Brandon M. Gillard, Esq.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
- Aristotle
Education
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J.D., Howard University School of Law, 2012
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B.A., Emory University, 2005
Clerkships
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Hon. Marcia G. Cooke, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2013-2015
Admissions
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Washington, D.C.
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New York
Brandon M. Gillard is a former federal district court law clerk and Am Law 200 trained attorney who brings significant experience litigating high-profile, complex matters that span various industries and subject matters. His nearly twelve years of legal experience have challenged him to demonstrate sound business and legal judgment and to creatively solve novel legal issues facing clients in rapidly evolving business environments.
Brandon has experience in both litigation and transactional matters. Brandon represented a Fortune 500 chemical company in high-profile multidistrict litigation involving more than 3,500 lawsuits related to the unauthorized release of a toxic chemical into local water sources. Brandon's experience extends beyond the trial level. For instance, Brandon has successfully argued a case before the D.C. Court of Appeals on behalf of a non-profit religious organization litigating a Freedom of Religion claim. In addition, Brandon and his team successfully opposed a Writ of Certiorari in favor of a foreign sovereign entity alleged to have violated the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Brandon has extensive experience advising Fortune 500 companies facing government investigations for violations of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Toxic Substances Control
Act, Sherman Antitrust Act, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. For example, he counseled a Fortune 100 auto-manufacturer on a government investigation related to its failure to timely declare and repair auto part recalls, lower recall completion rates, and also counseled on resulting product liability suits.
Brandon also represents athletes, entertainers, content creators, and social media influencers by advising them on their intellectual property rights, contract negotiations, content development, brand management and protection, right of publicity, and other emerging legal issues in entertainment and media.
Brandon's experience includes registering copyrights and trademarks, negotiating various talent agreements, strategically managing brand portfolios, and vigorously litigating infringement claims in federal district court.
Brandon’s legal experience extends beyond representing clients. He also has experience teaching Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) courses to corporate legal departments and local bar committees. He taught a CLE course to Toyota Motor North America’s Legal Department on developments in the automotive industry following the restructuring of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He taught a CLE to Zippo Manufacturing Co.’s Legal Department on the Department of Justice and Securities Exchange Commission’s enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He also taught a CLE course to the D.C. Bar’s Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law Community on the rights of heirs to terminate exclusive and nonexclusive grants of any author’s copyrighted work.
Brandon, a native of Miami, Florida, earned a Bachelor of the Arts in political science from Emory University in 2005 and graduated with a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in 2012. Brandon's experience transcends the law. He is a former Clinton Foundation Domestic Policy Fellow. While there, he concentrated his efforts on partnering local small businesses with a "Big Four" consulting firm to develop strategies to improve their business strategy and bottom-line. He also concentrated his efforts on developing programs to address childhood obesity - a mission later championed by former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Brandon Gillard is admitted to practice in New York and Washington, D.C.