Biography
Karl Means practices at the intersection of intellectual property and international trade law, helping clients navigate the complexities of international trade, customs compliance, tariffs and intellectual property protection.
Karl advises companies in multiple industries on U.S. laws and policies impacting a wide range of international trade issues, including:
- Tariff classification, including reciprocal tariffs and other trade remedies
- Export controls and export licensing under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
- Economic sanctions programs
- Country-of-origin and substantial transformation determinations for customs compliance as well as domestic content requirements under Buy America, the Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act
- Restrictions on the importation of parallel imports or gray market goods
- Analyzing supply chains to identify suppliers subject to Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions
- “Made in USA” claims under Federal Trade Commission regulation
- USMCA and bi-lateral free trade agreements
- Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) compliance
Karl counsels clients on developing import and export compliance programs and business processes to meet reasonable care standards applicable to component sourcing and supply chain activities. He also has experience litigating trade issues at the Court of International Trade.
Karl also assists business clients on trademark and copyright protection matters, including registration and enforcement of proprietary rights, as well as all types of licensing matters.
Karl previously worked at what is now U.S. Customs and Border Protection where, as Senior Attorney in the Intellectual Property Rights Branch, he handled cases dealing with the enforcement of U.S. border control laws, the detention and seizure of infringing imports and issuing decisions concerning the infringement of U.S. intellectual property rights. He was also a principal author of federal regulations concerning the entry, detention and seizure of parallel imports (gray market goods) and represented Customs at the Customs Cooperation Council in Brussels.
Karl also worked in the intellectual property group at a midsized, Washington-area law firm where he supported the firm’s corporate practice, applying his intellectual property knowledge to a broad range of business situations:
- Advising on the selection, adoption and use of trademarks and conducting comprehensive trademark availability searches
- Counseling copyright protection and licensing matters
- Trademark and copyright registration
- Enforcement of intellectual property rights
- Invention assignments and non-compete agreements
- Nondisclosure agreements
- Forming corporations and limited liability companies
As the head of the Intellectual Property Practice Group, he oversaw administration of the trademark docket and worked with clients on all phases of brand development from conception to execution.
Services
- Copyrights & Trademarks
- Counseling for Strategic Intellectual Property Asset Management
- E-Business, Privacy & Data Security
- Education Law
- Intellectual Property & Technology
- Intellectual Property Disputes & Litigation
- Technology Transactions & Licensing
- Government Contracts
- International Trade and Investment Regulation
Industries
Education
- University of Oklahoma College of Law (J.D., 1988)
- University of Oklahoma (M.B.A., 1988)
- Oklahoma State University (B.S., 1985)
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia, 1992
- Maryland, 2000
- Virginia, 2024
- Oklahoma, 1989
Professional Affiliations
- District of Columbia Bar Association: Arts, Entertainment, Media and Sports Law Section Chair (2006-2011)
- International Trademark Association: Outreach Subcommittee, Anticounterfeiting and Enforcement Committee Chair (2002-2004)
- Maryland Bar Association: Member (2000-present)
- Maryland Technology Development Center: Member; Board of Advisors and Tenant Review Committee (2006-2013)
- Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation: General Counsel (2003-2014)
- Oklahoma Bar Association: Member (1989-present)
- Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts: Member; Education Committee (2009-present)
Special Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent® Rated
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
