Who Am I?

I have led a very blessed life but am not ready to retire because I love helping clients large and small.

I grew up in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and spent most of my formative years in the Scouting program where I earned the rank of Eagle. My youth was spent camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, getting dusty on the local sandlots and watching the Pirates at Forbes Field. In High School I was a member of the Debate Team and as a Senior placed 2d in the State. I also played second base for the baseball team but when my vision went wobbly all I could do was flail at curve balls.

I left the Pittsburgh area for Washington, D.C. in the Fall of 1973 where I attended George Washington University on a debate scholarship. I concentrated in political science, speech communications and and theology, and I attended the National Debate Tournament in 1976. After I graduated in 1977 with Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, I enrolled in their law school. I graduated in 1980 with Highest Honors, Order of the Coif, and was a member of the Law Review. While in law school I taught Speech Communication and and was Assistant Coach of the Debate team at George Washington. I also worked part-time at several law frms in Washington, D.C.

I spent the first decade of my career with what was then one of the largest law firms in Washington, D.C., Crowell & Moring. I handled litigation, antitrust, regulatory and transactional matters. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to try a number of mine safety and health cases while I was a young associate. I had an opportunity to work with incredible business people, one of whom unsuccessfully ran for President and one of whom became the President. And I had the opportunity to meet with President Reagan in the Oval Office. It was very heady stuff.

Crowell & Morning was a great place to work, but when my daughter's Mom and I conceived of having a family I decided that I could no longer live that lifestyle. I needed to be a Dad. So we decided to get out from "inside the Beltway" and "Go West." By chance I was put in touch with Ernest Gallo and was recruited by E. & J. Gallo Winery in December 1990, primarily to handle litigation matters. I stayed with Gallo for eighteen exciting years as Associate General Counsel. My practice concentrated on intellectual property and international law. I created and managed Gallo’s global trademark program, which included clearance, licensing, acquisition, registration, litigation and enforcement of its trademarks throughout the world. I also worked closely with the Marketing Department on a variety of issues and counseled the company on contracts, labeling, international, distribution, regulatory and general intellectual property matters. I was also the lawyer to the Technology & Quality and other groups on intellectual property issues: patent, trade secrets, confidentiality amd business matters.

On my 18th anniversary of starting at Gallo (February 1, 2009) I left the company and started the Law Office of Paul W. Reidl. It was one of those entrepreneurial moments where I finally convinced myself "if not now, when?" I am very grateful to have many of my former Gallo clients and friends as clients today. My current practice involves intellectual property (primarily trademark and copyright) law and alcohol beverage law for clients in the United States and overseas. I also advise several clients on general legal matters, acting as their "outside General Counsel." In the trademark area, I counsel clients in various industries on the full spectrum of global trademark-related issues, from trademark clearance and resolution through enforcement. My alcohol beverage law practice counsels clients on legal and business matters in the United States and abroad.

Unlike many trademark lawyers, I am an active Federal Court litigator. My litigation roots go back to Crowell & Morning and were the reason I was hired by Gallo. As one outside counsel quipped: I was outside counsel's "worst nightmare" because I knew what I wanted and how it should be done. Over the years, I represented clients in many, many cases in my first turn in private practice in the 1980's. At Gallo, I represented the company in cases ranging from water rights cases to patent and trademark cases. Since I started my firm in February 2009 I have been counsel in the following Federal Court cases (my client is in bold):

E. & J. Gallo Winery v. The Spanish Table, Inc.

F. & F. Fine Wines International, Inc. v. Perfecta Wine Company

Cytosport v. PVL

Stanislaus Partners v. Rutigliano

The Wine Group LLC v. L. and R. Wine Company

Canard Vineyards v. Trader Joe’s Company

Click Ventures LLC v. Flex-O-Glass Inc.

One True Vine LLC v. Liquid Brands LLC

Stanislaus Partners v. Conserve Italia, S.c.A.

Zinyourface LLC v. Oak Ridge Winery LLC

The Wine Group LLC v. USA Fengshiya Wine Group, Inc.

Rutherford Wine Company v. Lolonis Winery

The Wine Group LLC v. Levitation Management LLC

Central Garden & Pet v. Iams Company

The Wine Group LLC v. Martita's Mixers, LLC

E Clampus Vitus v. Steiner, et al.

Dr. Haushka Skin Care, Inc. v. Demeter Association

ROTFL Productions, Inc. v. Gzebb, et al.

Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC v. Woodchuck Coffee Roasters, LLC

The Wine Group LLC v. Red Soles, LLC

Pandol v. Pandol Bros. Inc.

Williamson v. Gunvalson

Erickson v. Kast

Kallah, Inc. v. Kahleh LLC

Pete's Seats v. Pete's Entertainment

578539 B.C. Ltd. v. Kortz

Maison de la Vie v. BWSC at al.

Paul Thede's Race Tech. Inc. v. Spectrum Fabrication, Inc.

Charles and Donna Karran v. Domaine Carneros, Inc.

Central Garden & Pet v. Wegman's Markets

Central Garden & Pet v. Carlson Morgan, LLC

Stacked Wines LLC v. Cape Classics LLC

Lone Wolf Distributors v. Bravoware, Inc.

Rombauer Family Vineyards v. JaM Cellars

Fn Cellars v. Union Wine Co.

Haralombos Distributors v. Stacked Wines

Crystal Janitorial Service, Inc. v. Rogers

RetailmeNot v. SocialMail

Farnam Companies, Inc. v. Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.

Prepon v. Troy

Crystal Janitorial Services, Inc. v. Rogers

Bodegas y Vinedos Pascual Toso, S.A. v Guarachi Wine Partners, Inc.

Bogle Vineyards, Inc. v. Intercontinental Packaging, Inc.

JaM Cellars, Inc. v. Vintage Wine Estates, Inc.

JaM Cellars, Inc. v. Plata Wine Partners, LLC

Allied Lomar, Inc. v. Lone Star Distillery, LLC (appeal only)

Next Wine LLC v. Bogle Vineyards, Inc.

Apple Hill Growers Association v. Visman, et al.

Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. v. Farnam Companies, Inc.

Pine Brothers, LLC v. Reckitt Benckhiser, LLC

Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. v. Farnam Companies, Inc.

Education Treasures, Inc. v. Viahart, LLC

Black v. IMI, Inc.

Rene Rey v. One Seed, Inc.

SMTM Technology, LLC v. Apple, Inc.

Delicato Vineyards v. Cohn, et al.

Over the years I have represented clients in over 450 opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and have testified as an expert witness on wine labeling and marketing issues as well as trademark law issues, most recently in a case involving the To Kalon vineyard in Napa Valley.

I am a frequent speaker, writer and blogger on trademark-related issues. I was a member of the San Francisco faculty of the Practicing Law Institute’s basic trademark law course from 1999 - 2010. I am also a member of the L’Association Internationale des Juristes du Droit de la Vigne et du Vin (“AIDV”)(International Wine Law Association), as well as a member of the Board of AIDV's United States chapter. A full list of my publications, speeches and articles is provided below.

For over twenty eight years I have been an active member of the global association of trademark owners and professionals, the International Trademark Association. I was a member of the Task Force that authored the Trademark Dilution Revision Act. In 2006, I was the Association’s President and represented it on public policy issues in Europe, Canada, China and the United States. That year I was recognized as one of the 50 most influential people in intellectual property law by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine. I served on the Board of Directors for over 10 years and have served on the Geographic Indications Task Force, the International Committee, the Famous Marks Task Force, the Treaty Analysis Committee, the Finance Committee, the Planning Committee, the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Emerging Marks Committee, the Enforcement Committee, the Trade Dress Committee, and the Past President's Committee.

I also believe that we should give back to the commmunity. I am a USA Swimming certified N3 Referee, Starter, Chief Judge and Stroke & Turn Official and I officiate swim meets in the Western United States even though my daughter hung up her Speedo many years ago. I was the President of Central Valley Aquatics in 2002-2004 and was the Chair of the Sierra Nevada Swimming LSC Board of Review from 2011 - 2014. I was named their Volunteer of the Year for 2012. I was the Chair of the Pacific Swimming Administrative Review Board and on the Board of Directors from 2015 - 2020. I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Demeter Association, the certification association for BIODYNAMIC farms and products and their pro bono General Counsel. I also am a member of the Demeter International trademark Committee. I have been President and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coastside Land Trust in Half Moon Bay, California, for five years and have served on the Board of Directors for seven years. www.coastsidelandtrust.org. I am a "citizen scientist" volunteering for the California Acadamy of Sciences' Pillar Point marine survey here in Half Moon Bay. Pillar Point is the home of the world famous Mavericks big surf contest. (And here is a photo of the surf.) The area is much calmer at low tides other than in the winter! Finally, I am lector in our parish, a third degree Knight of Columbus, and the Deputy Grand Knight of our Chapter..

Here are some of my speeches and publications. I have provided the PowerPoint presentation or other content for some of these to the extent I still have them and own the copyright (or have permission to post them.) These are provided for infomational purposes only and are not to be reproduced without permission.

Vell, Vell, Vell: The Life of a Twentieth Century American Immigrant (Page Publishing, 2021)(A biography of my grandfather.)

When is a Generic Term Not Generic: What Did the Supreme Court Unleash in the Booking.com Case, California Lawyer's Association (Webinar, August 2020)

Trademark and Copyright Issues in the Wine World: Tips for Reducing Risk and Mazimixing Brand Protection, National Business Institute (Sacramento, California)(September 2019)

What Goods are Related to Wine and Why Does it Matter, Internation Wine Lawyers Association Annual Meeting (Lausanne, Switzerland)(July 2019)

IP RIsk Management for Craft Distillers, American Distilling Institute Annual Meeting (Denver, Colorado)(March 2019)

Leadership in INTA, INTA Annual Meeting (Seattle, Washington)(May 2018)

Protecting Brands Through Trademark Law, American Distilling Institute Annual Meeting (Portland, Oregon)(March 2018)

Defending Yourself From Trademark Infringement, Distillers Magazine (Fall 2017)

USPTO/INTA Industry Training Seminar, Wine Industry (Alexandria, Virginia)(December 2016)

Resolving and Anticipating Contract, Label and Trademark Issues in the Wine Business (National Business Institutes) (Sacramento, California)(November 2016)

Understanding New World Wine Labels, INTA Annual Meeting (Orlando, Florida)(May 2016)

Intellectual Property and Wine Law, NBI Wine Law Symposium (San Francisco, California)(December 2015)

Understanding Wine Labels: What is the Meaning of All This Gibberish?, INTA Annual Meeting (San Diego, California) (May 2015).

How and Why to Protect Your Intellectual Property, American Distilling Institute (Louisville, Kentucky)(March 2015)

Trademark Issues in the Wine Business (Philadelphia Intellectual Property Association)(February 2015)

Intellectual Property Issues in Wine Law (Sacramento, California)(December 2014)

No Trade, No Trade Mark: An Exploration of the Nuances of Trademark Use, Sate Bar of California Intellectual Property Section Annual Meeting (Los Angeles, California)(November 2014).

Trade Dress Law, IP Issues in the Food and Beverage Industries (Napa, California)(October 2014)

Managing Brand Risks in a Global Marketplace (with Judith Schvimmer and Jerry Jolley), 8th Annual Conference on Best Practices in Winery Operations (Napa, California)(March 2014)

Using Expert Witnesses in the United States, AIDV Annual Meeting (Vienna, Austria)(October 2013)

Think Big! Ethics and Personal Responsibility (with James McCarthy and Michael Mettauer), INTA Annual Meeting (Dallas, Texas)(May 2013)

Understanding New World Wine Labels, INTA Annual Meeting (Dallas, Texas)(May 2013)

Brand Protection and Strategy in the Wine Sector (with Jeffrey Friedman), 7th Annual Conference on Best Practices in Winery Operations (Napa, California)(March 2013)

Protecting Brands Through Trademark Licensing: A Convergence of Legal and Business Objectives, Intellectual Property Owners Association Annual Meeting (San Antonio, Texas)(September 2012).

What Hath Al Gore Wrought: The Impact of (New) Electronic Media on Intellectual Property Rights & Risks, Alcohol Beverage Law and Technology Conference (San Francisco, California)(May 2012)

Understanding New World Wine Labels, INTA Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.)(May 2012)

Social Media Tips and Pitfalls, Managing Intellectual Property Magazine (February 2012)

Supply Contracts: Coping With the Three Tier Distribution System in the United States, AIDV Annual Meeting (Logrono, Spain)(October 2011)

Using Social Media in Personal Branding, INTA Annual Meeting Workshop (San Francisco, California)(May 2011)

Understanding New World Wine Labels, INTA Annual Meeting (San Francisco, California)(May 2011)

Kendall-Jackson v. E. & J. Gallo Winery: Anatomy of a Trademark and Trade Dress Case, Dallas Bar Association (Dallas, Texas)(April 2011)

Brand Protection in the Social Media Environment, SOCIALEX Forum on Legal Issues in Social Media (Washington, D.C.)(March 2010)

Geographic Indication Registration Systems for Wines, AIDV Annual Meeting (Trier, Germany)(October 2009)

Market Evolution and Brand Collision, INTA Annual Meeting Workshop (2009)

Contributing author to Fab Job Guide to Becoming a Winery Owner (B. Pearce, ed.)(2009)

Trademarks and the Calculus of Evolution, Managing Intellectual Property Magazine (May 2009)

Trademark Dilution (University of Southern California I.P. Law Institute, 2008)(with Professors J. Thomas McCarthy and Roger Schechter)

Trade Practices and Intellectual Property, Chapter 9 in Point of Purchase Advertising (Point of Purchase Advertising Int’l)(2008)

Careers in Trademark Law, INTA Young Practitioners Forum (San Francisco, October 2007)

The Survey Blues, INTA Annual Meeting (May 2007)

Geographic Indications, Trademarks, and International Issues, Guest Lecturer, Seminar on Advanced Trademark Law, The George Washington University Dean Dinwoodey Center for Intellectual Property Studies (2007, 2008)

The Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006, The George Washington University Dean Dinwoodey Center for Intellectual Property Studies (November 2006)

Global Trademark Programs: What You Should Know, INTA Roundtable Forum, Beijing, China (October 2006)

Strategic Considerations in Global Trademark Registration and Enforcement Programs, Hangzhou, China (October 2006)

Maximizing Portfolio Value Through Licensing and Franchising, INTA China Forum, Hangzhou, China (October 2006)

Living in the Age of the Lightning Brand, President’s Address, INTA Annual Meeting (2006)

In Vino Veritas: Ruminations on the Labeling of Wines, INTA Annual Meeting (2005)

Strategic Considerations in Cross-Border Litigation, INTA Leadership Meeting (2003)

Geographic Indications and Wine Trademarks, INTA Bulletin (September 2003)

Creating and Managing an International Trademark Portfolio, Intellectual Property Law for Corporate Counsel (Northstar 2003.)

USPTO Class 33 Training Session (May 2002)

New Member Orientation; How to Survive the Annual Meeting, INTA Annual Meeting (2002)

Beer and Wine Advertising and Promotion … Why It’s not all “Fun and Games,” INTA Annual Meeting (2000)

Beyond the Vineyard: Miscellania That Will Amaze Your Friends and Confound Your Colleagues, INTA Trademark and Paralegal Forum (1999)

Creating and Managing a Global Trademark Portfolio, Practicing Law Institute Understanding Basic Trademark Law Program (1999 – 2010)

The Use of Survey Evidence in Dilution Cases: Corporate Counsel Challenges, INTA Dilution and Famous Marks Forum (1998)

Keys to an Effective Trademark Enforcement Program, 20th Annual Intellectual Property Law Institute, State Bar of California (1995)

J. MacLeod, R. McMillan & P. Reidl, Coal Supply Contracts, Chapter 23 in Energy Law (Matthew Bender, 1990)

Author (and co-author with T. Biddle) of five Chapters in Mine Safety and Health Law, 1 Coal Law and Regulation (Matthew Bender, 1983)

Note, 48 G.W.U.L.Rev 791 (1980)(discussing constitutional limitations on the assessment of license fees by Federal agencies)