David L. Hecht, Partner
David L. Hecht is the firm’s founder and its co-managing partner. He is a fierce litigator representing individuals, companies, and nationwide classes in high-stakes commercial disputes. He was recognized as a “Legal Lion” by Law360 following his successful argument before the Ninth Circuit in connection with a copyright infringement case against Epic Games. The case, which redefined the limits of protection for choreography in the era of “short form” media, was also recognized by Law360 as one of the biggest copyright rulings of 2023.
David’s legal prowess has been widely recognized. In the winter of 2022, he was selected as one of Grazia Magazine’s Game Changers. In 2023, he was selected as a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (membership is limited to attorneys who have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements).
The IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners has consistently ranked David as one of the world’s leading patent litigators since 2020. In 2023, one of his clients said: “David Hecht is appreciated for his elevated strategic thinking, diligence and superb technical acumen. He is completely dedicated to seeing his clients succeed and has an impressive track record of success in challenging high stakes disputes.”
In 2022, a client commented to IAM: “David immediately grasps the complexity of matters at every level and is quick to recognise a [patent] portfolio’s value and strength. When it comes to litigation, he effortlessly stays on top of every crucial detail and manages complex parallel tasks, all while demonstrating superb strategic thinking.”
In 2021, his clients described him as having “a brilliant legal mind and a passion for the law along with free-flowing writing skills.” “He gives personal attention to his clients and their cases, is extremely patient, excellent at communication and brilliant on strategy.”
In 2020, clients described David as doing “everything humanly possible to keep clients happy and deliver the wins they seek — and he loves it.” “Entrepreneurial, tenacious, motivational, he does a superb job carrying the day in high-exposure computer, software, communications and medical technology cases.”
David is a trained electrical and computer engineer and registered patent attorney. He has appeared in dozens of patent-related matters, including inter partes review proceedings, for industry giants including Raytheon, Huawei, and MediaTek. He has tried numerous District Court and International Trade Commission (ITC) cases to verdict involving a wide range of computer, software, communications, and medical product-related technologies. Among the most notable of those trials was Apple v. Samsung, known as the "patent trial of the century." David was also part of the trial team that secured the first-ever exclusion order against Apple in the ITC.
David also has extensive experience in copyright and Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) cases. Most recently, he was lead counsel for Corellium in a bet-the-company litigation against Apple—and won. First, he won summary judgment. Then, Apple dropped the remainder of its claims on the eve of trial. David also helped secure a $25 million copyright jury trial win for music publishing house BMG Rights Management, named the largest verdict in Virginia in 2015.
David holds a rare and highly coveted educational trifecta: degrees in engineering (B.S. in electrical and computer engineering), business (M.B.A.), and law (J.D.). He worked as a network engineer prior to law school and a patent agent while a law student. David also founded several successful startups during the Great Recession, including real estate investment and event production companies. He draws from his diverse background and experience to understand the most intricate details of his clients' intellectual property and/or business. Prior to founding the firm, David worked for several international law firms, including Jones Day, Quinn Emanuel, and Steptoe & Johnson. He also worked as in-house counsel for a publicly-traded company focused on licensing and intellectual property assertion.
David’s high-profile cases have been featured in nearly every major publication and newscast in the United States, and the world, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BBC News, USA Today, Newsweek, Bloomberg, Variety, Forbes, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Us Weekly, TechCrunch, The Verge, NPR, CNN, CBC, NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and Entertainment Tonight.
David is rated by Martindale-Hubbell® as AV Preeminent® (this is Martindale’s highest peer rating standard, signifying “a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards”). From 2015-2022, David was been recognized as a New York Super Lawyer “Rising Star.”
David is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), and certified by the Blockchain Council as a Certified Blockchain and Law Professional, Certified Blockchain Expert, and Certified Bitcoin Expert. The CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium (C4) has also certified David as a Certified Bitcoin Professional.
In perhaps the ultimate of client endorsements, David has been “shouted out” in a rap music video by his client 2 Milly.
Notable Representations
Lead counsel for Corellium, LLC against Apple, Inc. in a bet-the-company lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida involving copyright infringement and DMCA claims; the matter settled favorably following a win on summary judgment across all of Apple’s copyright claims and Apple’s eventual withdrawal of its DMCA claims.
Lead counsel for Kyle Hanagami in a copyright infringement case against Epic Games; David won an appeal in the Ninth Circuit that redefined the limits of protection for choreography in the era of “short form” media; the matter resolved after reverse and remand, which resulted in new law being established in the field.
Co-lead counsel for Proxense LLC (with Susman Godfrey) against Google and Microsoft in patent infringement cases involving “passwordless” authentication technology in the Western District of Texas.
Co-lead counsel for Proxense LLC (with Susman Godfrey) against Samsung in a patent infringement case involving mobile payment technology in the Western District of Texas; achieved a clean-sweep at Markman and won on partial summary judgment; matter settled favorably hours before jury selection.
Lead counsel for Stone Interactive Ventures in a patent litigation suit against Electronic Arts; matter was resolved two weeks after David was engaged.
Lead counsel for world-famous saxophonist Leo P. in a false endorsement litigation against Epic Games; matter resolved after David overcame a motion to dismiss, which resulted in new law being established in the field.
Represented music publisher copyright holders against a large Internet Service Provider (ISP) relating to allegations of vicarious/contributory liability for copyright infringement by its customers.
Represented women-run Alex and Ani against Bank of America in litigation involving allegations of discriminatory and illegal lending practices (matter settled approximately one month after the complaint was filed)
Represented Alfonso Ribeiro (host of America's Funniest Home Videos), BlocBoy JB, Backpack Kid, and rapper 2 Milly in litigations involving misappropriation of likeness, copyright infringement, and/or trademark infringement against Epic Games and Take-Two Interactive.
Represented a putative class of airline ticket purchasers against Southwest Airlines and Boeing regarding the MAX 8.
Defended a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Defended Furniture World, a New Jersey furniture distributor, against allegations of design patent and copyright infringement by Ashley Furniture; the matter settled favorably.
Represented a pharmaceutical patent holder in several Hatch Waxman ANDA litigations relating to opioid dependence treatment medication
In November 2020 Billboard magazine featured a story on the copyright registration of “Single Ladies - Put a Ring on It.” David’s client, JaQuel Knight, was recognized as “the first commercial choreographer in pop music to succeed in [obtaining a copyright registration] for his work.”
Thought Leadership
Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Managing Editor
BAR ADMISSIONS
State of New York
State of New Jersey
State of Texas
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
U..S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U..S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
EDUCATION
J.D., Fordham University School of Law
M.B.A., Rutgers University School of Business
B.S., Rutgers University School of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, cum laude