W. Asa Hutchinson III, Partner
ahutchinson@ahlawgroup.com
Utilizing his unique experience as a former federal prosecutor, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office attorney and civil litigator, Asa Hutchinson III focuses his practice primarily on commercial litigation and intellectual property matters. Asa routinely represents and advises clients concerning employment and labor matters, contractual disputes, trademark registrations, IP infringement cases, corporate formation and governance matters and secured real estate transactions.
After graduating from law school, Asa practiced commercial litigation with a mid-size firm in Little Rock, Arkansas before being appointed to serve as an Associate Independent Counsel in Washington, DC. As a federal prosecutor, Asa litigated in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
As an Associate Solicitor for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Asa engaged in an extensive intellectual property litigation practice in the federal courts. He briefed or argued over a dozen patent or trademark appeals in U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He also prosecuted several more disciplinary cases against members of the patent bar for ethical and/or criminal violations.
In 2005, Asa returned to private practice in Northwest Arkansas and represented clients in the areas of employment law, intellectual property, real estate, banking, commercial litigation and municipal law. His experience included:
- Jointly defending a New York-based, publicly held company in a $23 million breach of contract action filed by the company's former employees, in which the defense team obtained a complete defense verdict from the jury;
- Serving as a defense counsel to a large municipal utility in illegal exaction lawsuits filed against it in federal and state courts, with each action being dismissed without class certification;
- Successfully prosecuting, on behalf of an Arkansas-based, publicly held company, several trademark infringement actions in U.S. District Court against various web-based companies located throughout the country.
In 2008, Asa embraced the opportunity to join his father and practice side-by-side at the Firm where they both enjoy maintaining a vigorous litigation practice together. Most recently, Asa had the privilege of defending a large-cap company against a multi-million dollar suit filed in federal court by a former vendor and obtaining a defense verdict from a twelve person jury, including a 6-figure counterclaim judgment, for the client.
Education
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law, 2000 B.S., cum laude, University of Arkansas, 1997
Bar Admissions
Arkansas Missouri U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Arkansas U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri
Professional and Community Organizations
Member, American Bar Association Member, Arkansas Bar Association Member, Benton County Bar Association Member, Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas, Executive Comittee (former President)
Professional Accomplishments
Former Associate Independent Counsel, Washington, DC Former Associate Solicitor, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC Former Attorney, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC
|