Group Members
The Gioconda Law Group is a quickly growing team of experienced, enthusiastic individuals who are dedicated to providing clients with the highest quality legal services available. Please note that not all Group Members are identified by name on this website.
JOSEPH C. GIOCONDA, ATTORNEY AND FOUNDER
Joseph C. Gioconda has an impressive track record both inside and outside the courtroom. He has successfully litigated cases against some of the toughest counterfeiters and infringers, and has recovered multi-million dollar judgments and permanent injunctions against companies selling illicit merchandise and infringing his clients’ Intellectual Property rights. He has also assembled and managed large teams of lawyers and investigators across the globe to combat counterfeiters in the factories, storerooms and underground hideaways where they operate.
Mr. Gioconda spent nearly a decade as a partner and associate at the prestigious litigation powerhouse KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP, a firm that is widely known for having some of the best Intellectual Property lawyers in the United States. Mr. Gioconda was most recently an equity partner of the world’s largest legal service provider DLA PIPER LLP (US), which represents more than half of the Fortune 250. He was responsible for the Trademark Litigation and Anti-Counterfeiting practice in the firm’s New York office.
Mr. Gioconda is the son of a New York City Police Officer from Queens, and a graduate of New York City’s public schools. He earned his law degree from YALE LAW SCHOOL where he edited three law journals and volunteered to assist battered women seeking restraining orders against their abusers in Connecticut state courts. He also worked with the UNITED STATES SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITEE drafting intellectual property-related legislation along with Senator Grassley and Senator (now Vice President) Biden.
Mr. Gioconda is widely quoted in the international press in the field of Intellectual Property enforcement, and has been a commentator in THE NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, on CNN and MSNBC. He has been profiled in the book KNOCKOFF: THE DEADLY TRADE IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS, by British author Tim Phillips. He has also published numerous award-winning academic articles proposing innovative approaches to the challenge of Anti-Counterfeiting, and has given presentations to members of the art community on how they can utilize cutting-edge legal theories to combat art forgery.
Mr. Gioconda was recently elected to serve on the Enforcement Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA), which develops and advocates policies to harmonize and strengthen the legal certainty of trademark rights throughout the world.
Mr. Gioconda has also worked at the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK), assisting in the prosecution of major crimes and frauds. He was appointed SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE KING’S COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE and successfully defended convictions for violent crimes on appeal. Mr. Gioconda has personally trained hundreds of U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL agents to identify and seize spurious merchandise at the nation’s borders. He founded the Gioconda Law Group in 2009 to create a law firm that would focus exclusively on providing high quality brand protection litigation, investigations and strategic counseling. Mr. Gioconda is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, to numerous Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal, United States Federal District Courts, and to the Bar of the State of New York.
To reach Mr. Gioconda, e-mail him directly at: Joseph.Gioconda@GiocondaLaw.com or call him at 212 786-7549.
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REBECCA R.H. BURCH, OF COUNSEL
Over the span of her legal career, Rebecca R. H. Burch has focused her practice on trademark enforcement and management, with an emphasis on litigation. As part of this practice, Ms. Burch has represented and counseled some of the largest and most famous companies in the world about their most important and influential brands. After graduating from Stuyvesant High School, New York City’s most prestigious public high school, and obtaining a Bachelor Degree in History and French from the UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Ms. Burch earned her law degree from NEW YORK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL in 2001.
Ms. Burch spent her first four years practicing law as an associate at KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP, where she worked closely with Mr. Gioconda on a variety of trademark, trade dress and counterfeit enforcement matters. During her time at the firm, Ms. Burch obtained substantial litigation experience, including two trials, as well as several temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunction hearings. Ms. Burch also had extensive contact with U.S. Customs regarding counterfeit seizures and inquiries.
Subsequently, Ms. Burch worked as the Assistant General Counsel of the JEWELERS VIGILANCE COMMITEE in New York City, a trade organization that monitors and advises the jewelry industry for compliance with relevant laws and regulations. After moving to Chicago, Ms. Burch became an associate at PATTISHALL, McAULIFFE, NEWBURY, HILLIARD & GERALDSON LLP, a prominent trademark boutique law firm. While at the firm, Ms. Burch managed a large number of enforcement matters, including UDRP and TTAB proceedings, conducted federal litigation, and engaged in trademark clearance and prosecution, among other work.
In addition to her extensive trademark experience, Ms. Burch has also engaged in design patent litigation and copyright enforcement and counseling.
To reach Ms. Burch, e-mail her directly at Rebecca.Burch@GiocondaLaw.com
JOSEPH M. FORGIONE, DIRECTOR OF TRADEMARK ENFORCEMENT
Joseph M. Forgione is the Director of Trademark Enforcement at the Gioconda Law Group. He previously worked in the corporate legal department at CHANEL, INC., where he participated in brick-and-mortar and online intellectual property enforcement.
Mr. Forgione holds an LL.M. degree, Master of Laws in Intellectual Property Law, from BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW. During that course of study, Mr. Forgione worked as an intern in the legal department at SEVEN FOR ALL MANKIND LLC and also as an extern in the legal department at TIME INC. for INSTYLE, REAL SIMPLE, THIS OLD HOUSE, and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED magazines.
Mr. Forgione also holds a J.D. from Cardozo, where he concentrated his legal education in Intellectual Property and Communications Law. During law school, Mr. Forgione was the managing editor of Cardozo Studies in Law & Literature and he worked as an intern in the legal department at KATE SPADE LLC.
In addition to doing ongoing freelance work for various media outlets, Mr. Forgione has also worked as an editorial intern at ESQUIRE, GOTHAM, HAMPTONS, LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL, and SURFACE magazines, and he has over thirty pages of published clips in his editorial portfolio.
A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Mr. Forgione holds a B.A. cum laude with Honors in Sociology from HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, where he also studied Italian and Comparative Literature in Italy, and began his career in intellectual property law working as a clerk in the legal department at HOME BOX OFFICE (HBO). Mr. Forgione is actively involved in several charitable organizations including GQ MAGAZINE: THE GENTLEMAN’S FUND, and COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS: FIRST STEP JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. Mr. Forgione is applying for admission to the New York State Bar in 2010.
To reach Mr. Forgione, he can be e-mailed directly at Joseph.Forgione@GiocondaLaw.com
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JONATHAN MALKI, ASSOCIATE
Jonathan Malki is an associate attorney at the Gioconda Law Group. Jonathan is a graduate of the BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW (J.D., cum laude, 2009), where he was a staff member of the Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law, and member of the Cardozo Bet Tzedek Civil Litigation Clinic. Jonathan graduated from WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY in St. Louis with a degree in English Literature. Prior to attending law school, Jonathan worked in the publishing industry for several years as an editor and writer, including three years as an editor with SIMON & SCHUSTER, where he worked primarily on sports books. Jonathan focuses his practice on trademark and copyright litigation and counseling, and is admitted to the Bar of the State of New York, and to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
To reach Mr. Malki, he can be e-mailed directly at Jonathan.Malki@GiocondaLaw.com
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DAVID UGELOW, SUMMER ASSOCIATE
David Ugelow is a Summer Associate at the Gioconda Law Group. He previously worked as a legal intern in the intellectual property department at BURBERRY LIMITED, where he participated in brand protection efforts including anti-counterfeiting and trademark enforcement. Mr. Ugelow also has experience working as a legal intern at the NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, where he directed hearings and settlement negotiations between contractors and consumers.
Mr. Ugelow is entering his third year at BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL. He recently studied Comparative Criminal Law and International Bankruptcy Law in China, and he is a member of the Intellectual Property Law Association and Brooklyn Law Students for the Public Interest. Mr. Ugelow will be joining the Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy Clinic in the fall semester.
Mr. Ugelow holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PPL) and History from BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Ugelow worked as a legal intern at RIEGLER & BERKOWITZ, where he participated in personal injury lawsuits and real estate dealings.
To reach Mr. Ugelow, he can be e-mailed directly at David.Ugelow@GiocondaLaw.com
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