 

Council (2016-2017), Sports and Entertainment Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association

Launch Greensboro, Advisory Board (2019-present)

Vice-Chairman (2009-13) and Member (2006-2016) of Board of Directors, Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship

Chairman (2018-2019), Trademark Specialty Committee, North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization (2011-2019)

Institutional Review Board, Moses Cone Health System (2005-present)

Chairman (2016-2019), Operation Smile - Carolinas Board of Directors (2008-present) and Co-Chair of Smiles Galore Gala (2006-2007)

Judge (2009), Wake Forest Business School Elevator Competition for Entrepreneurs 

President (2010-11), Jefferson Wood Homeowners Association Board

Adjunct Professor, University of North Carolina School of Law (1998-2000)

Intellectual Property Section of American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)

Presentation, "Licensing: Turning Designs, Brands and other Intellectual Property into Profits," WithIt (Women's Leadership Development Network in the Furniture, Home and Furnishings Industry) Conference, Alexandria, VA, June 25, 2019

Presentation, "Trademarks: How Much and How Long?" HQ Greensboro, November 16, 2017

Speech, "Legal Issues for Artists," ArtsRevolution by UNC Greensboro's Entrepreneurship Center, April 2017

Speech and CLE, "Recent and Interesting Developments in Trademark and Trade Secret Law," University of North Carolina Law School Festival of Legal Learning, February 2017

Moderator, "How to Identify and Contract with a Cloud Services Provider That You Can Really Trust," ABA Intellectual Property Roundtable (Raleigh, NC, December 2016)

Speech on copyright law, UNC Greensboro Masters of Fine Arts Program class, October 31, 2016

Speech, "Biggest Change in IP Law in the Last 30 Years," ABA Round Table concerning Defend Trade Secrets Act, at The Frontier (in Research Triangle Park, NC), June 15, 2016

Article, "How the New Trade Secrets Law May Affect You," May 27, 2016

Speech, "Recent Developments in Internet Law," University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School Festival of Legal Learning, February 12, 2016

Speech, "Legal Issues for Artists," UNCG Southern Entrepreneurship in the Arts Conference, February 21, 2015

Speech, "IP/Trademark Issues Relevant to Brewery Law," Mecklenburg County Bar, October 2014

Speech, "Top 10 Myths of Digital Marketing and Advertising," Association of Corporate Counsel, September 2014

Presentation, "Intellectual Property, an Interactive Discussion," Triad StartUp Lab for Piedmont Triad Partnership's PTP Next Program, June 19, 2013

Speech, "Recent Developments in Internet Law," University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School Festival of Legal Learning, February 8, 2013

Presentation, "IP Disputes Relevant to Business Planning in Uncertain Times," Brooks Pierce and Stearns Financial seminar, February 2, 2012

Speech, "Current Intellectual Property Issues for Global Business," Conducting a Cross-Border Business From North Carolina, Brooks Pierce and Dixon Hughes Goodman seminar, November 10, 2011 

The Chair's Comments, IPLinks, North Carolina Bar Association Intellectual Property Section, November 2011 

Speeches, "Recent Developments in Internet, Privacy and Business Communications Law," University of North Carolina School of Law Festival of Legal Learning, February 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 

Speech, "Marketing on the Internet: What's Legal and What's Not," Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, October 2010 

Speech, "Does Your Trademark Deserve Protection?" Intellectual Property Law Annual Meeting, April 2010 

Speech, "Art Law: What You Need to Know on Copyrights and Intellectual Property," United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, May 2009 

Article, "Can an Individual Now Use a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to Wipe Out an Intellectual Property Judgment?" IP Links, North Carolina Bar Association, January 2009 

Intellectual Property Advisor, Fall 2008 

Intellectual Property Advisor, Summer 2008 

Speech, "Putting your IP House in Order -- How to Make Big Money When You Sell Your Business," Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, November 2007 

Article, "Banking on a Name," North Carolina Bankers Association, October 2007 

Article, "Trademark Dilution Law Changes," IP Links, North Carolina Bar Association, December 2006 

Speech, "Document Retention and Destruction," (workshop with Nicole Crawford), February and March 2006 

Speech, "Internet Piracy and Privacy," Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, November 2002 

Published in the Stanford Law & Policy Review, 1996

David has many interests, professional and otherwise, beyond what appears on this page. He counsels a significant private school. He helps entrepreneurs launch their ideas. He also tries to convince his kids that his fondness for baseball, Duke basketball, the outdoors and video games is not misguided. Results are pending.

Recent Publications & Media

Speaking Engagements

June 28, 2019

Brooks Pierce Attorneys Present on Intellectual Property

Brooks Pierce attorneys David Sar and Amanda Whorton presented at the annual WithIt Conference on June 25 in Alexandria, Virginia. The presentation, entitled “Licensing: Turning Furniture Designs, Brands and Other Intellectual Property into Profits,” detailed best practices for licensing in the...Read more
March 29, 2017

David Sar to Speak at ArtsRevolution

Brooks Pierce partner David Sar will speak at UNCG’s ArtsRevolution on April 1st at Revolution Mill in Greensboro. ArtsRevolution educates and celebrates the Triad’s multifaceted arts community. The event features workshops to help talented individuals learn how to turn their passion into a...Read more
November 14, 2016

Brooks Pierce Partners to Moderate IP Roundtable

Brooks Pierce partners Darrell Fruth and David Sar will moderate the American Bar Association Intellectual Property Section Roundtable in Raleigh on Dec. 5. The discussion, titled “How to Identify and Contract with a Cloud Services Provider That You Can Really Trust,” will help attendees better...Read more
October 27, 2016

David Sar to Speak on Copyright Law at UNC-Greensboro

Brooks Pierce partner David Sar will speak about copyright law to a Master of Fine Arts class at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro on Monday, Oct. 31. The class is taught by Terry L. Kennedy, associate director of the Master of Fine Arts Writing Program at UNC-Greensboro. Sar counsels...Read more

Recognitions

Eight Brooks Pierce practice areas and 18 of the firm’s attorneys are ranked among the best in...(read more)
Thirty-four Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2020 edition of North Carolina...(read more)
Twenty-one Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2020...(read more)
The 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 55 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Nine Brooks Pierce practice areas and 18 of the firm’s attorneys are ranked among the best in North...(read more)
Forty-four Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2019 edition of North Carolina Super...(read more)
Twenty-five Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2019...(read more)
The 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 55 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Seven Brooks Pierce practice areas and 21 of the firm’s attorneys are ranked among the best in...(read more)
Thirty-eight Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2018 edition of North Carolina...(read more)
Twenty-five Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2018...(read more)
The 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 54 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Thirty-eight Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2017 edition of North Carolina...(read more)
Thirteen Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2017...(read more)
The 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 50 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
17 attorneys and six practice areas are recognized in the 2016 law firm guide Six Brooks Pierce...(read more)
Thirty-six Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2016 edition of North Carolina Super...(read more)
Thirteen Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2016...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 26 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2015...(read more)
The 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America © recognized 48 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Thirty-six Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized in the 2015 edition of North Carolina Super...(read more)
Sixteen Brooks Pierce attorneys have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2015...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 27 of the firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2014...(read more)
The 2015 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© recognized 46 Brooks Pierce attorneys as industry...(read more)
Business North Carolina magazine publishes annually the “Legal Elite,” lawyers throughout the state...(read more)
Brooks Pierce is pleased to announce that 39 lawyers, representing 46% of the firm’s attorneys,...(read more)
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to announce that 46 lawyers were...(read more)
Business North Carolina magazine publishes annually the "Legal Elite," lawyers throughout the state...(read more)
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to announce that 45 lawyers,...(read more)
Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to announce that 34 lawyers,...(read more)
Business North Carolina Business North Carolina magazine publishes annually the " Legal Elite " -...(read more)
The Best Lawyers in America Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased to...(read more)
Business North Carolina magazine publishes annually the "Legal Elite" - lawyers throughout the...(read more)
Three attorneys recognized in "Top 100" North Carolina Super Lawyers Brooks Pierce is pleased to...(read more)
Business North Carolina magazine Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is pleased...(read more)

Recent Publications & Media

David Sar Named IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property

Firm News
/
October 14, 2019
Brooks Pierce partner David Sar was recently named an “IP Star” for trademark by Managing Intellectual Property . Sar counsels clients in nearly every area of intellectual property and handles business transactions involving trademarks, patents,...(read more)

David Sar Appointed to Local Patent Rules Committee

Firm News
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July 10, 2019
Brooks Pierce partner David Sar was recently appointed to the Local Patent Rules Committee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The Local Patent Rules Committee provides advice on the content of rules and...(read more)

David Sar Named Chair of Trademark Law Specialty Committee

Firm News
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May 7, 2018
Brooks Pierce partner David Sar has been named chair of the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization’s Trademark Law Specialty Committee. Sar has been a member of the committee since its inception in 2011. The Trademark Law Specialty...(read more)

David Sar to Present on Trademarks at HQ Greensboro

Firm News
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September 11, 2017
Brooks Pierce intellectual property partner David Sar will speak at a free business seminar hosted by HQ Greensboro on November 16. Brooks Pierce is a proud community sponsor of HQ Greensboro, a shared workspace in downtown Greensboro that provides...(read more)

How the New Trade Secrets Law May Affect You

Insight
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May 17, 2016
A week ago, on May 11, 2016, the President signed into law the new federal “Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016.” It arms with substantial new weaponry those whose trade secrets have been taken. What has been less heralded, but might just affect you...(read more)

Brooks Pierce to Host Association of Corporate Counsel Event

Firm News
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September 18, 2014
Brooks Pierce will host an event for the members of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) on Wednesday, September 24 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the firm’s Greensboro office. The keynote speakers, Brooks Pierce Partners Charles Marshall and...(read more)

Conducting a Cross-Border Business From North Carolina

Firm News
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November 10, 2011
Brooks Pierce and Dixon Hughes Goodman hosted a seminar on global commerce on November 10, 2011 at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. The program lasted from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm, followed by a cocktail-hour reception Speakers included: Ken Hughes,...(read more)

IP Advisor

Insight
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July 1, 2008
With the proliferation of bank mergers, internet banking, and loan production offices outside of banks’ traditional geographic footprints, the issue of the protection of bank names has again risen to prominence. This issue affects not only de novo...(read more)

Sar Appointed to Board of Operation Smile

Firm News
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June 23, 2008
Brooks Pierce partner David Sar has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Southeast Region of Operation Smile. Operation Smile is a non-profit organization bringing free dental and oral surgery to children in over 50 nations around the...(read more)

Trademark Dilution Law Changes

Insight
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October 1, 2006
Intellectual Property Advisor On October 6, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006. This amendment is widely regarded as a response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the well-publicized Victoria’s...(read more)

The Importance of Trademark Maintenance and Check-Ups

Insight
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October 1, 2006
Intellectual Property Advisor Consider whether your business wants to confront these issues: A knock-off website refuses to stop using a brand similar to yours and claims that your company failed to register your trademark, even though you’ve been...(read more)