Robert Joseph Morris

Joey Morris has over 30 years of complex litigation experience and co-leads Smith Anderson’s Intellectual Property practice group. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in intellectual property litigation matters throughout the country involving patent, copyright, trademark, publicity rights, trade dress, trade secrets and licensing issues.

His patent litigation experience includes pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, software, industrial machinery, building materials, and electronics. He has handled trademark litigation involving consumer products and packaging, real estate services, financial and health care consulting services, restaurant décor, and pop culture. His copyright litigation background includes photography, advertising logos, video games, websites, software, and technical manuals. He also has experience with consumer product advertising disputes, including proceedings before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau.

Joey also represents clients in licensing and business transactions involving intellectual property assets, and he frequently provides our transactional lawyers with practical litigation-oriented solutions for managing intellectual property risks

He has earned praise from clients as “a highly experienced and outstanding attorney” whose work is “exceptional.” (Chambers USA). Clients value “his strategic thinking, his knowledge of the law, and his written advocacy.” (Chambers USA). They describe him as “a zealous and trustworthy advocate” who is “efficient and intelligent” and “easy to communicate with.” (Chambers USA).

Joey has served with notable success as post-conviction counsel for several North Carolina death row inmates. In 2003, he won a significant ruling that vacated his client’s death sentence and awarded his client a new trial due to prosecutorial misconduct that his post-conviction investigation brought to light. In 2004, he obtained an order vacating a client’s death sentence based upon compelling proof of the client’s mental disability which had not been presented at trial.

Prior to joining Smith Anderson, Joey practiced at an international law firm in Washington D.C.

Recognition

• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Intellectual Property (2014-2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Litigation - Patent (2014-2025)
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property (2014-2025)
  • Advertising Law (2024-2025)
  • Best Lawyers® 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024 Litigation - Patent "Lawyer of the Year" in Raleigh
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated

Education

• Duke University, J.D., with honors, 1988
• Duke University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1985

Bar & Court Admissions

• American Bar Association
• American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
• North Carolina Bar Association, Intellectual Property and Litigation Sections

• Defended a manufacturer of pipe repair products against patent infringement claims asserted by a competitor. 
• Represented a developer of automotive products in an action against a former distributor for breach of contract, trademark and trade dress infringement, false advertising, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
• Represented a provider of deposit placement services in patent infringement litigation with a competitor. 
• Represented an operator of a Duke University dining establishment against trademark infringement claims asserted by a previous dining establishment operator. 
• Represented an agricultural products company in litigation to protect its intellectual property in genetically-modified seed from unauthorized use.  
• Defended a manufacturer of industrial insulation products against patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims asserted by a competitor.
• Represented a public specialty pharmaceutical company in several patent infringement actions arising from competitor’s attempted launches of generic versions of non-Orange Book products.
• Represented a developer of ground-breaking DNA editing technology in patent infringement litigation against a competitor.
• Defended a seller of ADA-compliant tactile warning systems against patent infringement claims by a competitor.
• Defended a seller of consumer agricultural products in an advertising challenge brought by a competitor in the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau. 
• North Carolina counsel for numerous leading pharmaceutical companies in patent infringement actions under the Hatch-Waxman Act.   
• North Carolina counsel for internationally-known electronics manufacturers in patent infringement litigation. 
• North Carolina counsel for a provider of online ticket sales services in patent litigation. 
• Defended a leading online retailer of fine art and posters in copyright, trademark and publicity rights litigation matters.
• Defended a major research institute in litigation concerning ownership of intellectual property created in connection with consulting services.
• Defended a public specialty pharmaceutical company in litigation arising from acquisition of pharmaceutical product line.
• Defended a developer of video game software against copyright infringement claims asserted by a former licensor.
• Defended a leading online provider of real estate listing services against a magazine publisher's claims alleging copyright and trademark infringement.
• Represented a world-famous golf resort in litigation to protect the resort's trademark rights.
• Served as counsel for a major research university in licensing negotiations with pharmaceutical companies concerning monoclonal antibodies discovered by a university researcher.
• Defended a video game developer against copyright infringement claims concerning game artwork.
• Obtained a favorable settlement for two university researchers on copyright infringement claims against a university spin-out company formed to commercialize their anti-stuttering technology.
• Defended a leading developer of interactive voice response technology against a customer action seeking indemnification for an intellectual property infringement claim.

• Defended a major convenience store chain in trade dress litigation concerning fast food décor.