James M. Smedley, a member of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, serves as head of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology law group. Mr. Smedley’s practice has focused on strategic counseling of companies with respect to protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights, both domestically and internationally. He has a wealth of industry experience in the computer software and hardware fields, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and data security.
In the field of data security, Mr. Smedley has worked with clients, insurance companies, federal agencies (e.g., FBI, DHS) and security analyst to address cyber infiltration by international hacking groups, including detection and identification of exfiltrated data, and response to demands, including ransomware demands and data blackmail demands. Mr. Smedley's experience includes not just legal response to these matters, but also coordinating with external groups, like public relations and media affairs, to help triage not only the loss and misuse of data, but also mitigate damage to corporate reputation and branding.
Prior to joining the Firm in 2019, Mr. Smedley was the managing member of the Sigma Law Group, an intellectual property law boutique he founded in 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Smedley worked in the technology group at Lowenstein Sandler PC. Mr. Smedley holds a dual degree in Computer Science and English from Rutgers University, and his JD from Boston University School of Law.
Mr. Smedley is admitted to practice in the States of New York and New Jersey, as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court of New Jersey. Mr. Smedley is also registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and is a registered Canadian Patent Agent.