Cozen O’Connor Expands Commercial Litigation Group

PHILADELPHIA, April 1, 2016—Cozen O’Connor welcomes Aaron McKown and Paula Zecchini as members in the Commercial Litigation Department. Both lawyers join Cozen O’Connor from the law firm Ring Bender LLLP. McKown will be resident in Cozen O’Connor’s Miami office, while Zecchini will reside in the firm’s Seattle office. Both McKown and Zecchini litigate matters nationally, including handling a significant case load in Southern California.

“These accomplished lawyers bring a great deal of knowledge and experience to Cozen O’Connor’s litigation team,” said Jeffrey G. Weil, chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department. “Their work with large, well-known companies in complex intellectual property matters will add depth to our already extensive litigation offerings in Seattle and South Florida, as well as Southern California.”

In addition to serving as counsel for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits, McKown and Zecchini currently serve as national litigation counsel for GoDaddy. Over the course of the past five years, McKown and Zecchini secured an impressive number of dismissals on GoDaddy’s behalf in jurisdictions across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Second and Ninth Circuits, and the Texas Supreme Court.

McKown and Zecchini also received widespread recognition for their industry-defining work on behalf of GoDaddy in defending against a $40 million cybersquatting claim filed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Widely regarded as one of the top IP defense verdicts of 2015, the four-day bench trial culminated in the court’s adoption of each legal theory and defense devised by McKown and Zecchini over the course of five intensive years of litigation.

McKown focuses his practice on representing individuals and corporations in intellectual property matters, with vast knowledge in trademark claims, domain names and Internet law. He also has an expertise in life settlements and partnership disputes.

“Aaron is bringing a sophisticated practice and an impressive client base to the Miami office and the Cozen O’Connor platform,” said Martin T. Schrier, the firm’s managing partner in the Miami office. “Aaron’s addition continues our consistent growth in Miami through attracting nationally recognized attorneys that are leaders in their practice area.”

Zecchini focuses her practice on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation, with an emphasis on Internet law. She also has extensive experience in handling cross-border disputes. Having previously served as a Special Operations soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve, she also devotes time to the ABA Military Pro Bono Project and the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program.

“Paula’s previous work in IP litigation and Internet law makes her a huge asset for our clients,” said Jodi McDougall, Cozen O’Connor’s office managing partner in Seattle. “We’re happy to have her in our growing Seattle office.”

McKown received his J.D. from University of North Carolina School of Law, and his undergraduate degree from University of Southern California. Zecchini received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law, and her undergraduate degrees from University of California-Riverside.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has 600 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 24 offices across two continents.