Former SharkNinja IP Leader William Lacy Brings Corporate Strategy Expertise to Private Practice at Lando & Anastasi

William B. Lacy, Ph.D., former Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel for Global IP at SharkNinja, has joined boutique intellectual property firm Lando & Anastasi, bringing decades of corporate intellectual property management experience to private practice. His move represents a significant shift from leading large in-house teams to advising clients on strategic IP development, particularly valuable for companies navigating rapid growth and competitive markets.

During his tenure at SharkNinja, Lacy implemented comprehensive IP strategies that supported the company's 150% growth and dual IPOs on the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges. He developed standardized IP playbooks that served as both corporate training materials and onboarding resources, while also refining relationships with outside law firms to ensure appropriate technological expertise and value. These initiatives proved crucial for managing the company's expansion into new global markets and addressing the heightened IP sensitivity that comes with being a market disruptor in the consumer appliances space.

Lacy emphasizes the importance of strategic IP planning for companies facing competitive pressures. He recommends 'war-gaming' IP portfolios for fundamental products, which involves trying to design around issued or filed claims as competitors might do to assess portfolio strength and identify gaps. Another valuable practice he advocates is hosting innovation days where cross-functional teams critique each other's products, which can lead to new features or even entirely new products while fostering an innovative company culture.

The transition to private practice has allowed Lacy to return to his roots in IP law while bringing his corporate experience to clients who benefit from his business-minded approach. His technical background in chemistry and materials science, combined with extensive experience in consumer products spanning both the golf industry and consumer appliances, provides valuable cross-industry expertise. Clients, particularly startups or those without in-house legal teams, can benefit from his experience implementing internal IP systems and building effective teams.

Lacy's advice for companies building or strengthening their IP strategy includes putting the right IP team in place both internally and with outside counsel, implementing clear communication protocols, and coordinating with stakeholders from C-suite, finance, marketing, and R&D to identify company needs and growth areas. He stresses the importance of being honest about current IP capabilities and not overlooking design patents, which are relatively inexpensive, quick to obtain, and can provide surprising value in overall portfolios.

His experience with global operations in highly competitive markets gives him unique insights into international filing and portfolio management, including complex proceedings at the International Trade Commission and successful utilization of Inter Partes Review as an effective defense mechanism. This combination of business mindset, legal analysis, and strategic thinking positions Lacy to help companies build efficient IP processes and strong portfolios that can withstand competitive challenges and support business objectives.