R. Lee Fraley, P.C., Partner at our Phoenix law office
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R. Lee Fraley, P.C.

Partner
Biography

Lee Fraley is a legal strategist and people connector who thrives on helping clients navigate and address their intellectual property law needs. He offers clients a unique blend of intellectual property counseling, IP rights enforcement and defense, and solution-focused negotiation of IP-related transactions and acquisitions. Clients can count on Lee to provide sage IP advice in support of their business endeavors.

Lee counsels clients in the development of patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark portfolios geared toward accomplishing their business goals and objectives. He also advises clients during all stages of securing US and foreign patent and trademark protection. Lee is also actively involved in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and manages other contentious trademark proceedings in the United States and around the world.

Lee maintains a robust IP transactions practice, where he advises clients and negotiates on their behalf on matters such as acquisitions, venture-capital/financing and related IP due diligence, and negotiating research and development, licensing, and other complex commercialization agreements.

Lee represents clients within a variety of industries, with particular emphasis in electronics and semiconductors, medical devices, software including SaaS/PaaS, telecommunications, IT and cloud-based networking and services, crowd-sourcing applications, gaming, retail/franchising, sports and entertainment, music, renewable energy, unmanned and other autonomous vehicles, cannabis/CBD, social media, and media law. Companies that have called upon Lee include emerging and growing businesses to middle-market and large cap companies, domestically and abroad.

Lee has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in intellectual property law, notable inclusions include the IAM Patent 1000, The Best Lawyers in America® for Trademark Law, and Intellectual Property Litigation, and World Trademark Review 1000, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business®, Intellectual Property, and Southwest Super Lawyers. Lee was also named a Phoenix Lawyer of the Year in Intellectual Property Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America®. He has been a frequent presenter and author over the years on topics related to intellectual property for clients and civic organizations.

An active member within the community and legal profession, Lee currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Miracle League of Arizona, and has served in various other boards including Crisis Nursery, Rosie’s House and Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission, and is active across several Bar associations.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona


Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
  • Duquesne University (M.B.A.)
  • West Virginia Institute of Technology (B.S.E.E., magna cum laude)
    • Eta Kappa Nu (national electrical engineering honor fraternity)
    • Tau Beta Pi – The Engineering Honor Society
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • World Trademark Review 1000 (2016-2024)
  • IAM Patent 1000 (2021-2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Trademark Law (2012-2025), Intellectual Property Litigation (2013-2025)
    • Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Trademark Law (2025)
    • Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Intellectual Property Litigation (2022)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property (2007, 2010, 2013, 2024)
  • AZ Business Leaders, AZ Business Leaders Magazine (2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Edition, Intellectual Property Law (2012)
  • Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Attorneys, Information Technology Law (2010-2011)
  • Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property – Business Edition (2011)
  • Super Lawyers®, Intellectual Property – Corporate Counsel Edition (2008, 2010)

Representative Matters

IP Counseling

  • Managed extensive IP portfolio for public company that developed mobile devices. Also created strategies for overall protection of new line of products as company developed design-around strategies
  • Managed global brand and product protection for international client, including continued creation of strategies for international expansion and the development of innovative protection strategies for all new products/services

IP Rights Defense and Enforcement

  • Orchestrated defense on behalf of large services company to acquire necessary license rights to use a desired trademark brand that allowed the client to sell a related property and accomplish objectives
  • Managed defenses and negotiated settlements to trademark infringement claims on behalf of hospitality company, educational institution, and cloud-based IT service company
  • Represented international franchise in seeking to stop more than 100 unlawful actions of unauthorized parties

IP Transactions and Deals

  • Represented a high-technology company regarding IP-related due diligence and purchase agreement representations in its over $250 million acquisition by a Fortune 100 company
  • Represented a medical device company regarding IP-related due diligence and purchase agreement representations in its $400 million acquisition by a Fortune 100 company
  • Developed aggressive legal positions regarding intellectual property that gave clients, ranging from an international media company to IT infrastructure company, leverage to renegotiate a prior deal and permit U.S. expansion
  • Negotiated complex technology licenses in and out of R&D company to facilitate private equity investment
  • Negotiated key representation issues with financing institution as well as addressing significant pre-closing concerns regarding infringement and lawsuits

Previous Professional Experience

  • U.S. Steel, Process Control Engineer, Operations Coordinator
  • Bailey Engineers, Sales Engineer

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Maricopa County Bar Association
  • Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
  • Arizona Celtic Bar Association
  • Golden Bear Alumni Legacy Circle
  • The Duquesne Society
  • Arizona Entrepreneurs Organization, Firm Liaison (2002-2011)
  • Arizona Tech Council, Firm Liaison (2004-2010)
  • Lex Mundi Institute, Graduate
  • Invest Southwest 2009 & 2010 Mentor Teams

Community Involvement

  • Miracle League of Arizona, Board of Directors (2022-Present)
  • Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission, Board of Directors, Chair of Governance (2012-2014)
  • Rosie’s House, Board of Directors (2003-2015); President’s Council (2016-Present)
  • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services – Founding Next Generation Fellow
  • Crisis Nursery, Board of Directors, President (2007-2015)
  • Cub Scouts Pack 618 (2006-2012)
  • Volunteer Lawyers Program Clinic

Representative Presentations and Publications

Client News
Client News
May 22, 2024

Snell & Wilmer Represents Lumifi in Acquisition of Netsurion

Client News
Apr 08, 2024

Snell & Wilmer Advises Motorsport Images in Sale to Getty Images

Client News
Aug 04, 2023

Snell & Wilmer Advises Federal Software Provider Integrated Data Services in Its Sale to Private Equity Firm Arlington Capital Partners

Client News
Jun 29, 2023

Snell & Wilmer Advises Motorsport Network in Sale of Controlling Stake in World’s Largest Independent Motorsport Racing and Automotive Media Platform