LES Member Spotlight: Ian DiBernardo

Ian DiBernardo: 25+ Years With LES

Ian DiBernardo is Co-Practice Group Leader of Stroock’s Intellectual Property and Technology Department and Co-Head of Stroock’s FinTech practice. He has been named an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine, he’s ranked in Chambers USA for Intellectual Property/Patents, and he’s listed in Super Lawyers in each of the specialties of Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Litigation and Intellectual Property/Outsourcing. Ian is serving as the Chair of the 2019 LES (U.S.A. and Canada) Annual Meeting in Phoenix.

By Linda Corcoran

Q: How were you first introduced to LES?

A: Ian: I was introduced to LES as a student at Syracuse University College of Law more than 25 years ago. With the plan of practicing in intellectual property, I was a member of the Law, Technology and Management Program. Bob Goldscheider, a longtime LES member and licensing pioneer, was an adjunct professor and introduced me to LES. Some of us at Syracuse became student members, and I’ve been a member of LES almost continuously since that time.

Q: Over those 25+ years with LES, have you had any mentors?

A: Ian: I’ve been fortunate to have established relationships with peers at LES—many going back more than 15 years. Those LES connections extend beyond my LES committee work and attending LES meetings; they are professional resources and friends. In a sense, those connections provide mentorship-type benefits in developing my practice and in making my LES membership rewarding.

Q: Has your career always focused on IP?

A: Ian: Absolutely. I started out at an IP boutique law firm as a patent prosecutor and litigator. Early on, I decided to expand my practice into licensing and transactional matters. At that point, I came to Stroock and began to get much more active in LES and the business of monetizing IP.

Q: What have you found to be the most rewarding aspect of your career?

A: Ian: Being asked to chair the 2019 Annual Meeting and to join the LES Board of Directors in October of 2019 is certainly at the top! Of course, there have also been some particularly rewarding work matters over the last 25 years. Those include delivering the closing argument in a top-ten largest IP verdict one year and working with a client to form his company with a $20,000 loan through the sale for tens of millions of dollars—and everything in between.

Q: What additional value has LES added to your career?

A: Ian: LES has provided me the opportunity to connect with thought leaders in all facets of the intellectual capital economy. It is an invaluable forum to share current thinking on hot topics with my peers. Also, the formal programming is typically excellent, whether taking a deep dive into specific areas of your practice or looking to expand your knowledge outside your area of expertise. Of course, this year’s Annual Meeting will be no exception! We have a stellar roster of topics and speakers.

Q: Speaking of the 2019 Annual Meeting: what new features can attendees expect?

A: Ian: The most notable aspect of chairing the 2019 Annual Meeting has been all of the great ideas we’ve received from the Annual Meeting Committee, as well as the LES membership at large. Based on their input, we are implementing some new features that will provide a forum for attendees to more easily identify their peers and share ideas. For example, we’re introducing a dedicated networking session with topical, guided roundtable discussions.

Q: In addition to recommending LES, what advice would you give professionals just beginning a career in licensing?

A: Ian: I was taught that at any point in my career, I should strive to become a business partner to my clients. That advice has served me well. For professionals just beginning a career in licensing, to become a trusted partner to clients, you need a strong legal and business foundation. With that strong foundation, continuously ask “why” and “how”: Why is the deal structured a certain way? How will a particular contract provision affect the parties’ relationship?

Q: Can you tell us about your life outside of licensing deals?

A: Ian: My wife, Amy, and I both grew up in the country—I’m from the Catskills, and she’s from the Berkshires. Although we’ve lived in New York City for decades now, we still take every chance we can to enjoy the outdoors with our 7-year-old son, Jack. We do a lot of hiking and skiing; and, I enjoy woodworking, which to me is a perfect mix of engineering, creativity and power tools!