Overview

Dale Cendali is a nationally recognized first-chair trial lawyer who has won high-profile jury trials and argued and won appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court. Recognized as a “lauded litigator” with a “great presence in the courtroom,” Dale is praised by clients as an “amazing powerhouse” and “a force of nature” who “walks in with a lot of gravitas” (Chambers). Clients also say that she is “simultaneously creative, thoughtful, practical, and aggressive” (Legal 500). In addition, they note that Dale is a “super-powered lawyer who achieves resolutions and successes that seem impossible” (WTR).

Dale’s noteworthy cases span copyright, trademark, false advertising and trade secrets litigation for high-profile global brands, including PepsiCo, Nike, Converse, Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, among numerous others. Thanks to Dale’s many litigation successes, she is recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America,” one of “America’s Top 50 Women Litigators,” one of the “50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America,” and one of “The Most Influential Lawyers” for media and entertainment (National Law Journal). She is one of the “20 Most Influential Women in IP Law” and one of the 25 “Icons of IP,” who have “made an indelible mark on the IP area” (Law360). Dale is also an IAM “IP Hall of Fame” inductee.

A recognized authority in IP, Dale is a long-time adjunct professor at Harvard Law School, teaching copyright and trademark litigation. In 2024, Dale delivered the prestigious Horace S. Manges Lecture at Columbia Law School.

Dale has received singular acclaim for her leadership and achievements in the intellectual property bar, including:

  • The Legal 500 U.S. recognized Dale as a “Hall of Fame” attorney in the areas of copyright, trademark litigation and trade secrets. They also recognized Dale as a “leading lawyer” for media and entertainment litigation, and they recognized her for non-contentious trademark work. They report that Dale is a “world class litigator” whose “reputation and expertise are unparalleled.”
  • Managing IP selected Dale as one of the six “Outstanding IP Practitioners” in the United States, and named her trial victory for J.K. Rowling on the high-profile “Lexicon” fair use case as the “Copyright Trial of the Year.” She was named “Outstanding Litigator: New York” at Managing IP’s 2017 North America Awards. She has been selected as Litigation – Intellectual Property “Lawyer of the Year” and she is repeatedly listed in the “IP Stars” guide, where she was also named one of the “Top 10 Women in IP.”
  • Recognized in the top tier every year by World Trademark Review, Dale has been named a “Trademark Experts’ Expert” and is noted as “the best trademark litigator in the country.”
  • Chambers Global and Chambers USA have repeatedly ranked Dale as a “top tier” lawyer, describing her as “one of the most famous lawyers in the history of intellectual property law.” Dale is commended for “always thinking ten steps ahead” and for her “great presence in the courtroom.” Clients report that she is “a strategic master,” “a phenomenal talent,” “a rockstar” and “an oracle.”
  • In 2024, The American Lawyer named Dale “Litigator of the Week” for her copyright jury trial win involving the copyrightability and fair use of tattoos. She was also previously named “Litigator of the Week” for same-day wins in the Second and Ninth Circuits.
  • Noted as a “go-to attorney for cutting-edge issues in the gaming space,” Dale has been recognized as one of “New York’s Top 25 Entertainment Attorneys” and as one of “Hollywood’s Top 100 Attorneys” by The Hollywood Reporter.
  • Dale’s work for iconic entertainment brands such as the “Harry Potter” series and sitcom “Modern Family” earned Dale “Media and Entertainment MVP” from Law360
  • New York Law Journal named Dale a “Distinguished Leader” at its New York Legal Awards, where Kirkland was also named “IP Department of the Year.” 
  • Dale has been named one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” every year since the list’s inception in 2012.

Dale has long been active in the bar. INTA elected Dale to serve as Counsel, the highest-ranking position in the organization for an outside counsel. She has also chaired INTA’s Dilution, Enforcement and Copyright committees. Dale is also Chair of the ABA IP Sections Amicus Committee, having previously served several terms on Council. Among many other positions in the bar, Dale is also the former Chair of the IP Council of the Association of the City Bar of New York, as well as the Chair of the Trademarks and Unfair Competition Committee. In 2015 Dale was selected as an Adviser for The American Law Institute’s project, Restatement of the Law of Copyright, the work of which is ongoing.

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

“Chambers Global Practice Guide: Trade Marks & Copyright,” Chambers and Partners, 2021–2024 ed. (Contributing Editor)

“The Death of the Litmus Test,” Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property, December 20, 2023 (Co-Author)

“Litigating Scènes à Faire,” The Columbia Journal of Law & The Arts, May 5, 2020

ABA Copyright Litigation Strategies Handbook (Co-Editor, Author of chapter “The Fair Use Defense: Strategic Considerations”)

“Copyright Litigation” chapter in Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel (Robert L. Haig, ed., 1st ed., Fall 2000 and 2016 Supp. by West Group and ACA) (First Author)

“Current Controversies in Trademark Infringement Remedies: Profits and Damages, Injunctive Relief and Attorney Fees Under the Lanham Act,” ABA Spring Meeting 2014, April 4, 2014 (Co-Author)

“Hey, Those Bits Are Mine: Evolving Theories of Liability in 'Web Scraping,'” PLI’s Social Media 2104, February 26, 2014 (Co-Author)

“Gray Markets: Importation Rights v. the First Sale Doctrine,” PLI’s Enforcement & Litigation 2013, February 1, 2013 (Co-Author)

“New Trends in U.S. Trademark Litigation Involving Chinese Companies,” New York Law Journal, February 27, 2012 (Co-Author)

“Why Trademark and Copyright Counsel Should Heed the Patent Precedent of the Supreme Court,” Landslide, November/December 2009

“Copyrights and Wrongs,” The Economist on-line debate on proposed revisions to copyright law, May 2009 (Opinion Author)

“Eight Steps to a Powerful Opening,” 26 Communications Lawyer 11 Nov. 2008 (First Author)

Moseley v. V Secret Catalogue, Inc.: One Answer, Many Questions, 93 The Trademark Law Reporter 833, 2003 (First Author)

“How to Ensure Your Website Complies with Consumer Protection Laws,” Internet Law & Business, October 2002

“Trademark Protection and the Internet,” UCLA Symposium and INTA Annual Meeting, 2001

“Electronic Discovery,” PLI's Fourth Annual Internet Law Institute, June 2000

“An Overview of Intellectual Property Issues Relating to the Internet,” 89 Trademark Reporter 485, 1999 (First Author)

“The Internet and Jurisdiction: The International Experience," The Computer Law Association Bulletin, Vol. 14, No. 2 1999 (Co-Author)

“Personal Jurisdiction in Cyberspace,” The New York Law Journal, July 20, 1998 (First Author)

“How to Protect Your Intellectual Property on the Internet?” Price Waterhouse Leadership Conference, 1998

“Freelancers Reeling In Fight Over Online Rights: Tasini v. The New York Times,” The National Law Journal, October 20, 1997

“Personal Jurisdiction and the Internet,” PLI's Annual Internet Law Institute, 1997 and 1998

“Net Use Raises Issues of Jurisdiction,” The National Law Journal October 28, 1996 (First-Author)

“You Name It: To What Extent Can A Surname Be Used As A Trademark?” Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal April 25, 1996 (Co-Author)

“In Lotus, The 1st Circuit Departed From Precedent, Narrowing Protection For Developed Software And Giving Crafty Litigators A Blank Disk On Which To Write,” The National Law Journal May 15, 1995 (First-Author)

“The Book Publishing Industry: Intellectual Property, Privacy, Libel and Contract Issues,” The Texas Bar Association, March 1995

“Other Methods of Proof,” The New York Bar Association's Practical Evidence Program, December 1994

“Computer Interfaces Test Copyright Law's Scope,” The National Law Journal, October 31, 1994 (First-Author)

“Lotus Case Highlights Copyright Issues and High-Tech Problems,” The National Law Journal, November 1, 1993 (Co-Author)

“Book Publishing,” University of Houston Law Foundation and University of California at Davis School of Law, July 1993 and July 1994

“Federal Preemption of State Dilution Statutes,” The New York Law Journal, April 12, 1993 (Co-Author)

“Sega Case Suggests Protection Strategies," The National Law Journal, January 18, 1993 (Co-Author)

“Ferrari Case Shows Collision of Competing [Trade Dress and Patent] Protection Concepts,” The National Law Journal, October 12, 1992

“Fact-Compilation Ruling May Hinder [Copyright] Protection,” The National Law Journal, June 17, 1991

“The Work for Hire Doctrine After CCNV v. Reid,” New York State Bar Journal, July 1990 (Principal Co-Author)

“Enjoining A Tender Offer for Misuse of Confidential Information: Is It A Show-Stopper or Can The Bidder Cure?” The Journal of Proprietary Rights [December 1989 (Part I); January 1990 (Part II)] (First Author), abstract reprinted in The Bowne Digest for Corporate & Securities Lawyers (April 1990)

“Representing The Employee In A Trade Secret Case,” The Corporate Analyst, August 1989 (First Author), Reprinted in The Corporate Counsel's Guide to Protecting Trade Secrets

“In Search Of Truth, A Review of Renata Adler's Reckless Disregard,” 15 Northern Kentucky Law Review 227, 1987

“Entering and Leaving the Employer-Employee Relationship, Planning For Possible Litigation, Strategic Aspects of Litigation,” Trade Secret Law Reporter, Vol. II, Nos. 10-11 (1987)

“Of Things To Come–The Actual Impact of Herbert v. Lando and a Proposed National Correction Statute,” 22 Harvard Journal on Legislation 441 (1985), Partially reprinted in M. Franklin, Cases and Materials on Mass Media Law 293-295 (3d Ed. 1987)

Press Mentions

“Litigators of the Week: Kirkland Beats Videogame Copyright Claim From Lebron James’ Tattoo Artist,” The AmLaw Litigation Daily, April 26, 2024

“Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs,” The American Lawyer Litigation Daily, December 15, 2023

“An Exceedingly Impressive Group of Litigator of the (Past) Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs,” The American Lawyer Litigation Daily, August 16, 2023

“Law360's Legal Lions Of The Week,” Law360, August 7, 2023

“The Changing Landscape of Copyright Law in the Art World With Intellectual Property Authority Dale Cendali,” Art Sense, July 11, 2023

“Litigation Department of the Year: Intellectual Property,” New York Law Journal, October 1, 2021

“Encore! Encore! Here are the 2020 Litigators of the Week,” The AM Law Litigation Daily, December 23, 2020

“2020 Practice Group of the Year: Intellectual Property,” Law360, December 3, 2020

“2020 MVP: Dale Cendali,” Law360, October 8, 2020

“The Firms That Won Big at the Supreme Court,” Law360, July 10, 2020

“Litigators of the Week: Kirkland Trio Dances Off With a Win in Video Game Copyright Suits,” The AM Law Litigation Daily, June 5, 2020

“Kirkland Attorney Returns to Supreme Court 17 Years Later,” Bloomberg Law, January 10, 2020

“Kirkland's 'Bionic Women' Don't Mind Taking on the Boys,” New York Law Journal, April 22, 2019

Seminars

“Lessons from Women Trailblazers in IP Law,” ACI’s 4th Annual Summit for Women Leaders in IP Law; June 25, 2024

Leaders in Private Practice, Harvard Law School Celebration 70+; April 5, 2024

“Litigating Fair Use,” Kernochan Law Center, Horace S. Manges Lecture; March 25, 2024

“Developments in Copyright Law,” IP CLE Conference; January 7, 2024

“Hot Topics in IP,” ChIPs Summit 2023; November 9, 2023

“Copyrights and Trademarks in the Metaverse,” George Mason University Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy; October 12, 2023

“The Death of the Litmus Test,” Chicago Kent Supreme Court IP Review; September 29, 2023

“Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Privacy, and Intellectual Property and Data Privacy,” New York City Bar Association, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Summit; September 29, 2023

“525,600 Creative Contributions: What Musicals Can Teach Us About Authorship,” Copyright Society of the USA; June 29, 2023

CTIA Symposium, Kirkland & Ellis; March 22–28, 2023

“Fair Use Transformed? Lessons from Google v. Oracle and Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith,” USC Gould School of Law, 2023 Intellectual Property Law Institute; March 21, 2023

“Justice Breyer’s Copyright Legacy,” Copyright Society of the USA/George Washington University Law School; March 20, 2023

“Hot Topics in IP Law,” ChIPs Summit 2022; October 28, 2022

Yale ’81 Reunion: Lightning Talks; July 28, 2022

“IP Enforcement,” ACI’s Women Leaders in IP Law; May 24, 2022

“Hot Topics in IP,” ChIPs Summit 2021; October 14, 2021

PLI Intellectual Property Law Institute 2021: Trademark; October 5, 2021

“Trademark Parody v. Copyright Parody,” PLI; September 8, 2021

Federal Judiciary Institute Speech, University of California, Berkeley; June 23, 2021

“Remote Case Management of IP Proceedings,” The Sedona Conference; June 10, 2021

“Recent Developments in Fair Use,” Columbia Law School; March 23, 2021

“Intersections at the Supreme Court: Google v. Oracle,” University of Illinois Chicago Intersections in IP; March 12, 2021

Arts & Advocacy Clinic, George Mason University; February 1, 2021

“Emerging Trends & Hot Topics,” ChIPs Summit 2020; November 6, 2020

“Making the Grade,” DC Fandome; July 20, 2020; aired September 12, 2020

“Achievement Unlocked: Fair Use and Video Games,” Entertainment Software Association; June 25, 2020

“Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights: A Look At Last Year’s Most Important Decisions,” AIPLA CLE Webinar, April 14, 2020

“Annual Update – Copyright,” AIPLA Annual meeting, October 26, 2019

“Scope of Copyright Protection,” Kernochan Symposium, the Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts at Columbia Law School; October 4, 2019

“Marks & Design in the Commercial Industries,” WIPO-CPIP Summer School at Antonin Scalia Law School; June 5, 2019

“Proving Markets,” NYU Proving IP Symposium; May 16, 2019

“IP Law and Business,” Stanford Law School; May 1, 2019

“Fair Use in the Digital Environment,” USC IP Institute; March 19, 2019

“Women Leaders in BigLaw,” Celebration 65 at Harvard Law School; September 15, 2019

“Intellectual Property, Comics, and the Law,” San Diego Comic Con; July 20, 2018

“The DMCA at 20: Current Developments and the Future of Section 512 of the Copyright Act,” USC IP Institute; March 20, 2018

NYSBA Media Law Committee Lunch; March 6, 2018

“The American Theatre Wing: 100 Years, 100 Voices, 100 Million Miracles,” BroadwayCon 2018; January 26, 2018

“Annual Trademark and Copyright Updates,” Law Education Institute; January 3, 2018

“Comics in the Courts,” San Diego Comic Con; July 21, 2017

PLI Panel; July 17, 2017

ABA Business Law Section Meeting; April 7, 2017

“Copyright at a Gallop,” ABA-IPL Spring Meeting; April 5, 2017

“The Legal World of Harry Potter,” Harvard Law School; December 5, 2016

PLI Technotainment; October, 19, 2016

“Intellectual Property, Comics & The Law,” New York Comic Con: CBLDF; October 8, 2016

“Inclusive Trade,” WTO Public Forum; September 27, 2016

“Comics in the Courts,” San Diego Comic Con:CBLDF; July 22, 2016

“New Cases in Copyright Law: Internet and Beyond,” PLI; June 23, 2016

“The Future Ain't What It Used To Be,” KCMBA Media Law Conference; April 29, 2016

“Television and the Wave of the Future,” ABA-IPL Spring Meeting; April 8, 2016

Protecting Superheroes: Copyright & Comic Book Characters,” Copyright Society of the USA; October 14, 2015

“New Cases in Copyright Law: Internet and Beyond,” PLI; June 25, 2015

“What’s Fair is Foul: How Has the Transformative Use Doctrine Transformed Copyright Law for Better or Worse?” Media Law Resource Center; May 15, 2015

“How to Create Alternative Fee Arrangements that Provide Value,” INTA Annual Meeting; May 5, 2015

“The Odd Couple: Right of Publicity and Social Media,” ABA Spring Meeting; March 25, 2015

“Smashing the Glass Ceiling,” Managing Intellectual Property International Women’s Leadership Forum; June 6, 2014

“Hot Topics & Recent Developments in Trademark Law,” City Bar Trademark Talk; May 20, 2014

“Hollow Remedies: Insufficient Relief under the Lanham Act,” ABA’s 29th Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference; April 2-4, 2014

“Copyright Enforcement Update: Fair Use and Grey Market Goods," Practicing Law Institute; February 2, 2013

“Copyright Law and Practice in Canada Now: Analysis and Implications of the new Legislation and Latest Supreme Court Rulings,” Insight Information; December 3-4, 2012

Gave legal opinion regarding the Mario Puzo/Paramount dispute on CNBC's Closing Bell; August 30, 2012

Interviewed by Joel Rose on NPR's All Things Considered about the Shepard Fairy case; May 10, 2012

CLE Presentation, “Recent Developments in Copyright Law,” Time Warner; April 19, 2012

“US Enforcement of Important Copyright Assets,” Practicing Law Institute; March 28, 2012

“Hot Topics in Intellectual Property: Protection of Fictional Characters,” New York City Bar, Committee on Trademarks and Unfair Competition, Committee on Copyright and Literary Property; March 19, 2012

“Disruptive Technology: Digital Media & Its Effects on the Publishing World,” International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) Tech Series; March 8, 2012

“Battlefield Fair Use: Lessons learned from the Harry Potter Lexicon and the Shepard Fairey case and the current Appropriation Art Debate,” ALAI Canada Toronto Luncheon at Heenan Blaikie; January 13, 2012

“The Effect of Supreme Court Patent Jurisprudence on Copyright Law," ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law, Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference; April 2009

“That's All Well and Good, But How Do We Prove It? Evidence and Hot Substantive Issues,” 2009 Mid-Winter Institute, AIPLA; January 2009

“Copyright Considerations for User Generated Content,” American Intellectual Property Law Association, Annual Meeting; October 23, 2008

“Making Rain: Taking the Lead in Bringing in Business,” Celebration 55: The Women's Leadership Summit, Harvard Law School; September 2008

“First Chair: Trying Intellectual Property Cases,” American Bar Association, Annual Meeting: Commission on Women in the Profession -- Day of Equality; August 7, 2008

Memberships & Affiliations

International Trademark Association (Current Chair of the Copyright Committee; Former Counsel; Former Chair of Trademark Enforcement Committee; Former Chair of the Dilution Committee; Former Member of the Presidential Select Task Force on Dilution)

American Bar Association

  • IP Section of the American Bar Association (Current member of Council; Vice Chair of Division III - Copyrights; Former Chair of Division IV - IP Special Issues; Former Chair of the Copyright Litigation Committee)
  • Litigation Section of the American Bar Association (Former Chair of the IP Committee; Former Division Chair)

Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Trademarks and Unfair Competition Committee (Former Chair); Communications and Media Law Committee; Copyright and Literary Property Committee)

New York State Bar Association (Media Law Committee; IP Committee; Cyberlaw Committee)

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1985New York

Courts

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado (inactive)
  • Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department
  • Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department

Education

  • Harvard Law SchoolJ.D.1984
    Editor-in-Chief, The Harvard Journal on Legislation, 1983–1984
  • Yale UniversityB.A.summa cum laude1981
    Phi Beta Kappa