Biography

Charlie's diligent attention to detail helps artists, agencies, and businesses large and small identify, clear, protect, and exploit their intellectual property assets.

With years of experience in the fields of trademark and copyright law, Charlie assists businesses (including many brand owners with international trademark portfolios) with the selection, screening, registration, licensing, and enforcement of marks and other work products. Due to his familiarity with both intellectual property and business law, he often serves in an outside general counsel role to companies that rely on intellectual property for their competitive advantage.

Charlie's practice goes beyond the basics of registering and protecting intellectual property assets; he also advises clients as they develop and implement new intellectual property, helping them avoid or resolve unintentional conflicts. For instance, he represents a number of marketing and advertising firms and helps them navigate the complex relationships involved in developing intellectual property for their clients and for themselves, as well as obtain rights to use existing content in their work. Similarly, he has advised a wide variety of content publishers and producers including software developers, writers, photographers, and musicians. His work for these clients frequently involves drafting and negotiating contracts, such as license and distribution agreements, development agreements, joint marketing agreements, and supply agreements, as well as counseling clients about transactions involving their work product.

Charlie has served as a guest lecturer on intellectual property topics at the University of Maine School of Law, and has contributed many hours of pro bono service to members of the arts community.

When not involved in intellectual property pursuits, Charlie can be found cycling or running in Greater Portland. He has run the Beach to Beacon 10K five years in a row. Charlie is a home brewer who appreciates the complexity of the brewing process and the variety of styles that can be achieved from such basic ingredients. Among other community service endeavors, Charlie volunteers at the North Yarmouth Historical Society, where he was formerly Treasurer and now serves as a board member.

Services/Industries

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School  (J.D., cum laude)
    • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Bowdoin College  (A.B., magna cum laude)

Bar Admissions

  • Maine

Memberships

  • Maine State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section
  • International Trademark Association

Honors

  • Named a Local Litigation Star for Intellectual Property by Benchmark Litigation
  • Named Best Lawyers® 2014, 2018, and 2021 Trademark Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Named Best Lawyers® 2017 and 2020 Copyright Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Portland, Maine
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Copyright Law, Corporate Law, and Trademark Law in Portland, Maine
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers© under Intellectual Property and Business/Corporate

To learn more about third-party ratings and rankings, and the selection processes used for inclusion, click here.

Firm Highlights

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

Publication/Podcast

Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.

Verrill attorney Liz Johnston was recently published in Law360 for her article “Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.” In the article, Johnston discusses the recent decision in Kinzer v. Whole Foods...

News

David Lazarus Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Article Regarding Cryptocurrency Whistleblowing.

Matter

Elections and Constitutional Law: Successfully Challenged Certification of Initiative Petition

In a victory for consumers and the ride-hailing public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently barred the Secretary of State from placing on the November ballot initiative petitions proposed by companies such as Uber...

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023

Join Verrill's Christopher S. Lockman at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where he will be presenting Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023 . This workshop will review...

News

Verrill's Norman Belanger and Betts Gorsky Featured in Mainebiz Article

Blog

HR Power Hour with Sabine Gedeon

Blog

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes National Drinking Water Standard for Six PFAS Compounds

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that...

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop A: Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias

Join Verrill's Tawny L. Alvarez at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where she will be presenting Workshop A:Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias. Proximity bias can raise discrimination issues for...

Publication/Podcast

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say…Gorelick v. Star Markets: A Study in Indemnity

Indemnity clauses in contracts are a valuable tool for allocating risk among the contracting parties, most often risk attendant to personal injury and property damage, and their effect can be far-reaching. Despite their significance...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700