James B. Gambrell

James B. Gambrell, intellectual property law expert, and former professor of law at NYU (1966-1976), the University of Houston (1976-1982) and UT (2000-2002), died at home in Hunt, Texas, on Dec. 3, at the age of 84.

Gambrell graduated from Austin High. After enlisting in the Navy and serving in the Pacific during WWII, he received a B.S. in mechanical engineering at UT, an M.A. in economics from Columbia University and a law degree from NYU School of Law.

He began his career in intellectual property law at Bell Telephone Laboratories and later moved on to private practice, most recently as a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in Austin. In addition, Mr. Gambrell served as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Patents from 1961-63; he was also author of a study for the Committee on the Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System, which led to the formation of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Gambrell was a founding co-author of the six volume Patent Law Perspectives; he taught, published and lectured extensively on anti-trust law, and the law and licensing of intellectual property. At the time of his death, Gambrell was working as a consultant, expert witness, and adjunct professor at UT Austin law school.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen Roddy Gambrell, daughters Jamey Gambrell, Gretchen Asbury, son-in-law Keith Asbury, son Jay Gambrell and his wife Jennifer, and four grandchildren: Jake and Cody Asbury, Calla Helen Gambrell, and Corina Asbury White.

Services will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Kerrville, at 3p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made in his memory to the Hill Country Youth Ranch of Ingram, Texas (www.youth-ranch.org).