Professional Profile

Walter-Michael Lee is an associate in the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Mr. Lee has extensive experience in the field of copyright and trademark litigation with a concentration on anti-piracy, anti-counterfeiting litigation and enforcement. Mr. Lee has vast experience in advising clients on methods of intellectual property protection, as well as registration of copyrights. Mr. Lee also has experience in commercial, contract and internet law.

Prior to joining Gibney, Mr. Lee worked at the firm Sargoy, Stein, Rosen & Shapiro where he represented numerous trademark and copyright owners including well-known television and motion picture producers. As part of these representations, Mr. Lee coordinated and participated in the execution of a large number of civil seizures of counterfeit materials that violated clients’ trademarks and copyrights including videodiscs, food products and clothing.

Representative Matters

Close-Up International, Inc. v. Berov, (Civ-02-2363; E.D.N.Y.):  In 2007, a federal jury, after a five day trial, awarded our client approximately $2.7 million including the maximum award of statutory damages under the Copyright Act of $150,000 per work

U2 Home Ent., Inc. v. Lai Ying Music and Video Trading Inc., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9853 (S.D.N.Y. May 25, 2005) aff’d in relevant part, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 8650 (2d Cir. April 9, 2007): Our client was granted approximately $7 million including the maximum award of statutory damages under the Copyright Act of $150,000 per work stemming from a civil seizure. The award of damages was affirmed by the Second Circuit

U2 Home Ent., Inc. v. Hong Wei Int. Trading, Inc, 2005 WL 3766976 (S.D.N.Y. May 3, 2005):  A video pirate was found in contempt of a prior injunction and our client was awarded monetary sanctions

Vardanyan v. Close-Up International Inc, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88292 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 30, 2007):  Our client was granted summary judgment dismissing claims of fraud and embezzlement due to plaintiff’s improper stock acquisition in violation of the corporate bylaws and a shareholder’s agreement

Memberships and Affiliations

Copyright Society of the USA
New York Bar Association

Articles, Publications and Lectures

“The IP Fortress: How to Safeguard You or Your Company’s Intellectual Property” February 5, 2009

“Intellectual Property 101: Comics, Copyrights, and Contracts: Getting Your Intellectual Property Ready for the Deal.”  February 6, 2009

“How To Safeguard Your Intellectual Property: Basics of Intellectual Property” September 25, 2009

 “How to Avoid Costly Legal Traps with Your Work: Copyrights, Anime & More” September 25, 2009

Awards and Recognition

Douglass Gee Morton Memorial Award for Excellence in Economics

Education

J.D., Brooklyn Law School, June 2003
B.S., summa cum laude, Management & Finance, Wagner College, May 1998

Bar Admissions

New York

Court Admissions

United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York