Carl J. SpagnuoloPartner - Entertainment, Trademark & Copyright Attorney
Carl J. Spagnuolo, a Partner at McHale I Slavin, specializes in trademark, copyright and entertainment law.
He manages the firm’s trademark practice and is highly experienced in all aspects of branding, including the clearance and prosecution of trademarks and advertising slogans, counseling regarding proper use of marks, and brand protection and enforcement strategies. At present Mr. Spagnuolo is listed as “attorney-of-record” on over 2,700 trademark files at the United States Trademark Office and also serves as domestic attorney-of-record on several thousand international registrations in over 86 countries throughout the world.
Mr. Spagnuolo’s trademark portfolio includes representation of high profile trademark accounts including: Suncast® patio, deck and outdoor and backyard products; Rain Dance® and Rally® automotive products; Shoes for Crews® slip-resistant footwear; Steeda® aftermarket high-performance automotive tuner; and automotive television program trademarks Counts Kustoms® of the popular History Channel show Counting Cars and Graveyard Carz®. Throughout the 2000 decade he was instrumental in the vast world-wide expansion of the marks Carvel® Ice Cream, Cinnabon® and Moe’s Southwest Grill® as well as the expansion of the Bankrate® online financial resource brand.
His current and former entertainment clients include Otis Williams, founder of The Temptations; Fran and Anthony Cosmo formerly of the band “Boston”; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® inductees, Jerry Martin of “Sly & The Family Stone” and the late Bo Diddley. He is currently serving as counsel to the Estate of the late Burt Reynolds in protecting his name. He has also provided legal counsel to Tony Stevens of “Foghat,” Bob Rosenberg of “Will To Power” and the Christian artist “Rawsrvnt.”
Beginning in the 2019 fall semester, Mr. Spagnuolo became an adjunct professor in the School of Music at Florida Atlantic University, (FAU), teaching Music Copyright & Publishing.
Born in the Philadelphia suburb of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, prior to entering the practice of law Mr. Spagnuolo was a career musician who served as Assistant Director of Music and Entertainment and house pianist at the world-famous Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach.
EDUCATION
West Chester University School of Music, B.S. 1983
St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D. 1998
ADMISSIONS
Florida Bar
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida