
David W. Sar

David Sar represents clients in commercial disputes and matters pertaining to technology and intellectual property. He litigates and handles business transactions involving trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and technology.
David Sar represents clients in commercial disputes and matters pertaining to technology and intellectual property. He litigates and handles business transactions involving trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and technology.
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/the Triad for Litigation--Intellectual Property (2014, 2021), Trade Secrets Law (2017, 2020) 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 (2014-2021 and 2009-2010, Rising Star), and in Business North Carolina as a "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property (formerly Patents/Intellectual Property (2005-2008, 2010-2021)) 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).
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/the Triad for Litigation--Intellectual Property (2014, 2021), Trade Secrets Law (2017, 2020) 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 (2014-2021 and 2009-2010, Rising Star), and in Business North Carolina as a "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property (formerly Patents/Intellectual Property (2005-2008, 2010-2021)) 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).
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/the Triad for Litigation--Intellectual Property (2014, 2021), Trade Secrets Law (2017, 2020) 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 (2014-2021 and 2009-2010, Rising Star), and in Business North Carolina as a "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property (formerly Patents/Intellectual Property (2005-2008, 2010-2021)) and as a "Young Gun" (2008).
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 (2008-2021); Trade Secrets Law (2016-2021); and as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Greensboro/the Triad for Litigation—Intellectual Property (2014, 2021), Trade Secrets Law (2017, 2020) and Trademark Law (2019)
Recognized as a "Trademark Star" by Managing Intellectual Property's IP STARS (2019-2020)
Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Intellectual Property Litigation (2014-2021); 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, 2010-2021) 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)
Advisory Member, Ethics Committee, North Carolina State Bar Council (2021)
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)
Author, "USPTO Grants Another Extension of Time Due to COVID-19, Provided That Filings Are Made by June 1, 2020," April 29, 2020
Author, "USPTO Still Open, but Extends Many Trademark Deadlines due to COVID-19," April 2, 2020
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.