About Us

Robert Arrington

Robert is managing partner and a co-founder of Essentia Legal P.C. He specializes in the areas of commercial law, litigation, and estate planning.

Robert began his legal career at Skadden Arps in Chicago. During his time there, he focused on complex regulatory and litigation matters including

- representing one of the largest retailers in the world during an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission;

- Obtaining the necessary regulatory approval associated with the sale of Global Crossing, a multi-national telecommunications company; and

- Simultaneously applying for licensure in over 35 states for a telecommunications company.

In 2004, Robert relocated to the warmer climate of Atlanta. He spent four years working with King & Spalding’s complex litigation teams. His experience includes defending Fortune 50 clients in matters including:

- Representing foreign and domestic manufacturers as well as package delivery companies in high-exposure product liability, premises liability, and personal injury cases across the country;

- Defending pharmaceutical manufacturers in nationwide class-action and individual product liability cases;

- Defending automobile manufacturers in various wrongful death and catastrophic injury lawsuits involving numerous allegations, including rollover, ejection, post-collision fire, airbag non-deployment, and restraint system cases.

As a partner at Essentia Legal, Robert’s experience has been invaluable in assisting the firm’s clients in getting a clear assessment of their options in their business and personal matters.

A merit and National Bar Association Scholar, Robert graduated from Howard University School of Law in 2001. He was a Notes and Comments Editor on the Law Journal and a member of the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team.

He is licensed to practice before the state and federal courts in Illinois and Georgia. In addition to his extensive experience in general and complex commercial litigation, Robert has served as a consultant for numerous real estate, retail, telecommunications and financial service companies with every aspect of their business, including formation, capitalization, e-commerce and e-discovery issues, providing advice on litigation avoidance, stock and asset purchases, and winding up matters.

Robert is delighted to have an opportunity to be a part of Essentia Legal’s goal of providing the very best in legal advice at affordable rates. Robert’s well-rounded experience base makes him an ideal choice for corporate or individual clients whose legal needs cut across several disciplines. In his spare time, Robert enjoys traveling, reading, and the challenge of keeping his lawn healthy in the middle of the Georgia drought.

Latif Oduola-Owoo

Latif is a founding partner of Essentia Legal PC. He graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2000 and is a member in good standing of the New York and Georgia bars. He worked for several years as an associate with Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP in New York where he handled complex litigations on behalf of Fortune 100 companies. Representative matters include:

• Defending a very large computer company against allegations of patent infringement and trade secrets misappropriation
• Defending a large pharmaceutical company against alleged antitrust and Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act violations

Latif also worked as a Mid-Level and Senior Associate at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta, where he handled complex patent infringement and general commercial litigation matters. Representative matters include:

• Defending a large insurance company against allegations of false advertising and fraudulent misrepresentations
• Representing a large online services company in asserting patent infringement claims against a competitor
• Defending a large pharmaceutical company in a mass tort and product liability action

Over the years, Latif has developed substantial expertise in general commercial litigation involving patent, copyright, trademark, unfair competition and antitrust law, among others. Latif has also handled several matters before the immigration courts in New York and Atlanta as well a habeas corpus petition before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and a certiorari petition before the U.S. Supreme Court.

At Essentia Legal, Latif’s general litigation practice covers immigration, bankruptcy, tax and general commercial litigation. Representative matters include:

• Secure a substantial reduction of federal tax liability on behalf of an individual client
• Defending a domain-name owner against allegations of domain name abuse
• Securing non-profit status on behalf of corporate clients
• Representing clients in removal proceedings in immigration court
• Representing clients in general commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts.

Latif is unreservedly committed to Essential Legal’s mission to make top notch legal services available at affordable rates, and his general litigation background makes him counsel of choice for corporate or individual clients whose legal needs cut across several disciplines.

Latif is the current president of the Georgia Association of Nigerian Lawyers.

Latif is married to Sade and the proud father of 3 daughters. He speaks French and Yoruba, is an avid reader, a budding poet, and plays tennis in his spare time.

Michael C. Mason

Michael is a founding partner of Essentia Legal P.C. Michael has worked as a Managing Senior Attorney at the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, DC and as Counsel with King & Spalding LLP and Gardner, Groff, Greenwald and Villanueva PC in Atlanta. Michael graduated from the University of Virginia and Duke University School of Law. He is a member of the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Georgia bars. Michael has substantial expertise in trademark law. At the US Trademark Office he served as an expert for the more complex and difficult trademark applications, formulated Office examination policy and trained and supervised examining attorneys within the law office. He also represented the Office in ex parte proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).

As outside counsel, Michael has counseled many corporate clients concerning the availability, registration and proper use of trademarks. He has developed, managed and maintained many domestic and international trademark portfolios, conducted complicated trademark searches and drafted numerous cease and desist letters. Michael also has conducted and managed trademark due diligence, advised clients in the area of Internet domain name infringement and trademark rights in cyberspace, and counseled clients regarding opposition and cancellation proceedings before the TTAB and regarding potential trademark infringement actions. He has also served in the capacity of an interim in-house trademark attorney for The Coca-Cola Company and as its outside counsel where he helped register marks like DASANI and COCA-COLA ZERO. Michael’s intellectual property experience also includes developing and maintaining copyright portfolios and reviewing advertisements and documentaries for potential trademark and copyright issues.

Michael has helped register marks for celebrities like Michael Jordan, James Gardner, Martin Yan and Ginuwine. One of his favorite marks he helped register is “YOU’VE GOT THE RIGHT ONE BABY, UH-HUH.” Michael is an avid movie buff and enjoys travelling.

Representative Published Transactions/Litigation:

In re Ness, 18 USPQ2d 1815 (TTAB 1991); In re Eden Foods, Inc., 24 USPQ2d 1757 (TTAB 1992); In re E.S. Robbins Corp., 30 USPQ2d 1540 (TTAB 1992); We The People, L.L.C. v. WTP Group, LLC, FA0807001217134 (Nat. Arb. Forum Sept. 19, 2008).

Speaking Engagements, Publications and Honors:

Speaker: International Trademark Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, American Bar Association, Atlanta Urban League and The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Publication: Author – “On Your Mark” – State Bar of Georgia IP Newsletter, 2008 Honors: U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Recipient