Thomas Peistrup Email & Phone Number

United States

Lancaster, Pa, Us

Served as General Counsel and member of OpSec’s Executive Leadership Team, overseeing global legal operations for a market leader in brand protection, anti-piracy, anti-fraud, and secure labeling solutions. Also acted as Corporate Secretary for OpSec’s U.S. entities.OpSec provides on-product and online brand protection to Fortune 500 brands and governments. Its online brand protection division, built around its acquisition of MarkMonitor, continues to lead in anti-counterfeiting, anti-piracy, and IP enforcement solutions. Headquartered in London, OpSec operates globally with manufacturing in the U.K. and U.S. and offices worldwide.Key Contributions: • Executive Leadership & M&A – Played a critical role in M&A activities, regulatory reviews, and post-acquisition integration, strengthening OpSec’s global presence. Departure followed the successful completion of an acquisition, reflecting the company’s growth and restructuring. • Global Risk & Compliance – Directed regulatory compliance, contract management, privacy, IP enforcement, and cybersecurity functions across diverse markets and jurisdictions. • International Operations – Provided legal guidance on cross-border operations across the U.S., U.K., E.U., and Asia, ensuring compliance with international trade and IP regulations. • Strategic IP & Brand Protection – Collaborated with product and engineering teams to develop and protect IP and enhance anti-fraud programs, supporting clients in protecting brand equity. • Corporate Governance – Managed corporate governance for U.S. entities, including board oversight, compliance reporting, and stakeholder communications.Affiliated with OpSec’s Meridian, Idaho (Boise) office, I primarily operated from Los Angeles, supporting global initiatives and legal operations.

Culver City, Ca, Us

Served as General Counsel for InStyler and its affiliated consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, overseeing all legal functions across multiple brands. This role required business-focused legal strategy, collaboration with executive leadership, and management of a global legal budget to support product development, international growth, and brand protection.Key Responsibilities: • Litigation Management – Oversaw litigation before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, addressing IP and regulatory disputes. • Risk & Cybersecurity – Developed risk management protocols and cybersecurity measures to protect digital assets and consumer data. • Contract & Legal Operations – Led contract management and legal operations across affiliated brands, ensuring consistency in negotiations and legal oversight. • Regulatory Compliance – Ensured compliance with FTC regulations, import laws, privacy standards, and state consumer protection statutes. • IP Portfolio Management – Managed an international IP portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and design registrations. • Brand Protection – Directed anti-counterfeiting and anti-diversion programs to safeguard brand integrity and minimize infringement. • Marketing & Consumer Claims – Reviewed advertising, marketing, warranties, and consumer claims to mitigate risk and ensure regulatory alignment. • Corporate Governance & Employment – Provided counsel on corporate governance, labor, and employment matters across multiple CPG brands. • Strategic Transactions – Negotiated M&A, joint ventures, licensing, endorsements, and manufacturing agreements. • Funding & Growth – Assisted in securing multi-million-dollar funding and conducted due diligence for expansion initiatives.This role combined IP management, regulatory compliance, and litigation oversight to protect and grow a diverse portfolio of consumer brands.

Pittsburgh, Pa, Us

As part of Leech Tishman’s Intellectual Property Group in Pasadena, I focused on copyright and trademark counseling and litigation, providing strategic guidance on IP protection, enforcement, and dispute resolution. I also advised clients on complex litigation and business strategy, with concurrent service as in-house IP counsel for select clients.This role built upon my work with the core team from Sheldon, Mak & Anderson, a respected IP boutique that integrated into Leech Tishman, bringing a depth of experience in patent, trademark, and copyright law to the firm’s broader practice.Key areas of focus included: • IP Counseling and Litigation – Advised clients on IP strategy, enforcement, and defense in copyright and trademark matters. • Strategic Business Consulting – Partnered with businesses to develop IP strategies aligned with growth objectives and risk management. • Complex Litigation – Litigated disputes involving IP, commercial issues, and general civil matters. • In-House Counsel Role – Provided ongoing legal support for clients managing IP portfolios and related business operations.This position allowed me to apply specialized IP expertise across a broader client base, contributing to the firm’s litigation and advisory practices while continuing to serve businesses navigating complex IP challenges.

Maintained a private law firm practice alongside in-house counsel responsibilities, with a focus on litigation, intellectual property (IP) counseling, and brand protection. My practice involved developing and implementing anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting programs, integrating business, technology, and legal solutions across diverse industries.I advised clients on copyright, trademark, trade secrets, unfair competition, defamation, and First Amendment matters, while providing generalist legal support to corporate clients, including businesses in the cannabis and cannabis-adjacent sectors.Key Achievements: • Counterfeit Litigation – Led high-stakes litigation against an online retailer over widespread counterfeit sales. Pursued an aggressive yet strategic approach that resulted in a favorable pre-trial settlement, effectively eliminating counterfeit products from the platform. • Class Action Defense – Identified previously unknown insurance coverage to defend a client in a five-year consumer class action lawsuit. Developed and executed a legal strategy that led to a favorable settlement with no out-of-pocket expense to the client. • IP Protection Programs – Designed and implemented comprehensive IP protection programs for multiple clients, significantly reducing infringement risks. Shared insights and strategies at industry conferences and events focused on brand protection and IP enforcement.This role allowed me to balance litigation, risk management, and business consulting, providing both proactive and defensive legal strategies to protect and grow client assets.

El Segundo, Ca, Us

Led intellectual property (IP) protection and anti-piracy initiatives for Beachbody’s fitness video product line, overseeing litigation strategy, enforcement actions, and brand protection. I directed efforts to safeguard product integrity through customs enforcement, criminal prosecutions, and civil litigation.Key responsibilities included: • Litigation Strategy & Management – Developed and executed litigation strategies to combat piracy and counterfeiting, managing enforcement actions to protect Beachbody’s IP portfolio. • Customs & Law Enforcement Collaboration – Worked closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and law enforcement agencies to support seizures, investigations, and criminal prosecutions of counterfeit products. • Product Integrity & Technology Review – Conducted research and analysis to assess product vulnerabilities and implemented safeguards to enhance IP protection. • Public Relations & Outreach – Spearheaded consumer education and media outreach campaigns to raise awareness about counterfeit products and their impact on brand value. • Civil Enforcement – Managed trademark and copyright enforcement efforts, pursuing civil actions against infringers and coordinating with external counsel on litigation and settlements.This role combined legal strategy, enforcement coordination, and public advocacy to strengthen Beachbody’s IP protection framework and reduce piracy, reinforcing the brand’s market position.

At Leopold, Petrich & Smith, I was part of a team handling intellectual property (IP) and entertainment law matters, contributing to both transactional work (opinions, rights agreements, counseling) and civil litigation defense. Our clients included major film studios, television networks, production companies, music publishers, record labels, and print publishers. I collaborated on cases involving: • Copyright and First Amendment litigation • Publicity rights, defamation, and trademark disputes • Commercial litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolutionI supported high-profile entertainment and media clients by conducting legal research, drafting pleadings, and preparing motions in complex litigation. Additionally, I assisted with content protection strategies and risk assessment for prominent intellectual property portfolios.Representative Matters (Team Contributions): • Doe 3 v. One America Productions, Inc. – Supported the defense of the creators of Borat in litigation concerning consent and defamation claims. • De Walt v. Jobete Music Co. Inc. – Contributed to the legal team representing clients in music publishing litigation that resulted in a jury verdict. • UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Augusto – Assisted in significant copyright litigation involving the first sale doctrine and promotional CDs. • Universal City Studios Productions LLLP v. Mario Lavandeira (Perez Hilton) – Part of the legal team representing Universal in a copyright case against Perez Hilton over unauthorized content use. • Ampersand Publishing LLC v. The Santa Barbara Independent, Inc. – Assisted in the defense of The Santa Barbara Independent in a fair use and First Amendment dispute concerning republished content. • Greenstein v. Greif Co. – Contributed to a defamation and publicity rights case, conducting legal research and drafting key motions.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

Served in an elite U.S. Army and NSA intelligence unit during the Cold War, stationed in Berlin. Conducted translation and analysis of East German economic and political communications, providing intelligence to inform U.S. policymakers. • Completed two years of intensive language and intelligence training. • Earned professional linguist certification (CIA/NSA). • Played a key role in strategic intelligence operations, contributing to U.S. efforts during a critical period of geopolitical tension.This role honed advanced analytical, linguistic, and leadership skills in a high-stakes environment, laying the foundation for disciplined, strategic thinking throughout my career.

Jd, Law

Ba, Political And Social Thought (Honors Liberal Arts), German

German History

European History (Modern Intellectual And Cultural)