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Desktop Image: McWilliams, Rasheed
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Rasheed McWilliams

Partner

T 213.633.8620 New York
I am a warrior for cutting-edge problem solvers.
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Rasheed McWilliams is a first-chair trial counsel who is always ready to tackle his client's pressing commercial and intellectual property problems. From handling contract terminations and prelitigation disputes to taking a client's case to trial, he leverages over two decades of litigation and trial experience to help sophisticated companies solve complex legal problems. As a trial attorney, Rasheed has tried numerous bench and jury trials to verdict, including obtaining a number of complete defense verdicts. Rasheed makes frequent appearances before state courts, U.S. district courts, the ITC, and arbitral bodies (JAMS, AAA, IFTA, and the ICC). He has been lead counsel in over 150 intellectual property and commercial litigation matters.

Named as one of the country's top trademark attorneys (WTR Gold), Rasheed is a skilled partner in enforcing and protecting his clients' valuable brands in trademark infringement litigation. His trademark clients include business consultancies, financial institutions, and food and beverage companies. Rasheed's copyright work includes enforcing and defending against claims for copyright infringement based on diverse copyrights, including books, business spreadsheets, computer software, motion pictures, and musical compositions. His clients in the copyright space include film distributors, financial institutions, large hospital groups, and healthcare technology companies. Rasheed's high technology practice focuses on the prosecution and defense of claims for trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement. His patent and trade secret clients include companies operating across diverse fields such as automotive, computer hardware and software, consumer electronics, e-commerce platforms, electronic payment systems, fintech, high-voltage transformers, network security, speech recognition software, telephony and Voice over IP (VoIP), and video game development.

Rasheed also has extensive experience with entertainment and technology transactional matters, particularly in relation to content acquisition, intellectual property sales, and intellectual property valuation for M&A.

Practice Highlights

Intellectual property and commercial litigation

Lead counsel in over 150 cases representing parties in disputes involving commercial and intellectual property claims, including copyright infringement, patent infringement, trademark infringement, and trade secret misappropriation, before administrative agencies, arbitral bodies, trial and appellate courts nationwide, including the U.S. International Trade Commission. These cases have involved a wide range of brands, technologies, and industries.

Trial practice

Obtained favorable rulings at numerous Markman hearings for both plaintiffs and defendants. Obtained dismissal of consumer arbitrations in numerous AAA consumer arbitrations. Obtained complete defense verdicts in multiple trademark infringement trials. Obtained consent award admitting willful copyright infringement in private arbitration for film distributor. Obtained complete defense verdict for Historically Black College on a motion for judgment as a matter of law.

Transactional practice

Negotiated $200M credit facility and refinancing of credit facility for technology holding company. Negotiated resolution in prelitigation dispute resulting from a failed software development project resulting in the recovery of one-third of the contract's cost. Representing client in negotiations to resolve a contract for a failed IT hardware development project. Advised client on acquisition of over 1,000 patents from two of the largest technology companies in China. Successfully negotiated technology license for over one hundred patents. Drafted opt-in and opt-out privacy policies, terms of use, data collection policies, and marketing agreements for technology companies. Drafted intellectual property indemnity provisions for the generative AI products of two of the world's largest technology companies.

Negotiated content acquisition agreements, content distribution agreements, worldwide sales agreements, talent employment agreements, and film finance agreements for film and television production companies.

*Denotes an attorney's experience prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine
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Admitted to Practice

  • New York, 2004
  • Georgia, 2007
  • California, 2012
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2014
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2007
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2016
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2012
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2012
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2014
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, 2007
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2012

Education

  • J.D., New York University School of Law, 2003
    • Dean's Scholarship
    • Black Allied Law Students Association
  • B.S., Chemistry, Morehouse College, 1999, magna cum laude
    • President, Golden Key National Honor Society
    • Chief Justice, Honor & Conduct Review Board

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Morehouse National Alumni Association
    • Greater Los Angeles Morehouse Alumni Association
    • John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles
    • New York University Alumni Association
    • National Bar Association
    • California Association of Black Lawyers
    • Henry Lyman Morehouse Society, Morehouse College
    • Weinfeld Benefactor, New York University School of Law
    • Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
    • Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association
    • American Intellectual Property Law Association
    • Board Member, Hope in the Hills Church

Professional Recognition

    • Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), 2025
    • Named to the "World Trademark Review 1000" by World Trademark Review, 2023-present

Background

    • Partner, Zuber Lawler, Los Angeles
    • President and Co-founder, iPEL, Inc., Pasadena, Calif., 2017-2020
    • Chair, Litigation Practice, Cotman IP Law Group, PLC, Pasadena, Calif., 2014-2017
    • Partner, Adli Law Group P.C., Los Angeles, 2011-2013
    • Of Counsel, Molden Holley & Thompson LLC, Atlanta, 2010-2011
    • Senior Associate, Fish & Richardson P.C., 2006-2010
    • Associate, Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto, New York, 2001-2006
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