Attorneys Douglas G. Verge

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shareholder | Manchester, NH

Doug is co-chair of the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Law Practice Group.  He also is an integral member of Sheehan Phinney’s intellectual property law practice, having previously chaired the firm’s IP Practice Group for close to 10 years. Doug’s clients range from start-ups to multinational companies, representing diverse business interests, including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, education, and the arts. He also works closely with foreign counsel in numerous countries in connection with the protection of his clients’ rights abroad. Having litigated and negotiated complex intellectual property, commercial, and corporate cases, Doug’s litigation background enables him to bring those insights and skills to his transactional practice.

Doug works with clients in the following areas:

  • Data privacy and security protection and compliance with various international, and U.S. federal and state privacy and security laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, FERPA, COPPA), including preparing privacy notices and policies, cookies notices and policies, data processing and service provider agreements, guidance/procedures for compliance with various privacy laws, and negotiation of privacy and security provisions in agreements
  • Trademark protection, including initial trademark selection, screening, coordinating with marketing personnel, opinions, prosecution and maintenance of trademark registrations, and dispute resolution
  • Intellectual property and technology agreements, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating proprietary and open source software development and license agreements, SaaS and cloud hosting agreements, web development agreements, trademark and copyright assignment and license agreements, endorsement agreements, and website terms of use
  • Copyright protection, including registrations and dispute resolution
  • Trade secret protection, including nondisclosure agreements and dispute resolution

Representative Matters

  • Representation of domestic and international businesses with regard to privacy and security law compliance, including a major European law firm and a leading European clothing manufacturer with a global presence in connection with United States privacy law compliance, a significant provider of testing, certification auditing and advisory services with operations in the U.S. and abroad, a leading motor and motion solutions company with a domestic and international presence, a regional provider of various social services, a significant staffing company, and a data broker
  • Representation of nonprofit and for profit educational service providers with regard to processing of teacher and student data, including analysis of various federal and state laws and drafting of related policies, agreements, and guidance
  • Represented a statewide health information exchange, including with regard to data privacy issues
  • Management of the trademark portfolios for a leading motor and motion solutions company with a domestic and international presence, a leading regional dental administrator/insurer, a major amusement park, and the owner of numerous camps throughout the Northeast
  • Representation of a leading manufacturer of vitamins, minerals and nutritional and dietary supplements in connection with protection of its trademark rights
  • Representation of one of the leading niche publishing companies in the world, with a multinational presence, in connection with enforcement of its trademark rights in the United States
  • Negotiated and participated in the review, drafting and revision of numerous substantial technology development, acquisition and license agreements for software developers, hospitals, providers of non-profit services, and colleges and universities
  • Drafted substantial copyright materials, including a copyright handbook, copyright policies, TEACH ACT Guide and FAQ for a university

Admissions/Professional Memberships

  • State of New Hampshire
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • First Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
  • United States District Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • International Trademark Association
  • New Hampshire Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section (past Chair)
  • American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section

Civic Involvement

  • Board of Directors, Preacher’s Aid Society of New England
  • Past Board of Directors (Executive Committee), Merrimack Valley Venture Forum
  • Past Board of Directors (Executive Committee and Secretary), Honorary Director, United Methodist Foundation of New England
  • Past Board of Directors (Audit Committee Chair), St. Joseph Community Services
  • Past Board of Directors, New Hampshire Performing Arts Center
  • Past pro bono work for the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
  • Presented at the International Trade Resource Center, the New Hampshire Bar Association, UNH Law School, Tuck School at Dartmouth College, UMass Lowell, New Hampshire Technical Institute, Babson College, Merrimack Valley Venture Forum, Strafford Webinars, Upper Valley Computer Industry Association, New Hampshire Creative Club, New Hampshire Travel Council, Manchester Area Human Resources Association, New England Professional Photographers Association, Massachusetts Association of Accountants, New Hampshire Society of CPAs, and created and presented the well-received Effective Brand Selection and Authors’ Awareness Series seminars

Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation-Intellectual Property, Trademark Law
  • Chambers USA, Intellectual Property (Top Ranked)
  • Leadership New Hampshire Class of 2015
  • President’s Award for Distinguished Service to the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Special Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure
  • Boston College Law School Law Review (editor and writer, with a published article)

Publications