Blake H. Gibson
Blake H. Gibson IV joined Pietrangelo Cook as an Associate in the Summer of 2008. Mr. Gibson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and is admitted to both the Tennessee and Mississippi bars.
Mr. Gibson received his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. During law school, Mr. Gibson received the Dean's Award for Legal Writing – Best Appellate Brief, the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Trial Advocacy, and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal History.
Prior to and during law school, Mr. Gibson specialized in the fields of information technology, software development, and computer consulting for businesses. Mr. Gibson utilizes the knowledge gained through this experience to provide Pietrangelo Cook and its clients with advice from both a legal and technological standpoint, especially in the areas of Intellectual Property and Technology Law.
When it comes to Technology Law, Mr. Gibson counsels businesses and individuals in selecting and implementing technology, negotiating and drafting contracts, and assisting them in implementing the best legal and technology practices. Mr. Gibson has extensive experience in a variety of hybrid legal and technological matters such as IT outsourcing, procurement, negotiating software and web development deals and licenses, electronic health records (EHR/EMR), the submission of iOS apps to the Apple App Store, social media, privacy and information assurance, cloud computing, advising clients on the reasonableness of technology vendor's proposals, and technology due diligence in the purchase and sale of businesses. Mr. Gibson has substantial experience in assisting vendors and companies of all sizes from technology start-ups to handling multi-million dollar deals as lead counsel for multi-billion dollar entities.
Mr. Gibson is the founder of the Memphis Bar Association’s Technology Section and currently serves as the Technology Section’s chair. Mr. Gibson also serves on the Board of Directors for the Memphis Bar Association's Business Section, and is on the Intellectual Property Editorial Board for the Tennessee Bar Association's Intellectual Property Section. Mr. Gibson also serves on the Judicial Policy and Procedure Committee for Shelby County, Tennessee.
Mr. Gibson practices in the areas of technology law, intellectual property (including infringement suits, licensing, copyrights, and trademarks), civil litigation, business planning and transactions, and estate tax planning. In his spare time, Mr. Gibson enjoys golf, chess (he holds a world record), technology, and traveling. Mr. Gibson is an active member at his church, Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gibson and his wife and son live in Germantown, Tennessee.
Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements
Author - "The Power of Social Media: Part II - Brand Protection Strategies," Tennessee Bar Associations' Intellectual Property Section, March 2012
Author - "The Power of Social Media: Part I - How to Damage a Brand Name in Thirty Minutes or Less," Tennessee Bar Associations' Intellectual Property Section, January 2012
Presenter - "Intellectual Property Workshop," AIGA, Memphis, Tennessee, September 2011
Presenter - "The Tech Savvy Trustee," Annual Bankruptcy Trustee Seminar for the Western District of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, August 2011
Featured - "E-Savvy," MBQ: Inside Memphis Business, July/August 2011
Featured - "Innovating the Bar," Memphis Lawyer, May/June 2011
Author - "Tools for Protecting your Clients' Trademarks on the Internet," Tennessee Bar Associations' Intellectual Property Section, February 2010
Areas of Practice
Education
University of Memphis
Juris Doctor
Bar Admissions
Tennessee
Mississippi
