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Fred H. Perkins

Partner & Co-Chair, Technology, Data & IP
Fred H. Perkins's headshot
Fred H. Perkins Partner & Co-Chair, Technology, Data & IP

Fred Perkins focuses on intellectual property and complex commercial litigation, mediation, and counseling clients on protecting and managing their IP portfolios.

Widely recognized for his effective advocacy in courtrooms and before arbitration tribunals nationwide, Fred has secured multimillion-dollar judgments for domestic and international clients across a broad spectrum of complex disputes.

As a professional mediator with more than 30 years of experience, he has resolved 100-plus cases for the Southern District of New York Panel of Certified Mediators and for parties engaging him directly. His mediation practice covers a broad range of disputes involving intellectual property, technology, commercial law, the ADA and employment matters.

Fred is a trusted advisor in virtually every area of IP law, including trademark, trade dress, copyright, unfair competition, trade secrets, false advertising, defamation, patent, licensing, entertainment/artist/literary rights, publicity/privacy rights, software and website/ecommerce issues. His clients span diverse industries, including entertainment, fashion, sports, high-tech, software, academic, media, publishing, marketing, financial services, health and wellness, industrial and consumer products.

Fred advises publishers, educational institutions, doctors, authors, media and entertainment companies as well as talent regarding copyright and other IP matters relating to the development, licensing and protection of creative works.

He counsels employers and employees in various industries, including financial services, on employment agreements, severance agreements and confidentiality/IP agreements. He also represents biopharma companies in development and licensing agreements.

Fred has had decades-long relationships with several clients, including a New York City college of art and design, for which he advises on trademark/copyright protection and fair use and conducts seminars for faculty to educate them on IP issues.

Fred joined Morrison Cohen in 1988 after working for several years at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (now HSF Kramer). He began his career as a law clerk to the Hon. Jacob Mishler, former Chief Judge of the Eastern District of New York.

Experience

Mediation (as a Mediator)

  • Successfully mediated a complex high-tech software dispute involving competing proprietary systems.
  • Resolved a copyright claim dispute involving luxury brand jewelry.
  • Successfully mediated a trademark dispute among clothing designers.
  • Resolved a trade secret non-compete dispute between a former employer and a departing employee.
  • Successfully mediated a copyright dispute among music publishers and record labels.
  • Resolved and assisted in finalizing the parties’ settlement agreement in a dispute involving alleged misappropriation of software and source code and breach of licensing agreement in the gaming industry.
  • Resolved IP disputes among retailers, including luxury brands, in multi-party negotiations.
  • Successfully mediated a high-profile defamation case involving a prominent public figure.
  • Resolved a copyright dispute among news information providers.
  • Successfully mediated a contentious employment termination dispute in a preliminary phase of the litigation, avoiding extensive discovery.
  • Resolved an age discrimination complaint against a well-known manufacturer.
  • Successfully mediated a sex discrimination claim against a professional services firm.
  • Resolved a race discrimination claim against a city governmental entity.
  • Successfully mediated breach of contract and fraud claims.
  • Successfully mediated a “brick and mortar” ADA claim against a well-known restaurant.
  • Resolved a website accessibility ADA dispute against a popular retailer.

Intellectual Property Counsel

  • Negotiated major IP licensing agreements with the National Hockey League, Minor League Baseball, Google, Yahoo, Fox, CBS, Sun Media and other media and entertainment entities.
  • Regularly advises a New York City art and design college on trademark, copyright and IP matters across a 30-year relationship.
  • Negotiated television, film production and theatrical agreements on behalf of an author/writer and producer of well-known television programs and books with major networks and production studios.
  • Represented a content syndication company on licensing, advertising and publicity issues.
  • Represents an AI-related company regarding trademark issues.
  • Handled trademark and IP disputes for a maternity and lifestyle brand.
  • Represents a manufacturer of HVAC pumps in trademark, patent and commercial disputes.
  • Advised a haircare startup on labeling and IP issues for its product launch.
  • Represented a sports news and information provider in IP and commercial matters for more than 30 years.
  • Advised a major video game publisher and developer on copyright and trademark issues.
  • Represents a high-tech supplier to computer chip manufacturers and governmental authorities in IP and related contracts issues.
  • Advised a European biopharma company on U.S. licensing and development agreements with manufacturers, universities and hospitals.
  • Advised an advertising company on developing, protecting and providing creative intellectual property.
  • Served as outside general counsel for a content syndication and distribution company, advising on licensing, digital media, privacy, IP and commercial issues.
  • Advised book publisher on form of publishing agreement.
  • Represented an author on a copyright infringement claim.
  • Advised a media company on copyright issues.
  • Represented a songwriter and musician on copyright-related agreements and trademark protection.
  • Provided trademark selection, prosecution, portfolio management and enforcement advice for a fashion company.
  • Represented a cosmetics company in a branding/trademark dispute.
  • Advised a financial services employer on an agreement to maximize IP protection.
  • Represented a C-Suite executive on their employment agreement.
  • Advised a departing company officer on severance, non-compete and trade secret issues.
  • Represents a consumer services company regarding software development, ownership and infringement disputes.
  • Represents an artist in the entertainment space on various development, option and licensing agreements.

Litigation

  • Successfully tried an M&A dispute on behalf of a purchaser, obtaining a multimillion-dollar damage award for breach of representations and warranties.
  • Successfully tried an IP and unfair competition dispute between competing securities firms, obtaining a multimillion-dollar damages award.
  • Successfully tried a fraud claim against a public company on behalf of a former executive, securing substantial damages and attorneys' fees award.
  • Obtained preliminary injunction enforcing a client’s IP rights, stopping ongoing infringement.
  • Obtained summary judgment dismissing all copyright claims asserted against a major electronic publisher.
  • Recovered infringing internet domains from cybersquatters through numerous ICANN arbitrations and related proceedings for a well-known internet site.
  • Represented an international leather goods manufacturer in a trademark dispute with a well-known pop entertainer.
  • Represented a European luxury clothing brand in trademark, copyright, trade secrets and ADA litigation.
  • Representing dozens of EB5 immigrant investors in fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
  • Represented a cybersecurity company regarding trademark issues.
  • Represented a consumer-services company in a trade secret and copyright/software dispute.
  • Represented a talent manager in a dispute with a pop entertainer.
  • Represented a luxury brand in a regulatory labeling dispute.
  • Represented a high-tech manufacturer in trade secret, unfair competition and copyright disputes.
  • Represented a European luxury brand and domestic clothing manufacturer in trademark and copyright litigations.
  • Represented a company in M&A litigation involving alleged financial and other breaches of representations and warranties.
  • Represented an employee in the financial services industry in a long-running non-compete arbitration.
  • Successfully litigated an opposition proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board for a clothing brand.
  • Represented a health and wellness company regarding IP and related disputes.  

Professional Activities

  • Member, Southern District of New York Panel of Certified Mediators
  • Member, INTA
  • American Bar Association
  • New York City Bar Association

Recognition

Hofstra University School of Law

  • Editor-in-Chief, Hofstra Law Review
  • Citation of Excellence for Conflicts of Law

Speaking Engagements

Fred has served as a speaker at various IP and litigation seminars, including for educational institutions.

News & Publications

  • Fred has been quoted in national publications regarding IP matters.

  • Co-Author,  “Brands, bands, trademarks and the First Amendment,” The Global Legal Post, Nov. 27, 2025.

  • Co-Author, Client Alert: "Morrison Cohen Cyber Watch: Navigating the Cyber Landscape Safely, Part One: The Marks of a Trademark Scam," April 1, 2024.
  • Author, Client Alert: “Recent New York Federal Court Decision Confirms Applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act to Various Commercial Consumer-Oriented Websites as Places of 'Public Accommodation,'" March 26, 2018.
  • Author, "What's Old is New in Web Site Protection: A New Look at the 'Look and Feel' Doctrine," New York Law Journal Intellectual Property Section, Jan. 20, 2009.
  • Author, "Better Late than Never: The John Anderson Cases and the Constitutionality of Filing Deadline," 11 Hofstra L. Rev. 691 (1983).
Fred H. Perkins's headshot

Practices

Sectors

Education

  • Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, J.D.
  • Binghamton University, B.A., with honors

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of New York

Media & Insights