Jeff Gould, Partner
Contact Jeff
  • Direct: 202.851.4526
  • Main: 202.480.2999
Education
  • J.D. cum laude, Boston College Law School; Executive Editor, Boston College Law Review
  • B.A., Williams College
Clerkship
  • Judge Paul J. Barbadoro, U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia
  • Massachusetts

Jeff Gould
Partner

Jeff Gould is a partner at Oppenheim + Zebrak, LLP. Jeff is a nationally recognized litigator, whose practice focuses primarily on complex intellectual property disputes involving copyrights, trademarks, and related commercial matters. Billboard magazine has named Jeff to its distinguished “Top Music Lawyers” list, which honors lawyers on the front lines of the music industry's legal battles and deals. Jeff has also been recognized as a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine multiple times, an honor given to fewer than 2.5 percent of all Washington, D.C. lawyers.

Jeff brings a wealth of experience in all phases of litigation from pre-suit investigation through trial and appeal. He played a central role as trial counsel in securing landmark jury verdicts of $1 billion for the firm’s record company and music publisher clients against a large telecommunications company, and over $34 million for educational publishers against a distributor of counterfeit books. In these and other cases, Jeff helps clients protect their creative works and brands from infringement, online piracy, counterfeiting, and other fraud and theft. He also counsels clients privately, in many cases, to avoid litigation.

Prior to joining O+Z, Jeff was a Litigation Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where his practice focused on complex commercial disputes in federal and state courts, and enforcement matters before law enforcement and regulatory bodies. There, he represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in bet-the-company litigation in numerous industries and in courts throughout the country. Prior to joining Kirkland, Jeff served as a law clerk to Judge Paul J. Barbadoro of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

Jeff also maintains an active pro bono practice, including counseling the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance in a series of cases involving land disputes throughout Utah. In addition, Jeff serves as a board member for Equal Justice Under Law, a nonprofit law organization dedicated to achieving equality in the criminal justice system and ending cycles of poverty across the nation.

Prior to law school, Jeff worked as a reporter and wilderness guide. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and two children.

At O+Z

  • Sony v. Cox
    Obtained a $1 billion jury verdict for Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV, and Warner Chappell against Cox Communications, based on its contributory and vicarious infringement of over 10,000 copyrights. This verdict was reportedly the 5th largest jury verdict in the United States in 2019. (Eastern District of Virginia)
  • Cengage Learning v. Book Dog Books
    Trial counsel in 3-week jury trial resulting in a $34.2 million jury verdict against a U.S. commercial book distributor for willful copyright and trademark infringement and breach of contract, plus a multi-million dollar fee award and permanent injunction against future infringement. This trial was fundamental to the publishing industry’s fight to ensure distributors adequately safeguard against counterfeits. Represented Cengage Learning, McGraw-Hill Education, Pearson, and John Wiley & Sons. (Southern District of New York)
  • Warner Records v. Charter Communications
    Copyright litigation for the major record labels (UMG, Sony Music, Warner Records) and music publishers (UMPG, Sony/ATV, and Warner Chappell) against Charter Communications, alleging it turned a blind eye to its subscribers’ repeated infringement. (District of Colorado)
  • UMG Recordings v. Bright House Networks
    Copyright litigation for the major record labels (UMG, Sony Music, Warner Records) and music publishers (UMPG, Sony/ATV, and Warner Chappell) against Bright House Networks, alleging it turned a blind eye to its subscribers’ repeated infringement. (Middle District of Florida)
  • Cengage v. Follett
    Successfully represented Cengage Learning, McGraw-Hill Global Education, and Pearson in litigation against one of the largest book distributors in the country. (Southern District of New York)
  • Counsel companies and individuals on pre-litigation matters, commercial disputes and settlements arising from various business dealings, including issues concerning digital rights, content distribution, and other matters.

Prior to O+Z

  • Successfully represented real estate investment trust against private equity fund over termination of $1.1 billion acquisition of hotel portfolio for alleged "material adverse effect;" after expedited litigation seeking specific performance, dispute settled on first day of trial in an amended deal that closed days later. (Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court)
  • Represented investment bank/broker-deal in a series of nationwide cases alleging market manipulation and securities fraud involving “naked short selling,” resulting in numerous dismissals and favorable settlements. (District of Georgia, District of Utah, California, New Jersey)
  • Defended television station against injunction motion seeking to block airing of program, resulting in mediation before federal judge and favorable settlement permitting timely airing of show. (District of D.C.)
  • Defended energy company and directors and officers in class action alleging securities violations and breach of fiduciary duties in approving $7.9 billion merger, resulting in partial dismissal and favorable settlement. (Maryland)
  • Represented leading electric utility company in litigation and sale process arising from $42 billion contested restructuring, resulting in $18.7 billion sale of the company and transfer of shares. (District of Delaware Bankruptcy Court)
  • Represented generic pharmaceutical manufacturers in numerous cases nationwide alleging false claims, deceptive trade practices, and fraud related to pharmaceutical pricing. (Illinois, Alabama, Kentucky)
  • Represented pharmaceutical company against U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in administrative challenge to patent rules, resulting in injunction blocking implementation of rules. (Eastern District of Virginia)
  • Represented home builder in successful offensive suit challenging two insurance companies’ denials of coverage for fiduciary duty claims against directors and officers. (Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy Court)
  • Represented individuals and companies on defamation counseling in the face of reputation attacks.
  • Successfully tried a contested asylum case on behalf of an Ethiopian refuge. (Immigration Court)

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