Bio
Cecilia R. Dickson is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on intellectual property litigation relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, covenants not to compete, trade secrets, and other Intellectual Property issues, including licensing disputes. In addition, Cecilia has represented clients in responding to governmental and administrative inquiries and investigations at both the federal and state levels, and also counsels clients on e-discovery and document retention issues. Apart from her litigation practice, Cecilia coordinates and manages Webb’s trademark practice.
Cecilia has tried patent cases involving electrical engineering, optics, mechanics, the cable industry, cellular telephone technology, cool roofing technology and software. She has handled cases involving a variety of industries, including medical devices, robotics, restaurants and brew pubs, nutritional supplements, professional service firms, coal and natural gas exploration, extraction and production, fashion and consumer goods, and chemical companies. Cecilia has served in a first-chair capacity in a variety of IP litigation matters, and has appeared before trial and appellate courts at the state and federal levels, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the Court of International Trade (CIT), the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). On the trademark side, her experience includes trademark prosecution, licensing, enforcement and counseling matters. She manages international portfolios, develops trademark and brand strategies, and enforces trademark rights. Cecilia is routinely involved in due diligence assessments including those related to corporate acquisitions and divestitures as well as advising on licensing and other technology transfer arrangements.
Cecilia is a Court-approved Mediator for the Western District of Pennsylvania, served on the Advisory Committee for the Study of the Local Patent Rules, and has been appointed as an E-Discovery Special Master by the same court. Cecilia has lectured and published extensively on topics related to e-discovery, trademark law, patent litigation, IP rights and protections, document retention, and ethics. She has served as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section (2011-2012), the President of the Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association (2011-2012), and the Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Section (2014-2015). She is a founding master of the Q. Todd Dickinson Intellectual Property American Inn of Court, and served as the President of that organization (2016-2018).
Certifications
Mediator, Western District of Pennsylvania
E-Discovery Special Master, Western District of Pennsylvania
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania 2002
U.S. Supreme Court, 2017
U.S. Court of International Trade, 2009
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2010
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2012
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2003
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 2012
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2008
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2019
Education
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2002 J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude
Activities: American Trial Lawyers Association Student Trial Advocacy Competition: 2002 national champion; Harvard Journal on Legislation: Supervising Editor, Congress Issue Editor;
Harvard Women’s Law Journal: Community Relations Liaison; Harvard Human Rights Journal: Technical Editor; Harvard Defenders (criminal law pro bono organization)
Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 1999 B.S.
Major: Political Science
Honors: summa cum laude
Professional Associations and Memberships
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association
Allegheny County Bar Association
Fellow, Allegheny County Bar Foundation
ITC Trial Lawyers Association
Q. Todd Dickinson Intellectual Property American Inns of Court
International Trademark Association
Past Employment Positions
Buchanan Ingersoll, 2002-2005
Jones Day, 2005-2012