PRACTICES
Litigation
Intellectual Property
Mergers and Acquisitions
Tech Start-Ups
Securities & Corporate Finance
Corporate
Bankruptcy & Restructuring
Real Estate & Environmental
PROFESSIONALS
Lonnie Finkel
Mr. Finkel assists businesses in corporate, securities and intellectual property transactions, and litigation and regulatory matters.
Ruth Auerbach
Mrs. Auerbach has practiced bankruptcy, insolvency, debtor/creditor rights and commercial litigation for more than 25 years.
INSIGHTS
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U.S. District Court for Northern District of California Enters Partial Summary Judgment Finding Using Copyrighted Material to Train AI Platforms is a Fair Use
Within a one-week period in June 2025, two federal judges in the Northern District of California entered summary judgment rulings on the application of the fair use defense under the Federal Copyright Act in connection with generative AI platforms’ use of copyrighted materials owned by several authors of works who did not give the AI…
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Upholds Major Trade Secrets and Contract Damages Award in Lawsuit Stemming from Failed Merger Talks
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the case of AMS-OSRAM USA Inc. v. Renesas Electronics America Inc. offers valuable lessons that can arise from failed merger transactions, and in particular liabilities that can arise when a party breaches its contractual confidentiality obligations. In particular, the case highlights…
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Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal’s Decision Finds that Likelihood of Confusion in a Trademark Case Depends on Much More than Geography
In Westmont Living, Inc. v. Retirement Unlimited, Inc., the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit vacated a judgment of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia because the lower court did not address the parties’ competitive marketing, the locations from which they solicit and draw their customers, the scope of…
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Best Practices for Your Company to Protect and Preserve its Trademark’s Strength Through Proper Use
This is the ninth blog in Finkel Law Group’s ongoing trademark law series. Previous blogs have explored how to secure, register and enforce trademark rights through cease and desist letters, litigation, and administrative proceedings. This blog shifts focus to a foundational yet often overlooked aspect of trademark protection: How your company’s use of its mark—in…
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Ninth Circuit’s Decision in Briskin v. Shopify, Inc. Significantly Expands Federal Court’s Personal Jurisdiction Over E-Commerce Companies
In Briskin v. Shopify Inc., the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal in San Francisco issued a landmark ruling expanding the application of specific personal jurisdiction principles to the realm of companies that engage in nationwide e-commerce. For all our layperson clients and friends in California and across the country, personal jurisdiction raises the question of…
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Finkel Law Group P.C. Joins More Than 800 Law Firms Signing the Amicus Curiae Brief Filed on Behalf of Jenner & Block
On March 25, 2025, the President of the United States issued an executive order, supported by no provision of the U.S. Constitution or any federal statute, entitled “Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block.” The order attacks Jenner & Block’s clients and the issues for which the firm has represented those clients for many years. The…
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Finkel Law Group Joins the Amicus Brief Filed on Behalf of WilmerHale LLP in its Lawsuit Against the President of the United States
On March 27, 2025, the President of the United States issued yet another Executive Order, supported by no provision of the U.S. Constitution or any federal statute, for the explicit purpose of punishing an American law firm. The order was entitled “Addressing Risks from WilmerHale LLP.” The President’s order openly seeks to harm WilmerHale for…
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Enforcing Your Company’s Trademark Rights: Opposition and Cancellation Proceedings
This blog is the eighth in a series that Finkel Law Group is publishing to provide our readers with a broad overview of trademark law in the United States. Protecting your company’s trademarks doesn’t always require litigation in federal court. The U.S. Trademark Office provides an administrative process for challenging pending trademark applications and existing…
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The Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Key Aspects and Practical Insights for Your Business
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) is the cornerstone of securities regulation in the United States, providing the framework for public company disclosures, anti-fraud provisions, and the oversight of the public securities markets. Enacted as part of the response to the stock market crash of 1929 – in addition to the Securities Act…
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Finkel Law Group P.C. Joins More Than 500 Law Firms Nationwide by Signing the Amicus Curiae Brief Filed in Support of the Law Firm Perkins Coie
On March 6, 2025, the President of the United States issued an executive order, supported by no provision of the U.S. Constitution or any federal statute, entitled “Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP.” The order attacks Perkin Coie’s clients and the issues for which the firm has represented those clients for many years. The order…
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United States Supreme Court Addresses Corporate Separateness and Defendant’s Profits Under the Federal Lanham Act for Trademark Infringement
On February 26, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dewberry Group, Inc v. Dewberry Engineers, Inc. In doing so the Court reaffirmed the legal protections afforded to separately formed, organized and governed corporations. The case raised the question of whether a court could order disgorgement of profits for trademark infringement from…
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Enforcing Your Company’s Trademark Rights: Remedies for Infringement and Principal Defenses to Infringement Claims
This blog is the seventh in a series that Finkel Law Group is publishing to provide our readers with a broad overview of trademark law in the United States. Once a trademark owner initiates an infringement claim, understanding the potential remedies and defenses is critical. Remedies for trademark infringement can include injunctive relief, monetary damages,…
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Our attorneys are involved in the San Francisco Bay Area business
community and causes they support, including these organizations.
Wild West Access Fund of Nevada
A volunteer-run mutual aid fund with the goal of financially assisting those seeking abortion care.
UC Berkeley College of Engineering
The SCET follows a mission to empower innovators to positively change the world. Each year we mentor entrepreneurs in the program.
Clean Tech Open
Cleantech Open runs the largest clean technology accelerator in the world. Our attorneys mentor participating startup founders and leaders.
CONSULTATION
Oakland Office
1999 Harrison St, Ste 1800
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 344-6601
info@finkellawgroup.com
San Francisco Office
One Sansome Street, Suite 3500
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-9600
info@finkellawgroup.com
Washington, D.C. Office
2001 L Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
(415) 252-9600
info@finkellawgroup.com
Contact us to see if you qualify for a confidential, no cost consultation to discuss your legal question or concern.