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W. Whitaker
Rayner

Position
Partner
Office
Jackson

Whit Rayner is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-leader of the Intellectual Property Team. He focuses on copyright and trademark registration and protection, software licensing, and intellectual property litigation and prosecution.


Whit represents financial institutions in commercial litigation and contract disputes.

In addition to his current bar-association memberships, Whit is past chairman of the Model State Trademark Bill Subcommittee of the International Trademark Association.

Whit is the author of the Intellectual Property Section of West Publishing's Encyclopedia of Mississippi Law and is the Mississippi editor of State Trademark and Unfair Competition Law.

Noteworthy

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Copyright Law; Information Technology Law; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Trademark Law (listed annually since 2001)
  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation – Intellectual Property, Jackson, Mississippi (2017, 2019)
  • Mississippi Business Journal, “Top in Tech”
  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Copyright Law, Jackson, Mississippi (2016) 
  • Leadership Jackson (2004-2005)
  • Leadership Mississippi (1998-1999)
  • AV Preeminent ® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property (listed 2006, 2011, 2013, 2015 - 2018)
  • The Best of the U.S. LLC, selected as one of the best Intellectual Property lawyers in the United States (2006)

Publications

  • "DMCA Agent Designation Required By December 31, 2017" Jones Walker LLP Intellectual Property Client Alert, December 2017
  • "Recent Changes in Federal Law Encourage Registering Intellectual Property Rights Early" Pointe Innovation, July 8, 2013

Presentations

  • "Who Says the Supreme Court Doesn’t Care About IP?: A Two Part Series", November 14, 2017
  • "Trademark Practice Tips", May 20, 2015, Jackson, MS
  • "Intellectual Property Issues for the General Practitioner", April 24, 2015
  • "2014 Trade Secret Year in Review," Mid-South Intellectual Property Institute, February 6, 2014
  • "Avoiding Vendor Management Issues" Seminar, 2013, New Orleans, Jackson and Birmingham
  • “What Every General Practitioner Should Know About Intellectual Property Law”, May 3, 2013

Memberships

  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, Board of Directors, Board President (2006-2007)
  • International Trademark Association, US Copyright Committee (2015-2018), Panel of Neutrals (2000-2006)
  • Mississippi Secretary of State's Business Reform Committee – Trademark Law Study Group, Co-Chairman (2009-2010)
  • The Mississippi Bar, Chairman, Section of Intellectual Property Law (2001-2002)
  • Willowood Developmental Center, Board of Directors, Board President (2003-2005)
  • Jackson International Ballet Competition, Board of Directors
Jackson
Suite 800
190 E Capitol St
Jackson, MS 39201
D: 601.949.4724
F: 601.949.4680
Emailwrayner@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Washington and Lee University School of Law
    JD, magna cum laude, 1986
    Order of the Coif; Managing Editor, Washington and Lee Law Review, 1985-1986
  • Millsaps College
    BA, magna cum laude, 1983

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi

Court Admissions

  • US Supreme Court
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Related Practices

  • Litigation
  • Intellectual Property
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