Bill Needle

Bill Needle

Ballard Spahr LLP
  • Arbitration & Mediation, Intellectual Property, Patents
  • Georgia
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Biography

Bill Needle is a registered patent attorney who has been exclusively practicing all aspects of Intellectual Property law for 42 years. Mr. Needle began his legal career at the first IP boutique firm in Atlanta (Newton, Hopkins & Orsmby) from 1970-1983. He then founded the IP boutique Needle & Rosenberg which, in 2008, merged into Ballard Spahr LLP. He served as the first Chair of Ballard Spahr's Intellectual Property Department until July 1, 2012 and remains a partner in the firm.

His litigation experience includes being counsel in the copyright and trademark litigation for the CABBAGE PATCH KIDS(R) dolls and the State of Georgia in infringement cases involving the VIDALIA(R) onion trademark, as well as patent infringement actions involving diverse technologies. Mr. Needle has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia for intellectual property law issues for more than 30 years.

Mr. Needle currently serves as an alternative dispute resolution Neutral Panel Member, JAMS. Since 1995, Mr. Needle has been mediating and arbitrating cases dealing with a wide array of intellectual property matters.

See details about Mr. Needle's ADR experience under Professional Experience.

Practice Areas
Arbitration & Mediation
Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
Intellectual Property
Patents
Patent Appeals, Patent Litigation, Patent Prosecution
Additional Practice Areas
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Copyrights
  • Litigation
  • Trademarks
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Georgia
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Professional Experience
Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP
- Current
Served as Chair of Ballard Spahr’s Intellectual Property Department until July 1, 2012 and remains a partner in the firm.
Neutral Panel Member, Special Master
JAMS Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Current
Since 1995, Mr. Needle has been mediating and arbitrating cases dealing with a wide array of intellectual property matters, including patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, breach of contracts, and misappropriation of trade secrets. He is the current Chair of an arbitration panel which has issued a Markman Order on patent claims directed to the recording of formation data measurements in a borehole. He also serves as the Arbitrator in a matter involving theft of trade secrets and claims under the Securities Act for breach of fiduciary duties. Previously, Mr Needle was the chair of an arbitration panel which dealt with the validity and infringement of several patents relating to beverage containers. Finally, Mr. Needle has been appointed by federal judges to serve as a Special Master in several patent infringement cases.
Founder and Partner
Needle & Rosenberg
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Associate & Partner
Newton, Hopkins & Orsmby
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Education
Emory University
J.D. (1970) | Law
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University System of Georgia - Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S. | Chemistry
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Awards
First-tier intellectual property attorney
Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers
Since 2003, Mr. Needle has annually received the highest ranking as a first-tier intellectual property attorney in Georgia in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers where he has been referred to as: being "widely recognized as a leader in dispute resolution. He has extensive experience across patent, trademark and copyright litigation, and is sought after as a mediator and arbitrator" (2011 Edition); and "as an expert in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, as well as an active teacher on the subject, with adjunct professorships at two universities." (2010 Edition).
Legal Elite
Georgia Trend Magazine
Peers in the legal community have voted Mr. Needle one of Georgia Trend Magazine's Legal Elite annually since 2003.
Listed in the areas of intellectual property law, patent law and trademark law
The Best Lawyers in America
Since 1991, he has been listed by The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of intellectual property law, patent law and trademark law.
Professional Associations
Various Continuing Legal Education seminars
Speaker
- Current
Activities: Recent Topics: What Your Client Should Know About the America Invents Act re: Patent Litigation, Suggestions for Effective Mediation and Arbitration in IP Cases, and Protecting Your Business and Your Intellectual Property
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Atlanta Intellectual Property Inn of Court
Master
- Current
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School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology
Advisory Board Member
- Current
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The Technological Innovation: Generating Economic Results (TI:GER), a collaborative program between Georgia Tech and Emory Law School
Advisory Board Member
- Current
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College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
Advisory Board Member
- Current
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School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Advisory Board Member
- Current
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Georgia State Bar
Member
- Current
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11th Circuit Court of Appeals
Chair, committee that drafted model trademark jury instructions
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Georgia State University School of Law
Adjunct Professor, Patent Law
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Emory University School of Law
Adjunct Professor, Patent Law and Licensing Law
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IP Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association
Founding Board Member and Co-Chair
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U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Member, committee that drafted the Local Rules of Practice for Patent Cases
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Charleston School of Law
Adjunct Professor, Intellectual Property Law
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Publications
Articles & Publications
"Trademark Law" Chapter
Association of Technology Managers Technology Transfer Practice Manual, 3rd edition
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Contact & Map
999 Peachtree St.
Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30309
Telephone: (678) 420-9320
Fax: (678) 420-9301