Sharkin, Keith E.

David serves as the chair of the Technology, Media and Intellectual Property Practice Group and is the co-chair of the Privacy and Data Security Practice Group. Here, David concentrates a substantial portion of his practice in matters regarding intellectual property, copyright infringement, trademark, trade secret, privacy law, data breaches, technology litigation, trade dress litigation and media related litigation. David is experienced defending intellectual property cases venued throughout the United States, and has been litigating copyright and trademark injunction cases in federal and state courts since 1994.

Additionally, David represents design professionals in a variety of construction industry related claims.  He has extensive experience in representing architects, engineers, surveyors, land developers, commercial property owners, general contractors, subcontractors and commercial landscapers.  David has defended his clients in cases that involved claims for design errors and omissions and other contractual and negligence claims.

David's experience is not limited to the defense of intellectual property and construction claims, but also includes the litigation of real estate, products liability, medical and legal malpractice, insurance bad faith, personal injury, and premises liability matters. Over the past ten years, David has tried a number of bench trials, jury trials, and arbitrations.

In 1990 David received his B.A. in political science from Denison University. He then attended Widener University School of Law and received his J.D. in 1994. His legal experience includes working for a boutique civil litigation firm in the intellectual property and e-commerce group.

Significant Representative Matters

• Successfully resolved several copyright infringement claims by an international music recording association against various entertainment venues in the Northeast United States.

• Obtained a complete dismissal of all claims against a website developer on the first day of trial in a matter where plaintiff alleged significant lost profits after a new customer ordering platform was installed for plaintiff's website.

• Successfully resolved a significant copyright infringement claim by the heirs of a famous European author against a United States Theater where plaintiff attempted to enjoin national theater production and claim past and future profits.

• Defeated vicarious liability claims for trademark infringement by luxury handbag manufacturer against the owner of a large retail shopping center.  All claims were dismissed after a summary judgment motion was filed.

• Obtained voluntary dismissal of trade secret and theft of confidential information matter where the initial demand was over $300,000 by demonstrating that no trade secrets existed in the plaintiff's manufacturing process.

• Successfully obtained summary judgment in an architectural copyright infringement action by demonstrating that client did not infringe on the plaintiff's drawings for a country club.

• Successfully obtained a voluntary dismissal of a claim for engineering professional negligence after filing summary judgment motion that demonstrated plaintiff's claims in an artificial turf project had no merit.

• Represented international software companies in numerous copyright and trademark infringement actions that have generated more than $3 million in settlement.

• Obtained numerous injunctions for international software companies throughout the United States against counterfeiters of software products.

• Successfully defended international chemical company in temporary and permanent injunction hearings regarding stolen trade secrets and hiring of former plant manager.

• Represented international sporting goods company in several multimillion dollar copyright and trademark infringement actions.

• Obtained permanent injunction for international fashion design company in counterfeit action.

• Defended bobble head manufacturing company in multimillion dollar copyright and trademark infringement action.

• Successfully defeated a motion for preliminary and permanent injunction in a two week trademark injunction hearing regarding the ownership of a non profit's trademark for its charity fundraiser.

• Successfully defended an internet website developer in a state court bench trial for over $350,000 in lost profits and damages brought by a former client of the developer.  

• Handled a multimillion dollar construction delay damages cases in which a School District and three prime contractors brought suit and filed for arbitration. After extensive discovery and a mediation, the matter resolved for a amount significantly lower than the original claims presented to our client.

• Currently handling a class action lawsuit in which numerous residential property owners are claiming that our client caused severe vibrations in their Philadelphia neighborhood and significantly damaged their properties and homes. The matter is currently pending in Philadelphia County.

• Successfully defeated a legal malpractice lawsuit brought by a commercial multimillion dollar hotel developer against the attorney for the developer's former general contractor.

• Successfully defeated a professional negligence claim brought by a large mobile home trailer park against its prior engineer for alleged negligence in the services provided for the expansion of the park.