Willard Alonzo Stanback P.C.

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EMPLOYMENT

The principal of WILLARD ALONZO STANBACK P.C. (Willard Stanback) has been engaged in the practice of

law for over 30 years.

 

Morgan & Finnegan (1988-1991)

Willard began his legal career with Morgan and Finnegan, a New York City based law firm specializing in

intellectual property.  As a summer associate at Morgan & Finnegan and later as an associate, Willard learned

the day-to-day basics of intellectual property – its protection through registration and, as necessary, through

litigation.  Working primarily in patent law, Willard was also involved with trademark, copyright and other matters. 

He conducted research and prepared legal memoranda on litigation, patent and trademark issues, while also

drafting and prosecuting patent and trademark applications.

 

Reed Smith (1991-1994)

In early 1991, Willard was hired by the general practice law firm Reed Smith.  There, he continued his work handling clients’ intellectual property rights and began to develop an expertise in business transactions, especially in connection with the licensing of intellectual property.  For example, while employed at Reed Smith, Willard managed and drafted pleadings and memoranda during complex multiple party and other intellectual property litigation, prepared and prosecuted domestic and foreign trademarks and patent applications, and drafted and negotiated intellectual property agreements.

 

Sega Channel (1994-1997)

In 1994, having acquired a strong foundation in the protection and licensing of intellectual property, Willard joined Sega Channel.  His new employer, jointly owned by Sega of America, Time Warner and TCI (now part of Comcast), had recently launched its operations.  Sega Channel distributed Sega Genesis-formatted videogames to subscribers through cable systems and a patented system, including a specially made adapter with an input from the in-home subscribers’ cable jack and an output readable by the Genesis console.  One of Willard’s responsibilities was the negotiation of the rights needed to transmit the videogames through cable systems to paying subscribers.

 

He also provided legal and business counseling, drafted and negotiated various contracts (including agreements with video game publishers, service providers, cable distributors, consultants and technology-based contractors), managed intellectual property rights, and provided other legal services for all departments of Sega Channel.  In 1997, Willard launched Willard Alonzo Stanback P.C. and then, over the next few months, transitioned from his role as in-house counsel at Sega Channel to its primary outside counsel (by the end of April 1997 there were no in-house counsel in the company).  Willard later advised Sega Channel through a possible acquisition and oversaw the legal and contractual aspects of the company’s six-month wind-down after the owners decided to cease operations of the business.

 

Willard Alonzo Stanback P.C. (1997 – 1998: initial launch)

Willard Alonzo Stanback P.C. was launched in early 1997 and grew through mid-1998.  He successfully represented inventors. granted patents, managed all legal aspects of Sega Channel’s operations, assisted several clients in trademark matters, worked with companies in the music and entertainment business, developed work-for-hire practices and contracts for consulting firms, and began to represent The E.W. Scripps Company in its technology law matters.  In his various roles, Willard acted as (1) counsel to general practice firms, (2) an intellectual property subject matter expert for companies with in-house counsel, and (3) general counsel for small businesses and start-ups.

 

Scripps Networks (1998 – 2010)

In June 1998, Willard suspended the law firm when he accepted full-time employment with one of his clients, in the Legal Affairs department of the cable programming division of The E.W. Scripps Company.  During the next 12 ½ years, this division became part of the spinoff known as Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. and expanded from two programming services (HGTV and Food Network) to six networks falling within three genres (Home: HGTV and DIY Network; Food: Food Network and Cooking Channel; and Travel/Entertainment: Travel Channel and Great American Country).  Some examples of Willard’s responsibilities and accomplishments during this 12 ½ year period include the following:

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• Functioned as lead counsel for Scripps Networks’ international department — negotiated international distribution agreements and monitored legal aspects of Scripps Networks Interactive’s UK-based subsidiary

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• Oversaw various legal aspects in connection with the successful launch of two cable networks (DIY and Fine Living)

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• Led Legal Affairs’ efforts in connection with all technology / operations agreements — negotiated a multi-year lease for satellite transponders; negotiated enterprise software/technology agreements; represented Legal Affairs  on  Scripps Networks Interactive’s Engineering Technology Council

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• Managed Scripps Networks’ intellectual property portfolio (cable network names and show titles); managed outside counsel during intellectual property  litigations; reviewed agreements related to product licensing of trademarks; conducted seminars on intellectual property and the contracting process; managed Scripps Networks’ process for creating and administering confidentiality agreements

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• Managed legal activities as lead counsel during the 2009 renewals of distribution agreements with nearly all of the major distributors for multiple Scripps Networks programming services, including substantial increases in license fees for Food Network and the launch of Cooking Channel; advised team on strategy and negotiated agreements covering cable/satellite/telco distribution, transport rights, interactive television, video-on-demand, broadband distribution, mobile distribution, and other emerging media

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• Negotiated multi-million dollar enterprise advertising sales agreements with, for example, DoubleClick, Google and other companies in so-called traditional media and/or new media; negotiated agreements for websites relating to content distribution and site functionality; worked on agreements between Scripps Networks and Nielsen

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• Negotiated Scripps Networks’ original music performance rights agreements with BMI, ASCAP and SESAC covering multiple years and music rights with libraries and other rights holders

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• Managed operations of Legal Affairs as senior counsel in Scripps Networks’ New York office; managed the building of a contract analysis system for Scripps Networks’ linear distribution agreements

 

Willard Alonzo Stanback, P.C. (relaunched in 2011)

Willard has now relaunched his law firm, building on his strong foundation in intellectual property, licensing and technology law, along with his extensive experience in entertainment and media.

 

ACADEMIC EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Willard is a 1985 graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  At MIT, he received a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with concentrations in both Economics and Political Science.  Prior to his MIT graduation, Willard was admitted to both the graduate school of engineering and the law school at the University of Virginia.  He elected to defer law school for one year, graduating from UVA’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in 1986 with a Masters of Engineering in Systems Engineering. Willard then enrolled in UVA’s School of Law and graduated in 1989 with his Juris Doctorate.

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Willard has also participated in other programs through which he has acquired additional knowledge that has been useful in representing his clients.  Those programs include, for example, sessions of the New York New Media Association (1999) teaching the process for starting new media companies; The E.W. Scripps Leadership Institute (2001); an executive program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (April 2002); and Scripps Networks Leadership Program (2005).

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BAR ADMISSIONS, CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS; Board Memberships

Willard has been admitted to practice in the following states and jurisdictions: New Jersey (admitted 1989); New York (admitted 1990); District of Columbia (admitted 1991); Pennsylvania (admitted 1991); the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (admitted 1992); the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (admitted 1991); and Tennessee (admitted 2010 with in-house counsel status).  He also passed the patent bar and has been a registered patent attorney since 1990.  While attending law school, Willard served as a member of the editorial staff of the Virginia Journal of International Law (1988-1989).  Prior to entering law school, he was awarded an Engineer-in-Training Certificate by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1985).

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Willard A. Stanback currently sits on the board of the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation (CCRC) and the Thomas Edison State University (TESU) Foundation Board.  He is also the immediate former chair of the Board of Director of the Trenton Downtown Association (TDA).  Prior, he served three one-year terms as the TDA Board Chair, having joined the Board in January of 2015.  Mr. Stanback’s past work in support of not-for-profit organizations has included membership on the boards of Isles, Inc. (for 4 years) and of the Trenton Community Music School (now Trenton Music Makers – for 6 years).  He has also been a three-time grant application reviewer for The I Am Trenton Community Foundation.