Daren S. Garcia
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
- Emory University School of Law, J.D., 2002
- The Ohio State University, B.A., 1998
Bar & Court Admissions
Daren is a partner and member of the Vorys eControl team. Daren’s practice is centered on the representation of manufacturers and brands and involves the implementation of thought-leading strategies and enforcement systems both domestically and internationally, designed to protect brand value by controlling online sales. His areas of focus include: advising on online go-to-market strategies best suited to protect and grow brands, revamping outdated distribution models to support brand success, and executing legal strategies to remove unauthorized sellers and MAP violators.
Daren has extensive lead trial counsel experience in a variety of areas, including conducting litigation on behalf of brands against disruptive unauthorized resellers. Daren has been recognized by Chambers and Partners as a “Leading Lawyer” in litigation.
Recent experience highlights:
- Developing cutting-edge solutions for unauthorized seller problems that manufacturers and brands encounter on the internet
- Advising leading brands on legal strategies against unauthorized sellers both domestically and internationally
- Leading unauthorized online seller enforcement efforts for hundreds of leading manufacturers and brands, both domestically and internationally
- Leading litigation matters against disruptive, highly sophisticated unauthorized online sellers
- Advising nearly 300 leading manufacturers and brands on distribution and e-commerce channel structures and agreements – both domestically and internationally – designed to protect and grow brand value
- Implementing authorized reseller programs – both brick and mortar and ecommerce – for manufacturers and brands to help protect brand value by controlling online sales
- Implementing MAP and MRP programs and advising on related enforcement efforts
Daren obtained his J.D. from the Emory University School of Law and his B.A. from The Ohio State University.
Honors & Awards
- Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Business Litigation, 2007 & 2009, 2011
- Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Litigation: General Commercial, 2012
News
- 11/12/2021Vorys Partner Daren Garcia was quoted in an article for The Fashion Law titled "Decision Over Unauthorized Sales of iPhone Cases Has Takeaways for Fashion’s Gray Market Fight".
- 7/22/2020Daren Garcia, a partner in the Vorys Cincinnati office and a member of the eControl team, was quoted in an Adweek story about an Amazon seller policy change.
- 11/11/2019
- 7/8/2019The rapid growth of Amazon and other online marketplaces has created a new ecosystem in which brands struggle to control their product sales. Brands now find their products sold by anonymous online sellers and face new challenges on an unprecedented scale. The eControl360 Summit is a first-of-its-kind event that will bring together thought leaders in each of the disciplines necessary to tackle these challenges and allow brands to retake control of their online sales.
- 9/19/2018Daren Garcia, a partner and in Vorys eControl group, was a guest on the Kula Ring podcast.
- 8/28/2017The College of Law Practice Management, an international organization that recognizes excellence in law practice management, announced today that Vorys was a recipient of a 2017 InnovAction Award. Vorys was one of just two recipients of this year’s award.
- 8/2/2017As virtually all consumer product manufacturers and brands now realize, the world is becoming increasingly e-commerce driven. While this paradigm shift has ushered in several opportunities for businesses, it also presents significant challenges.
- 3/28/2017Vorys Partners Mark Knueve and Daren Garcia were included in a Retail Law360 story titled “Judge OKs Abercrombie's $700K Deal In Worker Seating Suit.”
- 3/28/2017Vorys Pittsburgh Office Managing Partner Daren Garcia was included in a Retail Law360 story titled "9th Circ. Affirms A&F’s Quick Win In Maternity Bias Suit."
- 9/15/2016Vorys announced that Daren Garcia will serve as the managing partner of the firm’s Pittsburgh office.
- 7/5/2016Daren Garcia, a partner in the litigation group, was included in a Courthouse News story titled “Abercrombie Says Gap Poached Its Executive.”
- 9/9/2015Vorys announced the launch of the firm’s sixth blog, Stop Unauthorized Online Sales. The blog focuses on providing tips and solutions to help businesses stop unauthorized sales and product diversion online, including on e-commerce and auction websites.
- 4/18/2014Vorys Partner Daren Garcia was included in a Labor and Employment Law360 story titled “Ohio Appeals Court Nixes Abercrombie Retaliation Suit.”
- 6/7/2012Vorys announced that 35 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized among the leading practitioners in the country in the 2012 edition of Chambers USA.
- 4/3/2012Vorys announced that Daren Garcia, a partner in the firm’s Columbus office, has been selected for the 2012 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows Program.
- 2/8/2012Vorys Partners Mark Knueve and Daren Garcia were included in a Law360 story about arguments made before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Amber Echavez v. Abercrombie and Fitch Co.
- 3/17/2011
- 1/3/2011
- 12/29/2008
- 6/26/2007
Events
- 12/7/2021While many brands implement a 3P strategy to take a more active role in their destinies, better outcomes are not guaranteed. Without the right strategy and team & capabilities in place, brands can find themselves lost in a sea of other sellers, losing the buy box and harming brand performance. With a customized, end-to-end 3P solution focused on acceleration and control, brands can be positioned for increased growth and profitability.
- 10/18/2021Commerce has been irrevocably transformed for branded manufacturers in the age of online marketplaces. Brands are plagued with countless unauthorized sellers that interfere significantly with crucial efforts to maximize sales and profitability, as well as the return on advertising, SEO and content enhancement investments. More often than not, the root cause of online marketplace pain points is the business practices of the brand itself, which feed a range of harms across all sales channels.
- 9/15/2021Daren Garcia presented a session on Leveraging Online Sales Control for Profitable Online Marketplace and Omnichannel Growth.
- 3/22/2021Vorys partners Daren Garcia and Jeff Fickes, and Pattern Chief Revenue Officer John LeBaron hosted a panel for Opus Panel connect in which they discussed best practices and insights for driving profitable growth on online marketplaces.
- 2/2/2021Vorys eCommerce litigators Daren Garcia, Martha Motley, John Landolfi and George Stevens hosted a webinar in which they discussed frequently seen types of eCommerce-related litigation that companies face today and best practices for successfully navigating these issues.
- 6/25/2020On June 25, 2020, Vorys eControl representatives discussed distribution and legal enforcement strategies that brands can implement to maximize their online marketplace opportunities in a complimentary webinar.
- 4/17/2020The speed and force with which online marketplaces have disrupted commerce has caught many brands and their traditional sales channels off guard. COVID-19 and its effects on the global economy have exacerbated these changes.
- 2/19/2020Vorys Attorneys Daren Garcia, Blake Finney and Chris LaRocco spoke at an eCommerce Consortia meeting on February 19, 2020.
- 11/6/2019The rapid growth of Amazon and other online marketplaces has created a new ecosystem in which brands struggle to control their product sales. Brands now find their products sold by anonymous online sellers and face new challenges on an unprecedented scale. The eControl360 Summit was a first-of-its-kind event that brought together thought leaders in each of the disciplines necessary to tackle these challenges and allow brands to retake control of their online sales.
- 6/29/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia presented at the Vertical Restraints & Distribution 2019 Conference on June 29, 2019.
- 6/18/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia spoke at the BWG Strategy Omnichannel Sales & Marketing Forum on June 18, 2019.
- 5/22/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia presented a webinar titled, “Control and Grow You Brand in Europe” on May 22, 2019.
- 5/8/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia presented at the Amazon E^HACKATHON conference in London on May 8, 2019.
- 4/23/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia presented a webinar titled, “Brand Roundtable: How to Successfully Navigate a 3P Presence on Amazon and Beyond” on April 23, 2019.
- 3/26/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia presented at the first-ever E^HACKATHON Bentonville on March 26, 2019.
- 9/18/2018On September 18, 2018, Partner Daren Garcia participated in the NAVC Media and E-Commerce event.
- 9/13/2018Vorys attorneys Whitney Gibson, Daren Garcia and Laura Erdman presented at the Cleveland Research eCommerce Summit on September 13, 2018.
- 6/8/2018On June 8, 2018, Partner Daren Garcia participated in the American Bar Association’s The MAP Map: Navigating Minimum Advertised Price Policies and Other Resale Issues event.
- 5/10/2018Vorys presented a CLE program entitled Brand Value, Stopping MAP Violators and Removing Unauthorized Marketplace Sellers Western Pennsylvania Association of Corporate Counsel on May 10, 2018.
- 1/30/2018Vorys attorneys Daren Garcia and Whitney Gibson were speakers at the 20th Anti-Counterfeiting & Brand Protection Summit on January 30, 2018.
- 10/26/2016Vorys attorneys Daren Garcia and Whitney Gibson were speakers at the Retail Law Conference hosted by the Retail Industry Leaders Association on October 26, 2016.
- 10/24/2016Vorys attorneys Whitney Gibson and Daren Garcia were speakers at the Direct Selling Association Business & Policy Conference on October 24, 2016.
Insights
- 5/14/2021A brand’s ability to control its online sales is critical to its ability to maximize profitable e-commerce channel growth, preserve brand equity, and prevent damaging e-commerce conflicts with its brick-and-mortar business.
- 11/14/2019Vorys Partner Daren Garcia co-authored “The Amazon Playbook for Consumer Electronics Brands” for the eCommerce performance analytics platform Profitero.
- 6/13/2019Daren Garcia, a partner and co-chair of the Vorys eControl group, authored an article for Digital Commerce 360 titled “How to Ensure MAP Compliance Across Online Marketplaces.”
- 1/12/2018Vorys attorneys and co-leaders of the online seller enforcement group, Whitney Gibson and Daren Garcia, authored an article for TotalRetail titled “Four Steps to Stop Unauthorized Online Sales of Your Products.”
- 10/11/2016Manufacturers—and retailers/resellers wanting to maintain profit margins—have often turned to Internet Minimum Advertised Price (IMAP) policies to combat overzealous advertising.
- 5/16/2016In a highly-anticipated opinion, this morning the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins.
- 4/11/2016Retailers that have seen declining profits in traditional brick and mortar stores have turned to the internet to drive consumer sales. However, the e-commerce boom is not without its challenges. This in-depth article outlines the laws governing online marketing and advertising.
- 2/1/2016Allegations of “greenwashing”—generally defined as “the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or company practice”—are on the rise.
- 11/20/2015California has taken the lead in enacting new comprehensive “green chemistry” laws aimed at reducing toxic chemicals found in everyday consumer products.