Member

David W. Nagle Jr.

David Nagle is a Registered Patent Attorney who has been with the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group at Stites & Harbison since its inception in 2000. With more than two decades of experience in patent and intellectual property matters and an advanced engineering degree, his knowledge and technical expertise allows him to deftly assist clients in navigating often complex business and legal issues.

David has extensive experience prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications covering a wide range of subject matter, including machines, consumer products, medical devices, and software-implemented innovations. He also routinely counsels clients on trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters, and he regularly negotiates and prepares licensing agreements and other contracts implicating intellectual property rights. David is recognized as a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP™), a designation which acknowledges licensing professionals who have demonstrated their experience and proficiency in licensing and the commercialization of intellectual property.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Identifying Inventors is a Critical Step in Pursuing Patent Protection

Europe Continues Progress Toward Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court

Patents, Trade Secrets, Copyrights, and Trademarks – Selecting the Right Protection for Your Intellectual Property Assets

The Lane Report, Research Kentucky 2018, March 2018

U.S. House of Representatives Continues to Consider Patent Litigation Reform

The Goods, magazine of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM), May 2015

U.S. House of Representatives Continue to Press for Patent Litigation Reform

Professional Insight, Business First of Louisville, March 2, 2015

Intellectual Property 101: What It Means To You

KyCPA Mega Conference, November 3, 2014

Patents reserved for select set of restaurant innovations

Business First, by Andrew Robinson, February 14, 2014

Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks & Venture Capital

Kentucky Bar Association, 16th Annual Issues for Corporate House Counsel Seminar, April 12, 2006

The Power of Angel Investing

Panelist, University of Louisville School of Business, May 26, 2005

Lecturer

Kentucky Commercialization & Entrepreneurial Institute, April 19, 2001

Business Torts

Guest Lecturer, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, Fall 2000

Fundamentals of Patent Law

Louisville Bar Association, May 21, 1999
Recent Assignments
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Firm Leadership

Business Acceptance Committee, Member

Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group, former Co-Chair

Memberships
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
American Bar Association, Section of Intellectual Property Law, Member
Kentucky Bar Association, Member; IP Law Section, Member
Louisville Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Member
Licensing Executives Society International
International Trademark Association
Community Involvement

Holy Trinity Church, Member

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, David was an Associate with Wheat, Smith & Beres, which merged into Stites & Harbison on January 1, 2000. As a mechanical engineering undergraduate, he worked in a generation facility for a major Midwestern utility company. David is an avid sports fan and spends many of his weekends attending college football and basketball games.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Patent Law and Trade Secrets Law (2017-25)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Trade Secrets Law (2023, 2025)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Patent Law (2021)

Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars (2013-24)

Chambers USA, "America's Leading Lawyers for Business," Intellectual Property (2010-23)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2013-24)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky (2020, 2022-24)

Business First of Louisville, Forty Under 40 (2009)

Louisville Magazine Top Lawyer (2016)

Testimonials

David Nagle is held in high regard as a "very well-respected patent attorney."

- Chambers Commentary (USA)

David Nagle is the best there is in intellectual property. This guy knows his stuff and gets it done quickly and more effectively than any lawyer I deal with. I cannot recommend him more strongly.

- Best Lawyers in America, Client Comment

. . . draws praise for his work on patent and trademark issues . . . particularly noted for his patent prosecution expertise, including both domestic and cross-border applications.

- Chambers Commentary (USA)

He takes our innovation and ideas and turns them into patents.

- Chambers USA
MH AV 2024 300
Nagle Best Lawyers 2025
Nagle Best Lawyers Lo Y 2025
Nagle Best Law LOY2023
Nagle Best Law Lo Y2021
Nagle Jr David W Chambers2023
Naglesuperlaw
IP Star rosette 2018
Nagle CLP 2021
See more related to David W. Nagle Jr.
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 16, 2024
Press Releases

Managing IP Honors Stites & Harbison Attorneys on “IP Stars” 2024 List

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 20,—Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP) magazine has named nine Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys to the 2024 “IP Stars” list. Managing IP recognizes the most highly regarded intellectual property attorneys in the U.S.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC July 02, 2024
Press Releases

Chambers USA Honors 25 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 25 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2024 guide. The Chambers USA guide ranks the top law firms and leading attorneys in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC June 07, 2024
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2024
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
Press Releases

Managing IP Honors Stites & Harbison Attorneys on "IP Stars" 2023 list

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Managing Intellectual Property (Managing IP) magazine has named nine Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys to the 2023 “IP Stars” list. Managing IP recognizes the most highly regarded intellectual property attorneys in the U.S.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC July 25, 2023
Client Alerts

Identifying Inventors is a Critical Step in Pursuing Patent Protection

Patent attorney David Nagle takes a look at patent protection for inventors in this Stites & Harbison client alert.

by David W. Nagle Jr. June 22, 2023
Press Releases

Chambers USA Honors 25 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 25 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2023 guide.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC June 05, 2023