Terry Budd has spent over 35 years as a First Chair trial lawyer and litigator prosecuting and defending a wide range of Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity, Internet, First Amendment/Libel, and Complex Commercial litigation claims for corporations across the US and abroad. Typically advocating a counter-intuitive approach, yet one solidly grounded in well-established legal principles, Mr. Budd’s practice has included a large number of high-profile cases, involving, for example, Playboy Enterprises, Turner Broadcasting, WWE, Coca-Cola, AOL, CBS Network, Goldie Hawn, NFL players, Westinghouse, Alcoa, BNY Mellon Bank, PPG, F**ckedcompany.com, Malwarebytes, and Bleepingcomputer.com. Mr. Budd has personally handled trial cases in NYC, LA, San Fran, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Paris, Hamburg, and London.
He has repeatedly received The Best Lawyers in America Award and is a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers (ATLAC). He has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s Top Rated Lawyers and has consistently achieved the highest Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent – AV Rating plus its 5.0 Highest Ethical Standards Award. Budd Law has also earned the US News Best Law Firms Award – and has been recognized as a Top Rated Intellectual Property Lawyer in the National Law Journal and The American Lawyer.
After decades as an equity partner serving an array of Fortune 500 companies at the International law firm K&L Gates, Mr. Budd decided to custom tailor his practice to serve a small number of select clients through a boutique firm model in the special role as First Chair Trial Counsel and strategic outside General Counsel in matters across the globe from the US to the European Union to the Asian markets. Focusing his practice on the businesses of a select number of clients – while utilizing large International law firms as his special Litigation Teams – has enabled Mr. Budd to bring a new level of excellence to his clients’ cases. Expanding his International practice for clients across the European Union, Mr. Budd actively participates in a number of International Law associations and High Tech organizations.
Mr. Budd’s practice primarily focuses on Cybersecurity, Software Litigation, AI/Machine Learning Developments, Blockchain Legal Disputes, and Intellectual Property matters. Mr. Budd has lectured extensively on Trial Tactics, developing and examining expert trial witnesses, jury psychology/jury selection, Cybersecurity, and Intellectual Property law – as well as effective strategic business planning for avoiding costly litigation. He has also authored and served as an Editor for a number of books and articles on Trial Tactics and legal strategies. Mr. Budd has been a contributor/commentator in various media publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, NBC News, and the ABA Journal.
When not fighting for his clients, Mr. Budd enjoys traveling with his wife, son, and daughter – as well as shooting clays and motocross racing. Mr. Budd has been honored to gain a reputation given to him by his peers as “a lawyer’s lawyer”, who approaches litigation as a chess match and who’s always ready for a bare-knuckled fight.
REPRESENTATIVE TRIALS/CASES
Below are examples of different types of trials and cases that Terry Budd has handled over the course of his career.
Enigma Software Group USA, LLC vs. Bleeping Computer, (S.D.N.Y.)
Prosecuted Lanham Act, libel/defamation, business tort, and Intellectual Property infringement claims against a website to a successful business resolution after securing a Federal Court Opinion defining the limitations of the scope of protections afforded under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and establishing the scope of liabilities of website owners.
Enigma Software Group USA, LLC vs. ESET, (Hamburg, Germany Trial Court)
Successfully obtained an initial stage Preliminary Injunction against ESET for wrongfully blocking and interfering with Enigma’s customers’ use and access to Enigma’s software system optimization products and for unfair business competition under German law. The prosecution of Enigma’s comprehensive claims is proceeding.
Enigma Software Group USA, LLC vs. Malwarebytes, Inc., (Paris Business Court)
Prosecution of claims under French law for unfair competition and tortious interference with Enigma’s customer relationships for Malwarebytes’ unlawful blocking of Enigma’s anti-malware software products. (Case pending).
WWE vs. Playboy Entertainment, Inc., (S.D.N.Y.)
Successfully prosecuted emergency suit in NYC Federal Court and secured Preliminary Injunction against Playboy Magazine for Intellectual Property infringement claims for unauthorized use of WWE’s characters and trademark/copyright materials.
WWE vs. Brent Bozell and Parents Teachers Council, (S.D.N.Y.)
Prosecuted to successful resolution extended litigation for claims for disparagement, trade libel, and tortious interference against an activist group to protect WWE TV Programming and Intellectual Property rights from unlawful campaign of attacks.
Print Café Software vs. F*#^cked Company.Com, (Pa. Ct of Common Pleas)
Prosecuted one of the earlier original cases for defamation/libel and theft of proprietary information against anonymous Internet posters through pursuit of litigation against ISPs for disclosure of true identity of the defendant posters.
Turner Broadcasting Corporation (TBS) vs. WWE, CBS, et al, (Delaware Chancery Ct)
Successfully defended through trial, verdict, and appeal alleged claims for breach of TV Programming contracts to enable WWE to pursue new TV Programming deals with alternative TV stations.
Mellon Bank, N.A. vs. Arthur A. Gillis, Goldie Hawn, Quincy Jones, et al., (Los Angeles Superior Ct)
Successfully investigated and prosecuted to resolution claims for millions of dollars due Mellon Bank under real estate tax shelters and real estate partnership notes.
United Technologies, Inc. vs. AIG, et al., (Mass. Superior Ct)
Prosecuted to a wining jury verdict UTC’s claims for insurance coverage against dozens of insurance carriers for reimbursement of millions of dollars for cleanup costs for environmental remediation and for breach of insurance contracts and wrongful denial of insurance coverage.
Jeannette Glass, Inc. vs. Coca Cola, Inc., Security Pacific Bank, N.A., et al, (W.D. Pa)
Successfully defended and conducted forensic accounting investigation in a protracted litigation concerning alleged financial fraud and accounting improprieties with damages alleged in excess of $50 Million in connection with a leveraged buyout – and obtained winning defense verdict after a full trial.
Alcoa, Inc. vs. Liberty Mutual et al. (Washington Superior Court)
Developed and prosecuted complex insurance coverage claims for environmental clean-up costs against 100 + insurance companies and won 8 figure jury verdict for Alcoa after 3 month trial.