Nicholas P. Zalany

Nick practices as Senior Counsel with Calfee’s Intellectual Property practice where he serves clients in high-stakes patent, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, and copyright litigation cases. He has experience in all stages of state and federal court litigation from case development to the trial and appellate stages. A member of the Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA), Nick frequently publishes on developments in intellectual property law.

Nick joined Calfee’s Cleveland office as Senior Counsel in 2024 after more than 10 years of experience practicing at a global law firm. He also brings an international perspective to his practice, being multilingual and summering at a boutique IP firm in Paris, France while in law school.

Nick earned his LL.M. in Trade Regulation with an Intellectual Property Law concentration from New York University School of Law and his J.D. with honors from The Ohio State University School of Law, where he served as Articles Editor for The Ohio State Law Journal and a member of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team.

Nick earned his B.A. summa cum laude from Case Western Reserve University, and currently serves as a member of the University’s Alumni Association Board.  

Education

LL.M. in Trade Regulation with Intellectual Property Law concentration, New York University School of Law, 2006

J.D. with honors, The Ohio State University School of Law, 2005

B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Case Western Reserve University, 2002

Experience

The following experience was gained while serving as an attorney at previous law firms:

• Part of the team that secured a $16 million jury verdict for patent infringement on behalf of a manufacturing client in the Eastern District of Texas lawsuit. Integrally involved in all aspects of case development, discovery, summary judgment briefing, and trial preparation.
• Researched and drafted successful opposition to a preliminary injunction motion allowing the client to continue selling products during the pendency of the patent infringement case.
• Defeated trademark infringement claims asserted by a competitor of the client in the mobility scooter industry on summary judgment.
• Successfully defended client, a national healthcare provider, in a state court jury trial seeking substantial damages for breach of fiduciary duty and other claims.

Professional & Community

• Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
• Case Western Reserve University Alumni Association Board, Member
• Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Time Well Spent Honor Society Member (participation in legal clinics, 2024)
• Federal Bar Association Mentorship Program, Volunteer
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Volunteer