BIOGRAPHY
Paul McGrady works with clients in the adoption, prosecution, licensing, and enforcement of trademarks in the United States and throughout the world.
Paul represents large brand owners, including new gTLD registries, in their domain name and ICANN matters as well as brand-friendly registrars. Paul served a critical role in the strategy and negotiations which led to ICANN’s adoption of “Specification 13” in which ICANN finally recognized the unique role and responsibilities of brand registries. His experience includes domain name disputes, domain name transactions, the creation of new top-level domain names, CAN-SPAM disputes, Computer Fraud & Abuse Act disputes, online copyright and brand identity disputes, and transactions and counseling related to intellectual property aspects of social/mobile media.
Paul has successfully handled more than 500 proceedings under the Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Procedure (UDRP). He has also handled multiple litigations brought under the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and successful actions under foreign domain name dispute policies.
Prior to working in a private practice, Paul was in-house counsel for a True Value Hardware practicing in trademarks, franchising, advertising, and shareholder/member relations.
He has taught Advanced Trademarks and Cyberlaw at DePaul Law School.
HONORS AND AWARDS
From 2011-2014, Paul has been recognized in the World Trademark Review’s “WTR 1000” as a world leading trademark individual for contentious and non-contentious work. He is also one of only a handful of practitioners who are nationally ranked by the WTR 1000 in ICANN matters. In 2008, Paul was selected by IP Law & Business Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Under 45” most influential intellectual property attorneys in the United States.
ACTIVITIES
Paul is active with the International Trademark Association (INTA). In 2016, he was appointed to the Board of Directors for the 2017-2019 term, and he currently serves as vice-chair of the Internet Committee for the 2016-17 term. Prior to that he served as chair of the Internet Committee’s Online Trademark Use sub-committee for the 2014-2015 term and sub-committee chair for the Internet Governance Sub-Committee (2012-2014). Paul is a former member of INTA’s Program’s Board, previous co-chair of the 2012 INTA Leadership Meeting, a former programs board liaison for the 2009 Annual Meeting, a team leader for the U.S. Programming for the Annual Meeting in 2008, co-chair of a Trademark Administrators Conference, team member of a Trademark Administrator’s Conference, and team member of a Trademarks Basics Conference.
Paul is an active member of the Intellectual Property Constituency of ICANN. He serves as one of the two IPC GNSO Councilors, is active on the Privacy-Proxy Service Accreditation Issue Working Group, is a former counsel and current Fellow of the Brand Registry Group, and a veteran of over 20 ICANN Meetings. He is also a member of MARQUES, the Association of European Trade Mark Owners, serving on the Cyberspace Team.
In addition, Paul is Honorary Trustee for the Eliza Jennings Senior Care Network, serving on the Development subcommittee and as a member of the Host Committee for the 2013 Eliza Jennings Gala. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Lawyers for the Creative Arts in Chicago.
EDUCATION
Depaul University
JD, 1996
BA, 1993
ADMISSIONS
Illinois
COURT ADMISSIONS
Northern District of Illinois
Western District of Michigan
USCA – 7th Circuit
District of Colorado
MY SESSIONS
@MERGE
McGrady Academy – Introductory Session on Domain Names and Law