David J. Sheehan
David J. Sheehan is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. First and foremost, he is a trial lawyer who has tried cases in federal and state courts throughout the country before both judges and juries, principally in the areas of intellectual property, product liability and business litigation. His vast trial experience in trying complex cases have given him a deep and broad understanding in preparing cases for litigation and counseling clients accordingly. Mr. Sheehan is currently serving as the court-appointed counsel to the trustee in the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.
Early in his career, Mr. Sheehan principally tried product liability cases for major international corporations for products such as automobiles and major industrial equipment. In those cases, he has acted as both local and national counsel, developing the ability to manage cases nationwide while also preparing and trying cases at the local level.
Thereafter, he gained valuable experience in the area of intellectual property, beginning with the representation of major pharmaceutical companies in the so-called “color wars,” protecting the trade dress of the ethical pharmaceutical manufacturers. The successful prosecution of those cases involved not only enforcement of trademark laws but knowledge of pharmaceuticals as well. It was then a natural progression to handling drug product liability cases for major pharmaceutical manufacturers on both a national and local basis.
Recently, he successfully represented a major publishing firm in connection with copyright claims concerning application software related to an internet portal for a major aspect of the firm’s business. This matter required the management of two emergent litigations simultaneously in New York and Vancouver, B.C. He also successfully represented a major internet portal in a trademark infringement action in connection with the naming of a spin-off business unit.
In addition to this experience, Mr. Sheehan served as a Lieutenant in The United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1969 to 1973.
Mr. Sheehan is recognized by his peers as one of the leading trial lawyers in the New York Metropolitan area. He was named as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Metropolitan area of New York in the New York Times edition of “Super Lawyers” in 2007. He also has been named for a number of years in Best Lawyers for business litigation in the states of New York and New Jersey.
In the pro bono arena, Mr. Sheehan is deeply committed to providing legal services in support of the public interest and the rights of our citizens. He has made contributions throughout the course of his career and is the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall award from the Association of the Bar of the City of New York for his work on death penalty cases.
In sum, Mr. Sheehan is the quintessential trial lawyer who is committed to his client’s cause and seeks to make a difference in the courtroom.
Mr. Sheehan’s representative experience includes:
- Represented major pharmaceutical company in Federal District Court matter in Central District of California focusing upon the breach of a Toll Manufacturing Agreement and a related Patent Licensing Agreement
- Represented a nationally known manufacturer of physical fitness equipment in a patent trial before a jury in the Federal District Court located in Boston, Massachusetts
- Represented an Atlantic City casino in connection with a ten-month trial of antitrust and real estate claims in the Superior Court of Atlantic County, New Jersey
- Represented a low-carb food manufacturer in a trademark infringement action tried before a jury in the Southern District of New York
- Represented a condominium association in a six-month jury trial seeking damages for construction defects associated with the development of a condominium project by a major real estate developer
- Represented an automobile manufacturer in an eleven-week jury trial of a product liability matter in the Federal District Court of New Jersey
- Represented a major publishing corporation in connection with a trademark and copyright infringement matter in the Southern District of New York
- Represented a major medical Internet portal in connection with a trademark infringement action instituted in the Federal District Court of New Jersey in connection with the name change of that Internet portal
- Represented a major publishing company in a jury trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against an author seeking damages for the negligent publication of his manuscript
His publications include:
- Interview, “Avoiding Surprises in Today’s Post-Enron Climate,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Inc. (May 2005)
- Interview, “On Protecting a Company’s Crown Jewels,” NJ Biz (December 8, 2003)
- Interview, “Managing Partner Attorney Profiles,” The National Law Journal (December 23-30, 2002)
- Interview, “Gibbons: A Quality Firm That Reaches Out To Serve Clients and The Community,” Metropolitan Corporate Counsel (September 2002)