Deborah A. Gubernick, Partner at our Orange County law office
Deborah A. Gubernick vcard
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Deborah A. Gubernick

Partner
Biography

Deborah Gubernick is a partner in the firm’s intellectual property and commercial litigation groups. She helps small and large clients protect and defend their brands and business in the U.S. and abroad. She has litigated cases in state and federal courts and has handled at least 220 matters before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Debbie routinely advises clients on brand selection, clearance, and global protection. She has handled multiple online disputes, DMCA take-downs, and has counseled clients in the NIL space as well. She handles UDRP domain name disputes, online infringement, and branding issues, cease and desist demands and more. She litigates trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases, as well as cases involving false advertising, breach of contract, unfair competition, and related claims. Debbie routinely litigates trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases, as well as cases involving false advertising, breach of contract, unfair competition and more. She has negotiated assignments, settlements, trademark co-existence agreements, and licenses involving household brand names, high-end retailers, famous clothing brands, national sports leagues, and more. Debbie has provided IP diligence support on multi-million dollar and billion-dollar transactions and routinely provides strategic counseling and assistance for her clients’ global trademark portfolios.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • California


Court Admissions

  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, Central District of California
  • United States District Court, Northern District of California
  • United States District Court, Southern District of California


Education

  • University of San Diego School of Law (J.D.)
    • Research Editor – San Diego Law Review; Member – San Diego Law Review
    • Externship – Hon. Judge Gary L. Taylor (Ret.) – United States District Court – Central District
  • Brigham Young University (B.A., English)
    • Language Lab Assistant – Spanish emphasis
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2025)
  • Orange County Visionary, Los Angeles Times (2024)
  • Women in Business Awards Nominee, Orange County Business Journal (2023, 2024)
  • Orange County Inspirational Women Awards Nominee, Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing (2023)
  • 2022 Inspirational Women Leadership Awards Nominee,  Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing (2022)
  • World Trademark Review 1000 (2022-2024)
  • Southern California Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Edition – Top Women Attorneys of Southern California, Business Litigation (2014, 2016)
  • Southern California Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Edition, Intellectual Property and Technology (2013-2015)
  • Women of Outstanding Leadership, The International Women’s Leadership Association (2014)

Representative Experience

  • Represented multiple nationally recognized brand-owners in over 200 opposition/cancellation matter before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)
  • Represented multiple high-end retail store Defendants and brand owner in trademark infringement case
  • Represented Plaintiff, a family-owned addiction recovery, behavioral health, and therapeutic transitional living business in protecting its key trademark and trade name
  • Represented Plaintiff Company in trademark litigation against former founder and co-owner
  • Defended specialty grocery store chain in infringement action
  • Represented Plaintiff in highly contested and emotional trademark, copyright infringement, and trade secrets misappropriation case
  • Represented nationally recognized gas service station company in branding dispute with franchisee
  • Defended well-known apparel and accessories brand licensee in breach of contract dispute involving its worldwide licensor
  • Represented Plaintiff in trade secret misappropriation case
  • Litigated breach of contract case related to highly technical software license on behalf of Plaintiff before the American Arbitration Association
  • Represented privately held, well known hotel chain in IP diligence aspects of multi-billion dollar leveraged buy-out and assumed debt transaction
  • Represented purchaser in trademark assignment aspects of multi-million-dollar transaction and asset purchase
  • Represented seller in multi-million-dollar sale of luxury golf apparel brand
  • Assisted multiple companies in the worldwide assignment/recordal of assignment of intellectual property rights
  • Represented multiple clients in DMCA take-down notices in various online and social media platforms
  • Represented multiple clients in UDRP domain name disputes, involving transfer of infringing domains to client control
  • Represented national bakery chain in trademark infringement dispute
  • Represented moving company in significant trademark infringement dispute involving multi-million dollar judgment and injunction
  • Represented health and nutraceutical company in trademark infringement dispute involving protection of rights and change of infringer’s mark
  • Represented international toy company in trademark protection efforts
  • Provided advice and counsel on first of its kind NIL agreement
  • Provided copyright, trademark, and litigation advice to multiple known brands
  • Provided licensing advice to high end brands, active wear brands, consumable brands, and more
  • Provided trademark management and oversight for tech brands, toy brands, security companies, clothing companies, and more in the U.S. and abroad

Previous Professional Experience

  • Call & Jensen, Shareholder, Associate (2011-2019)
  • Latham & Watkins, Litigation Associate (2006-2011)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • International Trademark Association, Member
  • Orange County Bar Association – Intellectual Property Section, Member
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society

Representative Presentations and Publications

Client News
Client News
Jul 28, 2022

Snell & Wilmer Advises Fintech Platform Greenwood in Two-Year NIL Deal with the Black-Owned Digital Bank’s Newest Brand Ambassador