Profile
Alan N. Sutin is Chair of the firm's Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice and Senior Chair of the Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice. Alan is an experienced business lawyer principally focused on commercial transactions driven by intellectual property and technology issues. He advises clients in connection with transactions involving the development, acquisition, disposition and commercial exploitation of intellectual property.
Alan represents a wide variety of companies and investors in connection with strategic alliance agreements, commercial joint ventures and licensing matters that are driven by the commercial exploitation of valuable intellectual property rights. He has represented numerous A-List celebrities in connection with the use of their intellectual property assets to expand into non-entertainment business ventures. Alan also has represented brand owners in a number of stadium and arena naming rights transactions with NFL and NBA teams and assisted major real estate developers in specialized transactions that involve the use of intellectual property assets to enhance the value of structures and developments.
In addition, Alan has significant experience in Internet and electronic commerce issues, represents clients in major software and SaaS service implementations, as well as IT and business process outsourcing arrangements, privacy and cybersecurity matters, and the implementation and use of artificial technology tools.
Alan was involved in many of the major policy issues surrounding the commercial development of the Internet, has advised foreign governments and multinational corporations in connection with these issues, and is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences and events around the world.
Concentrations
- Use of IP Assets in Business Transactions
- Licensing Arrangements
- Use of IP in joint ventures/strategic alliance agreements
- Endorsement Agreements (including equity based)
- Stadium and Arena Naming Rights Agreements
- Intellectual Property Protection
- Brand acquisition and management
- Worldwide intellectual property protection programs
- Patent, copyright and trademark licensing
- Intellectual property due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and financings
- Intellectual property audits
- Outsourcing Arrangements
- Structuring IT and business process outsourcing arrangements
- RFP preparation, response and assessment
- Master Service Agreement, Service Level Agreements and related contracts
- Vendor management issues
- Offshoring issues
- Internet and new media law
- Electronic publishing
- Privacy and defamation issues
- Online commercial ventures
- Privacy, Cybersecurity & Crisis Management
- Compliance assessments and audits
- Privacy and information security policies and procedures
- Legal risk mitigation strategies
- Managed security services agreements
- Privacy and data security issues in M&A transactions
Capabilities
Experience
- Complex Trademark License Agreements
- Represented Hard Rock in 2016 naming rights agreement for the Miami Dolphins Stadium and prior transactions for various stadiums, buildings and concert venues.
- Represented the majority of major American fashion houses in complex domestic and international licensing transactions.
- Represented several A-List celebrities in licensing agreements, joint ventures and other agreements relating to the commercial use of the celebrity’s name and likeness on a wide variety of products and services.
- Represented several major brands in complex license, distribution and franchise agreements designed to elevate brand positioning in specific territories around the world.
- Served as lead counsel in numerous IT and business process outsourcing transactions for major multinational corporations.
- Represented multinational corporation in enterprise-wide managed data security services with a Tier 1 provider.
- Represented large insurance company in connection with outsourcing of claims administration and other business processes.
- Represented several major providers of gaming platforms in technology outsourcing transactions to provide services to casinos and other licensed gaming operators.
- Advised numerous fashion and luxury goods retailers in connection with outsourcing technology platforms and fulfillment and call center services for their e-commerce operations.
- Privacy & Cybersecurity
- Conducted numerous reviews, audits and privacy and security assessments for multinational companies.
- Worked with companies to develop privacy and data security policies and procedures.
- Represent numerous entities in connection with their response to data breaches, including compliance with national and state/provincial breach notification requirements.
- Counseled clients in issues relating to Big Data analytics, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, collection and the collection and use of biometric data.
- Advised leading companies in connection with software development transactions, OEM, VAR and Dealer Agreements, and information services contracts.
- Counseled multinational corporations on various cutting-edge liability issues facing those doing business on the Internet, including electronic commerce, copyright infringement, domain name trademark disputes, defamation and privacy issues.
- Advised governments and private stakeholders in connection with proposed electronic commerce legislation, including projects for the Government of India and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2011-2017 and 2020-2024
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Information Technology Law; Technology Law, 2005-2025
- Listed, "Lawyer of the Year," Technology Law, New York City, 2025
- Listed, Managing IP Magazine's World IP Handbook and Survey, "IP Stars: Trademark Stars," 2013-2024
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
- Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Lawyer," 2020-2021
- Listed, World Trademark Review, "WTR 1000," 2013-2024
- Ranked in Florida, Prosecution and Strategy, 2023-2024
- Ranked in New York, Prosecution and Strategy, 2015-2024
- Listed, Euromoney's Expert Guides, "Best of the Best," Information Technology, 2019
- Listed, Who’s Who
- Legal Data Security – 2018-2020
- Legal Data Privacy and Protection – 2018-2020
- Legal Telecommunications Media & Technology: Information Technology 2017-2020
- Legal Telecommunications Media & Technology: Telecoms and Media 2017-2020
- Legal Thought Leaders: TMT 2017-2018
- Legal Thought Leaders: Data 2018
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Intellectual Property - Trademarks - Litigation, 2014-2016
- Member, International Technology Law Association
- Member, Inter-Pacific Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals
- Member, International Trademark Association (INTA)
Credentials
-
J.D., University of Georgia School of Law, 1984
- Articles Editor, Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law
- B.A., Emory University, 1979
- Florida
- New York