Bill Samuels

William “Bill” Samuels is a Partner at Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP, where he leads the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) practice. He advises clients on the acquisition, protection, enforcement, and commercialization of intellectual property in the U.S. and abroad.

Bill represents a diverse range of clients—from early-stage startups to global corporations and investment funds—developing tailored IP strategies aligned with each client’s industry, goals, and growth stage. His practice spans all facets of IP law, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, unfair competition, and related enforcement and defense matters. He also counsels clients on emerging IP issues in software, Web3, fashion, consumer goods, fintech, cannabis, and domain name disputes.

Admitted to practice in New York and California, Bill appears before all state courts in both jurisdictions, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the Central and Southern Districts of California.

Bill currently serves as Chair of the Intellectual Property Section of the New York State Bar Association and is widely recognized by his peers. He is listed in Best Lawyers (2026) and has been named to New York Super Lawyers multiple times. He is also the author of The IP Pro, a blog covering developments and insights in IP law.

An active speaker and moderator, Bill regularly presents on IP law and strategy to legal, business, and industry audiences. He earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law, where he received a TI:GER Certificate in IP Commercialization, an M.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University.