Marc E. Ackerman
Marc Ackerman has been a strategic advisor for executives and c-suite professionals throughout his more than 25-year legal career. Marc has a deep understanding of the in-house legal function, having built and led the legal, risk and compliance function at a high growth, multinational corporation, and provided practical, business-focused legal advice as part of the company’s senior management team. He is also a seasoned law firm practitioner, having served as outside counsel to some of the most high-profile organizations in the sports, media, technology and consumer products industries. This advice included a wide range of issues important to overall corporate strategy, with a particular focus on IP issues.
In his most recent role as General Counsel and Senior VP of Legal and Business Affairs at Tough Mudder Incorporated, Marc navigated the myriad legal, regulatory, compliance and business risks facing a disruptive, growth-stage company. Prior to this role, Marc spent 20 years in major global law firms as counsel to leading sports and media organizations like the National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, ESPN, Time Warner and more.
Memberships
International Trademark Association — Pro Bono Committee; Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court Competition
New York City Bar Association — Sports Law Committee, Past Chair; Committee on Judicial and Professional Ethics, Past Secretary
Media Mentions & Firm News
Accolades
Legal 500 USA — Mentioned Individual, Intellectual Property (Copyright) (2011)
Legal 500 USA — Leading Individual, Media and Entertainment (Sports) (2007-2010)
Thurgood Marshall Award (1998)
NYU Journal of International Law & Politics — Article and Note Editor
Previous Experience
Representative Growth Stage Company Experience:
- Built and led legal function at Tough Mudder, a growth stage disruptive fitness event company, including negotiating debt and equity fund raise rounds; rollout of franchise gym concept; international expansion through licensing agreements; negotiating media deals and sponsorship agreements.
- Advise Kettlebell Kitchen, a growth stage prepared food delivery business, on insurance and litigation matters.
- Advise Electronic Theatre, a UK-based growth stage interactive game room business, on U.S. employment and expansion matters.
- Advise startup wellness business on entity formation and intellectual property protection.
- Advise Beat the Bomb, a growth stage experiential group gaming company, on intellectual property protection.
Representative Sports Experience:
- Successfully defended the Baltimore Ravens and the National Football League against claims of copyright infringement; after two full jury trials, the case ended in zero financial liability for the Ravens and the NFL.
- Represented the Washington Redskins in trademark office proceedings brought by Native Americans seeking to cancel the club’s trademark registrations. Case resulted in a rejection of the claims against the Redskins.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Cleveland Browns and the National Football League against infringer of club’s Dawg Pound trademarks.
- Obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on behalf of ESPN against toy maker infringing X Games trademarks.
- Advised National Hockey League and its member clubs on trademark and copyright matters.
- Obtained summary judgment dismissing copyright infringement claims against Cincinnati Bengals and National Football League.
Representative Intellectual Property Counseling Experience:
- Represented Popular Holdings, a Singapore media company in bidding for and acquiring rights to Borders trademarks in Singapore.
- Negotiated trademark license agreement between Prestige Cruise Lines and the owner of Regent Cruise Line trademark.
- Negotiated trademark and right of publicity licenses for fashion designer Betsey Johnson.