As a former active-duty servicemember and attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), Erika Stanat applies the discipline, focus and determination to win that she learned in the Army to her practice as a commercial and intellectual property litigator. She counsels clients in the protection of their intellectual property, representing them in lawsuits in state and federal courts relating to patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. In addition to her work in IP litigation, Erika represents clients in disputes and in litigation concerning employee benefits (ERISA) and executive compensation issues. Erika also has experience helping clients to respond to DOL, IRS, SEC, and Title IX audits and investigations.
Beyond her practice as a litigator, Erika has an active mediation practice, serving as a Certified Federal Court Mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Her mediation practice primarily involves intellectual property, commercial, and employee benefits disputes.
Currently, Erika serves as a member of the Firm’s Management and Hiring Committees. She has previously served as the Firm’s Hiring Partner.
Following her time on active duty, Erika was a member of the United States Army’s Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). She held the rank of Major with a combined 20 years of commissioned service on active duty and in the IRR.
Representative Experience
- Quintel Technology Ltd. v. Huawei Technologies Co. (E.D. Tex. 2018) -- Served as counsel for a telecommunications technology company plaintiff in a case alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of a non-disclosure agreement, fraud, and joint inventorship of a patent. The case was successfully settled on terms favorable to the client on the sixth day of a jury trial in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas.
- Corning Incorporated (NASDAQ: GLW), one of the world’s leading innovators in material science in the District of New Jersey against breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets claims, and alleged violations of state and federal RICO statutes claims. The federal district court ultimately granted HSE’s motion for summary judgment on behalf of Corning in 2016.
- Corning Optical Communications, LLC in the Middle District of Florida concerning infringement of four of its patents. Successfully negotiated an injunction protecting COC’s patents in 2016.
- Major national media subsidiaries in a dispute regarding withdrawal liability arising from participation in and withdrawal from a multiemployer pension plan. Negotiated a favorable settlement in 2016.
- An inventor in a patent infringement suit in the Western District of New York against a Texas-based company. Negotiated a favorable license agreement in 2015.
- A diagnostic laboratory in a dispute regarding withdrawal liability arising from participation in and withdrawal from a multiemployer pension plan. Negotiated a favorable settlement in 2015.
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Member, Wilmot Cancer Center Advancement Committee
- Bucknell University
- Trustee, 2014-Present; Chair, Risk Management Subcommittee, 2015-Present
- President, Alumni Association, 2010-2012; Board Member & Executive Committee Member, Alumni Association, 2004-2012
- Member, Personnel Committee Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester, 2014-Present
- Trustee, 2014-2015
- Chair, Mock Interview Program, Twelve Corners Middle School, 2014-Present
- Co-Chair, Mother's Day Jewelry Shop Program with the Rochester City School District, 2015-Present; Volunteer, 2012-2014
- Co-Chair, 2014 Stars and Stripes Dinner, Veteran’s Outreach Center
- Member, Western District of New York Local Rules Committee and Local Patent Rules Subcommittee, 2013-Present
- Member, Intellectual Property Institute of the Litigation Counsel of America, 2016-Present
- Co-Chair, Business & Finance Committee, 2013-2016
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Certified Federal Court Mediator, 2012-Present
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Chambers USA in 2017 and 2018 in the field of Litigation
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Recipient, ‘‘Top Women in Law’’ Award, The Daily Record, 2014
- Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Intellectual Property
- Selected to the Upstate New York Top 25 Women Super Lawyers list, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
- Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, 2007-2018
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
- Recipient, Young Alumni Award, Bucknell University, 2005
- Recipient, "Forty Under 40" Award, Rochester Business Journal, 2004
- Recipient, William McKnight Award for Pro Bono Service
- United States Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Admissions
- New York
Education
- The Dickinson School of Law, J.D.
- Bucknell University, B.A.