Atty. Joel T. Beres

Atty. Joel T. Beres

With more than 25 years of Intellectual Property experience, Joel actively tries cases in both state and federal courts. A founding member and former co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Service Group, he manages all aspects of infringement litigation for both federal and state courts, including trial and appellate practice.

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Profile Summary

About Joel T. Beres at a glance

Joel T. Beres is a patent, trademark, copyright, ip, and trade secrets attorney based in Louisville, Kentucky, practicing at Stites & Harbison PLLC. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California and Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association. Educated at University of California Los Angeles (J.D., 1986) and University of California - Los Angeles (J.D., 1986). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Copyright Law (Louisville) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Copyright Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law (2026). Serands clients in Louisville, KY and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

With more than 25 years of Intellectual Property experience, Joel actively tries cases in both state and federal courts. A founding member and former co-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology Service Group, he manages all aspects of infringement litigation for both federal and state courts, including trial and appellate practice. He has also prepared and prosecuted trademark and copyright applications, prosecuted and defended trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, negotiated and prepared trademark and copyright assignment and license agreements, and negotiated and prepared software licensing and consulting agreements.

Recent Assignments

  • Successfully obtained judgment as a matter of law for non-infringement of patents in jury trial before the Eastern District of Texas
  • Successfully defended software copyright and trademarks in Microsoft v. Eagle Computer Systems, Inc.
  • Successfully enforced patent rights in GLW Incorporated v. Euphonix, Inc., intellectual property protection program
  • Handled one of the biggest mark transfers ever for ELECTROLUX

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

  • The Twelve Days of I.P. Christmas, with Jeffrey A. Haeberlin , James Hayne , Thomas J. Mihill (TJ) , Mari-Elise Paul , B. Aaron Schulman , Gary N. Stewart (Nick) , and Patrick M. Torre, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, December 14, 2022
  • Dispute Counseling and Strategies, Eleventh Annual Trademark Boot Camp, September 1, 2021
  • Amazon Unveils Its Utility Patent Neutral Evaluation Procedure, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, May 13, 2019
  • Understanding Individual Property Rights and Avoiding Pitfalls in Your Practice, Scaling Up Group Dental Symposium, November 14-16, 2018
  • One Important Thing To Do Before You Ring In The New Year!, with Mari-Elise Paul, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, December 28, 2017

More Than Stites & Harbison

Mr. Beres is active in the International Trademark Association leadership and served on its Board of Directors (2010-12) and was the Chair of Membership Services Committee (2008-09). He is a Davidson Fellow for Trademark Law at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville and is a founding member of the Stanford University Alumni Club in Louisville. He also served on the Board of Trustees of St. Francis High School (2010-14) and served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Council on Economic Education. Always the technophile, Mr. Beres enjoys tech gadgets and playing with the latest computer hardware and software. True to his Montana roots, he also enjoys fencing, but just the barbed wire variety.

Community Involvement

  • Stanford University Alumni Club in Louisville, Founding Member
  • International Trademark Association, Board of Directors (2010-12)
  • Kentucky Council on Economic Education Board of Directors, Former Member
  • Walden School, former member of Board of Trustees (2008-11)
  • St. Francis School, Board of Trustees (2010-17)

Practice Areas Explained

Joel T. Beres's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Joel T. Beres handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Patent Law

Joel T. Beres is one of 20,749 patent attorneys indexed nationally. Browse patent attorneys in Kentucky →

Trademark Law

Joel T. Beres is one of 23,222 trademark attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trademark attorneys in Kentucky →

Copyright Law

Joel T. Beres is one of 17,495 copyright attorneys indexed nationally. Browse copyright attorneys in Kentucky →

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

Joel T. Beres is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Kentucky →

Trade Secrets

Joel T. Beres is one of 6,644 trade secrets attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trade secrets attorneys in Kentucky →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Kentucky

Practicing law in Kentucky. Legal matters in Kentucky are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Louisville are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Kentucky state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Kentucky brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Kentucky courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Kentucky attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Louisville or all attorneys in Kentucky.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Joel T. Beres

Where is Joel T. Beres's law office located?
Joel T. Beres's law practice is located in Louisville, Kentucky. The firm is Stites & Harbison PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Joel T. Beres handle?
Joel T. Beres focuses on patent, trademark, copyright, ip, trade secrets. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Kentucky.
Where did Joel T. Beres go to law school?
Joel T. Beres earned their education at (J.D., 1986); (J.D., 1986); (B.A. Economics and Public Policy, 1983).
How can I contact Joel T. Beres for a consultation?
You can contact Joel T. Beres directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Joel T. Beres received?
Joel T. Beres's notable recognition includes: Lawyer of the Year — Copyright Law (Louisville); Best Lawyers in America — Copyright Law; Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent.

Education

J.D.
University of California Los Angeles
- 1986
J.D.
University of California - Los Angeles
- 1986
B.A. Economics and Public Policy
Stanford University
- 1983

Awards

Lawyer of the Year — Copyright Law (Louisville)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Copyright Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trade Secrets Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trademark Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trademark
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Kentucky Super Lawyers (2009-present)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Louisville Magazine Top Lawyers for Copyright/Trademark Law and Information Technology Law (2013, 2016)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — ChambersUSA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2013-present)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Kentucky Super Lawyers, Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky (2010-15; 2017)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars (2013-present)
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Copyright Law (Louisville)
- 2024
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Patent (Louisville)
- 2021
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Intellectual Property (Louisville)
- 2020
Lawyer of the Year — Copyright Law (Louisville)
- 2019
Lawyer of the Year — Trademark Law (Louisville)
- 2018
Lawyer of the Year — Copyright Law (Louisville)
- 2017

Bar Admissions

California, The State Bar of California
Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association

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