
Shari L. Klevens
FAX: 202.496.7756
Experience
Shari Klevens is a partner in McKenna Long & Aldridge's Washington, DC office and is the Managing Chair of the firm’s Large Law Firm Practice. Shari's litigation practice focuses principally on complex commercial litigation before state and federal courts and the American Arbitration Association. Shari represents publicly traded corporations, privately held businesses, and corporate executives and represents both plaintiffs and defendants.
Shari routinely represents clients in international disputes, business tort disputes, civil conspiracy cases, civil RICO cases, criminal investigations, fraud disputes, and breach of contract actions. Notably, Shari was lead counsel in a breach of contract case that resulted in a successful four-day bench trial in the Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Virginia, including an award of the full damages sought. As part of her work in the commercial arena, Shari represents lawyers and law firms in the defense of legal malpractice claims. Shari also advises and counsels law firms and attorneys concerning claims for malpractice, ethics violations, and breaches of duty.
In the intellectual property area, Shari’s litigation experience includes complex patent infringement litigation for several international clients. Recently, Shari represented several significant high technology clients in patent infringement litigations before various U.S. District Courts throughout the United States and before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Those matters, which included pre-filing investigations, discovery and related motions, claim construction, and summary judgment, were ultimately resolved after favorable confidential settlements. Shari’s experience also includes trademark, copyright, and trade dress infringement, litigation involving theft of trade secrets, and opposition and cancellation proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Shari has also counseled clients in the development, licensing, and protection of intellectual property, and on unfair competition, the Lanham Act, and trademark and copyright infringement on the Internet. Shari also routinely assists clients in the registration of trademarks and copyrights.
In addition, Shari has focused her recent pro bono practice on the representation of the Points of Light Institute, a national organization that promotes volunteerism through affiliated organizations in most of the larger cities in the United States. Shari has represented Points of Light in several disputes and has provided counsel on numerous corporate and operational issues. Shari has also represented clients in a variety of other pro bono matters, including domestic and housing issues.
She is also involved in the firm’s associate mentoring program. As a member of the firm’s recruitment committee, Shari has been very active in the recruitment of summer and lateral associates to the firm. Shari is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School, where she was a member of the George Washington International Law Review and was a Dean's Fellow for the legal research and writing program.
Notable Engagements
Commercial and Business Disputes
- Obtained full award of damages sought in favor of real estate developer after four-day bench trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia for breach of contract.
- Represented joint venture company in breach of contract and fraud action brought by a former partner before the American Arbitration Association. After four-day trial, arbitrator (and retired Judge) denied in full the plaintiff’s claim for $10 million against our clients and granted our client’s counterclaim for breach of fiduciary duty.
- Represented government contractor in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in action seeking over $12 million for alleged breach of joint venture agreement, fraud, and other tort allegations. Negotiated favorable confidential settlement.
Professional Liability
- Advises and defends law firms and attorneys concerning claims for malpractice, ethics violations, and breaches of duty
- Represented law firm and law firm partner in the Fairfax County Circuit Court in legal malpractice action brought by former client. Involved a multi-party case alleging attorney malpractice from a corporate merger and acquisition. Case resolved after favorable confidential settlement.
- Represented law firm and individual partners in response to multiple third party subpoenas related to representation of former clients.
- Represented law firm in connection with disqualification hearing. Successful resolution after depositions and evidentiary hearing.
Intellectual Property
- Represented national online auction service provider in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark dilution seeking an injunction and damages in excess of $10 million. Negotiated favorable settlement and permanent injunction in favor of client.
- Represented political lobbying association in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against its former public relations firm for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and breach of contract. Also included a related suit for breach of contract against actors who appeared in political advertisements. Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of client.
- Represented medical device manufacturer in parallel cases in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and United States District Court for the Central District of California against competitor for patent infringement. Case resolved after favorable confidential settlement on behalf of client.
- Represented the French Atomic Energy Commission in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against six of the largest international liquid crystal display manufacturers for patent infringement. Case resolved after favorable confidential settlement on behalf of client.
- Assisted in ongoing litigation for international flat screen computer monitor and television manufacturer in patent infringement cases against competitors in United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Appeared and argued successfully before federal courts in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington in connection with third-party subpoenas served on national electronics retailers.
- Represented computer software provider in patent infringement action in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in which opposing party sought in excess of $13 million in damages. Favorable settlement reached.
- Represented multiple clients in successful trademark opposition proceedings in TTAB.
- Represented multiple clients in WIPO domain name dispute seeking transfer of infringing domain name. Obtained awards of transfer of the infringing domain name from cybersquatter to our client.
- Represented national non-profit association against Brazilian company for copyright and trademark infringement that resulted in pre-litigation settlement and permanent injunction in favor of our client.
- National legal counsel in trademark and copyright enforcement and licensing program for at least a dozen national non-profit associations.
- National legal counsel in trademark and copyright enforcement and licensing program for national lighting design firm, national home décor retailer, national wine and food certifier, national online auction service provider, and national technology provider.
Education
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, with honors, 1999
- B.A., B.S., University of Maryland, cum laude, 1995
Admitted
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Professional Activities:
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Virginia Bar Association
- Fellow, Counsel on Litigation Management
- Member, ABA Litigation Section Subcommittees for Intellectual Property Litigation
- Member, ABA Litigation Section Subcommittees for Professional Liability Litigation
- Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association




