James B. Lake

Primary Practices

Education

  • JD, Washington and Lee University, 1994, with honors
  • BA, Washington and Lee University, 1990, with honors

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • Middle District Florida
  • Southern District Florida
  • Northern District Florida
  • 11th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Recognitions

Jim’s practice focuses on media law, intellectual property, and business litigation. Jim represents clients in state and federal courts and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and he frequently renders advice on newsgathering, trademark, and copyright matters.

Our firm’s goal every day is to see that our clients’ rights, speech and intellectual property are protected and respected.

His clients include media, financial, retail, chemical and staffing companies and well-known authors. Jim has litigated defamation, trademark and copyright cases, trademark opposition proceedings, reporter’s privilege disputes, demands for access to public records and meetings, domain-name proceedings and commercial disputes. Jim regularly serves as local counsel for businesses sued or pursuing claims in the Middle District of Florida.

Jim graduated from Washington and Lee University with honors in journalism and then worked as a reporter for The Tampa Tribune.  He graduated with honors from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.  Jim and his family attend Hyde Park United Methodist Church.  He has been an adjunct professor at the Stetson University College of Law.

  • Osborne v. Constructive Resource Inc., Proceeding No. 94002983 TTAB 2022): Obtained summary judgment in favor of owner of federal trademark registration before U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

  • Rodriguez v. OfferUp, Inc., 8:19-cv-1290-T-30SPF (M.D. Fla. 2019): Obtained, as local counsel, a dismissal with prejudice of tort claims against an Internet service provider (ISP) based on Section 230 immunity. 

  • Nix & DNA Sports Performance Lab, Inc., v. ESPN, Inc., et al. (11th Cir. 2019) Successfully defended the Associated Press, ESPN and USA Today on appeal in a libel action concerning an article about litigation that a former professional baseball player and his company brought against Major League Baseball.  

  • Santilli v. Van Erp, 2018 WL 2172554 (M.D. Fla. April 20, 2018), objections overruled and report and recommendation adopted, 2018 WL 2152095 (M.D. Fla. May 10, 2018), motion to dismiss granted, 2018 WL 3956309 (M.D. Fla. August 17, 2018).  Successfully opposed motion for preliminary injunction and obtained dismissal of defamation and tortious interference case. 

  • Porkka v. University of South Florida Board of Trustees, 2018 WL 2717235 (M.D. Fla. 2018). Obtained dismissal of copyright infringement case.
  • Spectrum Video Productions, Inc. v. Charter Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 8:17cv1909-SDM-TBM (M.D. Fla. 2017).  Represented television and video production company in trademark infringement action against national cable television company.
  • MoistTech Corp. v. Sensortech Systems, Inc., (M.D. Fla. 2015). Convinced court to transfer Lanham Act case to California.
  • DOK Solution LLC v. FKA Distributing Co., 2015 WL 4459182 (M.D. Fla. 2015). Local counsel in patent infringement action.
  • Bond & Co. Jewelers, Inc. v. Texas Int'l Property Associates, Claim No. FA0703000937650 (Nat'l Arb. Forum April 30, 2007). Obtained order compelling transfer of domain name.
  • Tribune Co. Holdings, Inc. v. Times Pub. Co., 2006 WL 680804 (M.D. Fla. 2006). Obtained preliminary injunction halting adoption of infringing trademark by rival newspaper.
  • Memorial Hospital-West Volusia, Inc. v. News-Journal Corp., 729 So. 2d 373 (Fla. 1999). Represented consortium of media companies as amici curiae seeking access to meetings and records of corporations operating public hospitals.
  • Kidwell v. State, 730 So. 2d 670 (Fla. 1998). Convinced Florida Supreme Court that common law journalist’s privilege protects non-confidential information.  
  • Leadership positions at Hyde Park United Methodist
  • Volunteer mission trips to Nicaragua
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association Intellectual Property Section
  • Florida Bar Media & Communications Law Committee
  • American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law and Forum on Communications Law
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