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Neil C. Jones
Partner
Greenville ONE
2 W. Washington Street
Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
2 W. Washington Street
Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
neil.jones@nelsonmullins.com
Neil is a senior member of the firm’s intellectual property law and litigation group. He practices patent, trademark and copyright law, and related litigation to enforce or protect such rights. With counseling experience in intellectual property matters, Neil also renders patent infringement and validity opinions, assists clients with the development and valuation of their intellectual...
Neil is a senior member of the firm’s intellectual property law and litigation group. He practices patent, trademark and copyright law, and related litigation to enforce or protect such rights. With counseling experience in intellectual property matters, Neil also renders patent infringement and validity opinions, assists clients with the development and valuation of their intellectual property, and negotiates intellectual property licenses domestically and internationally.
property, and negotiates intellectual property licenses domestically and internationally.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Federal Circuit invalidated patent relating to chemical dyeing technology pre–KSR; opinion cited by U.S. Supreme Court in KSR
- Intellectual property litigation, including being lead trial attorney for both plaintiffs and defendants in patent, trademark, and copyright infringement lawsuits before the federal district and appellate courts
- Patent, trademark, and copyright litigations have involved technologies and products such as chemical dyes, locomotive parking brakes, packaging machinery, electronic surveillance equipment, medical devices, chemical processes and slurries for polishing computer chips, upholstery designs, check cashing methods, fishing lures made of block copolymers, and children's clothing
- Has obtained U.S. and foreign patents for chemical and biotech clients in different industries, including medical treatments, nutritional products, paper and papermaking chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymer science, transgenic plants, and new plant cultivars
- Advises and assists clients in establishing networks of worldwide patent and trademark portfolios to protect their intellectual property and has also served as a mediator in IP disputes
- Admitted pro hac vice in more than 20 jurisdictions
Representative Cases
- Manage patent portfolio for client related to seed treatment technology, including transgenic plants
- Prosecuted and managed patents for international pharmaceutical client
- Managed entire patent portfolio, including opinions and multiple pre–litigation studies, on behalf of nutritionals manufacturer
- Obtained settlement for clients in patent infringement lawsuits, for both plaintiffs and defendants, without the expense of trial; most recently, achieved settlement for a defendant by having plaintiff completely dismiss, before discovery, its patent infringement claims for defendant's core business method/software technology
- Defended, and currently defending, clients against patent infringement allegations by non–practicing entities or others in various jurisdictions, including several cases in the Eastern District of Texas; most recently obtaining a defense settlement on behalf of client in the E.D. Tex.
- Drafted and negotiated intellectual property licenses on behalf of international clients
- Built several unique “patent matrixes” for multiple clients
Education
-
The George Washington University Law School,
JD,
with honors
(1988)
- Order of the Coif
- George Washington Law Review
- Moot Court Board
- Giles Rich Intellectual Property Law Moot Court champion
- Erskine College, BS, Chemistry, summa cum laude (1985)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Clerkships
- Judicial Clerk, the Honorable Jean G. Bissell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1988 - 1990)
Practice Areas
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Federal Circuit invalidated patent relating to chemical dyeing technology pre–KSR; opinion cited by U.S. Supreme Court in KSR
- Intellectual property litigation, including being lead trial attorney for both plaintiffs and defendants in patent, trademark, and copyright infringement lawsuits before the federal district and appellate courts
- Patent, trademark, and copyright litigations have involved technologies and products such as chemical dyes, locomotive parking brakes, packaging machinery, electronic surveillance equipment, medical devices, chemical processes and slurries for polishing computer chips, upholstery designs, check cashing methods, fishing lures made of block copolymers, and children's clothing
- Has obtained U.S. and foreign patents for chemical and biotech clients in different industries, including medical treatments, nutritional products, paper and papermaking chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymer science, transgenic plants, and new plant cultivars
- Advises and assists clients in establishing networks of worldwide patent and trademark portfolios to protect their intellectual property and has also served as a mediator in IP disputes
- Admitted pro hac vice in more than 20 jurisdictions
Representative Cases
- Manage patent portfolio for client related to seed treatment technology, including transgenic plants
- Prosecuted and managed patents for international pharmaceutical client
- Managed entire patent portfolio, including opinions and multiple pre–litigation studies, on behalf of nutritionals manufacturer
- Obtained settlement for clients in patent infringement lawsuits, for both plaintiffs and defendants, without the expense of trial; most recently, achieved settlement for a defendant by having plaintiff completely dismiss, before discovery, its patent infringement claims for defendant's core business method/software technology
- Defended, and currently defending, clients against patent infringement allegations by non–practicing entities or others in various jurisdictions, including several cases in the Eastern District of Texas; most recently obtaining a defense settlement on behalf of client in the E.D. Tex.
- Drafted and negotiated intellectual property licenses on behalf of international clients
- Built several unique “patent matrixes” for multiple clients
Media
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- TALK Greenville Magazine's Top Lawyers List, Intellectual Property Rights (2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2012–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Greenville, S.C. for Litigation – Intellectual Property (2012, 2018)
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Federal Circuit Bar Association
- Greenville County Bar Association
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association
Community
- Two–term President and lifetime Board Member, Greenville Little League
- Former Trustee, Erskine College
- Member of various public school committees
- Leadership Greenville
Leadership
- Chair, Intellectual Property Law Committee, S.C. Bar (1997–1998)
Neil is a senior member of the firm’s intellectual property law and litigation group. He practices patent, trademark and copyright law, and related litigation to enforce or protect such rights. With counseling experience in intellectual property matters, Neil also renders patent infringement and validity opinions, assists clients with the development and valuation of their intellectual... property, and negotiates intellectual property licenses domestically and internationally.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Federal Circuit invalidated patent relating to chemical dyeing technology pre–KSR; opinion cited by U.S. Supreme Court in KSR
- Intellectual property litigation, including being lead trial attorney for both plaintiffs and defendants in patent, trademark, and copyright infringement lawsuits before the federal district and appellate courts
- Patent, trademark, and copyright litigations have involved technologies and products such as chemical dyes, locomotive parking brakes, packaging machinery, electronic surveillance equipment, medical devices, chemical processes and slurries for polishing computer chips, upholstery designs, check cashing methods, fishing lures made of block copolymers, and children's clothing
- Has obtained U.S. and foreign patents for chemical and biotech clients in different industries, including medical treatments, nutritional products, paper and papermaking chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymer science, transgenic plants, and new plant cultivars
- Advises and assists clients in establishing networks of worldwide patent and trademark portfolios to protect their intellectual property and has also served as a mediator in IP disputes
- Admitted pro hac vice in more than 20 jurisdictions
Representative Cases
- Manage patent portfolio for client related to seed treatment technology, including transgenic plants
- Prosecuted and managed patents for international pharmaceutical client
- Managed entire patent portfolio, including opinions and multiple pre–litigation studies, on behalf of nutritionals manufacturer
- Obtained settlement for clients in patent infringement lawsuits, for both plaintiffs and defendants, without the expense of trial; most recently, achieved settlement for a defendant by having plaintiff completely dismiss, before discovery, its patent infringement claims for defendant's core business method/software technology
- Defended, and currently defending, clients against patent infringement allegations by non–practicing entities or others in various jurisdictions, including several cases in the Eastern District of Texas; most recently obtaining a defense settlement on behalf of client in the E.D. Tex.
- Drafted and negotiated intellectual property licenses on behalf of international clients
- Built several unique “patent matrixes” for multiple clients
Education
-
The George Washington University Law School,
JD,
with honors
(1988)
- Order of the Coif
- George Washington Law Review
- Moot Court Board
- Giles Rich Intellectual Property Law Moot Court champion
- Erskine College, BS, Chemistry, summa cum laude (1985)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Clerkships
- Judicial Clerk, The Honorable Jean G. Bissell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1988 - 1990)
Practice Areas
- Advertising, Marketing, Sponsorship & Promotions
- Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Life Sciences - IP
- Patent Counseling & Prosecution
- Trademarks & Copyrights
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- TALK Greenville Magazine's Top Lawyers List, Intellectual Property Rights (2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2012–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Greenville, S.C. for Litigation – Intellectual Property (2012, 2018)
- American Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Federal Circuit Bar Association
- Greenville County Bar Association
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association
- Two–term President and lifetime Board Member, Greenville Little League
- Former Trustee, Erskine College
- Member of various public school committees
- Leadership Greenville
- Chair, Intellectual Property Law Committee, S.C. Bar (1997–1998)
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