The Legal 500

Washington DC-based Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P. is ‘excellent on all counts' when it comes to non-contentious trademark work. Regarded by many as a leader in the intellectual property market, it is known for its strong bench, innovative work and impressive client list. Washington DC-based Douglas Rettew, who heads the 11-partner group, focuses his practice on consumer products and electrical and computer technology, and acts for The NFL Players Association. David Kelly and of counsel Lynn Jordan provide ‘fast, practical advice, depth of experience, and understands a business' needs'. Kelly has substantial expertise in the entertainment industry and represents a number of the firm's key clients such as The Walt Disney Company (and related companies Pixar, The Disney Channel, and ABC Television). Other clients include the BBC, Caterpillar and The Association of Tennis Professionals. Julia Anne Matheson, who handles Starbucks' portfolio management nationally, is recommended along with Mark Sommers and Jonathan Gelchinsky. Lawrence Robins recently departed for Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP.

New York boutique Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C. has ‘long been one of the preeminent firms worldwide for non-contentious trademark matters'. It has ‘unsurpassed depth of knowledge and experience', and ‘does an excellent job' on all matters for domestic and international clients, including leading players in the entertainment, finance and pharmaceuticals/healthcare industries. The group's work has included achievements such as successfully registering Tiffany's blue color as a non-conventional trademark and undertaking multinational trademark search and registrations. Clients include VEVO, Chanel, Bristol-Myers Squibb Miss America, Novartis and LEGO. Its depth of bench is ‘unparalleled' for trademarks. The ‘excellent' Mark Engelmann provides ‘advice that is not only technically correct but is also pragmatic from a business standpoint', and the ‘extremely careful and diligent' Lawrence Apolzon, ‘has a good sense of business necessity and practicality'. Other prominent partners include Alexandria-based Allison Strickland, the ‘superb' Ronald Lehrman, and David Ehrlich. Within the international practice group, Lydia Gobena, Peter Silverman, Janet Hoffman and the ‘excellent' Cara Boyle are recommended.

Covington & Burling LLP's ‘outstanding' trademark practice provides a ‘personalized service' and ‘advice which is very practical, and reflects a keen awareness of the balance between legal risk and commercial considerations'. Practice head Laurie Self has substantial experience with international and technology matters, and is ably supported by the ‘very knowledgeable, experienced' Marie Lavalleye, who ‘tailors her advice to meet the individual risk profiles of her clients'. Other team members include senior counsel Bingham Leverich, and special counsel Kristina Rosette, whose expertise lie in domain names. Rosette has recently advised on generic and .XXX top level domains. The team continues to provide portfolio management advice to clients such as Microsoft and Merck, and to assist in trademark acquisition and licensing matters as a result of M&A, such as Microsoft's acquisition of Skype. The group also advised on National Geographic Society's strategic partnership with Cenage Learning.

New York general practice firm Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, PC has an excellent reputation and is viewed as a leader in the sports industry. This dedicated team of 15 partners is led by the experienced and well-regarded William Borchard, who ‘is very knowledgeable, well respected, and very easy to work with. He's responsive, very thorough and a strategic thinker'. Borchard acts on both domestic and international matters, and is noted for his expertise in internet and domain name work. Within the team, of counsel Lynn Frutcher is also instrumental, and represents clients in industries including food, entertainment and cosmetics, and Lawrence Greene is key on international matters. Mary Kevlin and Midge Hyman are also recommended. The group's impressive client list speaks volumes for the caliber of the practice, including Major League Baseball Properties Inc, Ann Taylor, J Crew; Morgan Stanley and Columbia Pictures.

Kenyon & Kenyon LLP is ‘one of the best IP law firms in the world and an absolute go-to-firm for trademarks and domain name defense'. The trademarks group at the New York IP boutique is ‘highly professional and responsive' with a ‘global presence', making it a leader in the field of multinational trademark registrations and searches. This ‘consistently excellent' team of 40 professionals includes the excellent James Rosini, who is ‘a brilliant and creative strategist, with a superior understanding of the nuances of trademark law'. Additionally, Washington DC-based Edward Colbert is highly experienced and skilled at IP litigation, licensing and acquisition. The team is expert in undertaking corporate name changes on a global scale, and, for example, was instrumental in the rebrandings of GMAC Financial to Ally Bank and AIG Financial to Chartis Insurance. The group manages the global trademarks portfolios of clients including Analog Devices, Olympus, Chartis Insurance and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA.

Washington DC-based Arent Fox LLP has a ‘top-notch' reputation in the media and entertainment industry. The IP practice is co-chaired by the ‘fantastic' Anthony Lupo and litigator Michael Grow, both of whom are based in Washington DC. Lupo also serves as a strategic counselor to the firm's key clients from the entertainment, technology and fashion industries, such as Pixar, Apple and Lacoste. Grow routinely acts for Warner Brothers and Hollywood producer Saul Zaentz. Christina Carvalho, who leads the trademarks group, manages a number of international portfolios and serves as primary counsel for clients such as Mars. Other clients of the team include The Oprah Winfrey Network, Choice Hotels International, Diesel and Benetton.

Dechert LLP's well-respected trademark practice centers on 18 partners in Philadelphia. IP group heads Martin Black and Ann Pease are recommended, as is the highly regarded trademark specialist Glenn Gunderson in Pennsylvania, who is key counsel to The Ivy League, TAG Heuer, Ebel and Breitling, and L'Oréal. The bulk of the group's workload focuses on providing strategic advice on clearance and registration, and assisting companies in protecting and maintaining their brands around the world. The group is noteworthy for its capabilities in global trademark searches. The team recently advised DirecTV on clearance, prosecution and strategic advice in the US, Caribbean and Latin America.

New York IP boutique Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto is a go-to firm for some of the world's leading brands. The practice has expertise in a number of industries, including electronics, clothing, pharmaceuticals and publishing. The trademark team is led by of counsel Edward Vassallo, whose practice spans contentious and non-contentious trademarks and copyright. Among the seven partners in the practice, Warren Olsen, Nicholas Cannella and Steve Warner all have 30 years' experience. The group also includes founding member and of counsel Lawrence Scinto, who is well respected. Clients include Condé Nast and Calvin Klein.

Fulbright & Jaworski LLP has a strong offering in trademarks, and has 11 offices across the US and global reach. The IP team is co-headed by biotech expert David Parker in Austin and James Repass in Houston, who focuses on the intellectual property aspects of corporate transactions. Other key partners include Mark Mutterperl in New York, who advises clients on domestic and international clearance projects and portfolio management. Recent highlights for the team include assisting clients such as Best Buy, Farmers Group and UnitedHealth Group with the management of their IP portfolios. Other clients include Brinker International, General Mills and Zeno.

K&L Gates caters to a number of leading companies with global brands. The global IP practice leaders are Robert Barrett and Michael Abernathy in Chicago, Susan Jackson in Charlotte and David McDonald in Seattle. Within the trademarks group, Newark-based Frank Politano is a highly regarded and experienced figure, whose expertise includes brand and software licensing. Boston-based David Byer is also recommended, and has expertise including publishing, entertainment and electronics. The team remains primary outside counsel for Wrigley and its brands, and the group undertakes trademark prosecution work for HTC and Chicken of the Sea.

Baker & McKenzie's trademark practice handles domestic and international work – something made feasible by the firm's impressive global network. The team is headed by chair of the North America IP group Kevin O'Brien from Washington DC, who focuses on various aspects of IP, including trademark, patent and copyright law. The 27-partner global IP group includes ten trademark experts. New York IP practice head Pamela Church and Dallas-based Nicole Emmons are recommended, with the latter having recently advised Deltek and Fogo de Chao on trademark portfolio matters. Other clients of the team include CEC Entertainment, Orthofix and The Lincoln Electric Company.

‘Excellent' general practice firm Baker Botts L.L.P. provides a ‘solid, reliable service from professionals that are knowledgeable in their field and sensitive to business needs'. This trademark group – containing three partners and one special counsel – is headed by Doreen Costa in New York, and has breadth and depth of service and clients despite the small team. Key clients include Dell, new media clients and a global oil and gas company. Costa and Paul Reilly are ‘superior lawyers with great business acumen – they are incredibly responsive and efficient'. Other key individuals include Dallas-based partner Priscilla Dunckel who is ‘super-quick when rapid help is needed', and has ‘experience in a wide variety of issues making her an excellent resource'; special counsel Valerie Verret is ‘professional, personable and reliable'.

Ballard Spahr LLP's trademark group is expert in a number of sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and electronics. The 19-partner IP practice has a number of technical experts, and is led by the experienced William Needle, who is active within patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret law. Philadelphia-based Lynn Rzonca manages MedAssurant's domestic and international portfolio, and is a key member of the litigation department. Of counsel Corey Field in Los Angeles is also recommended for his work assisting The Mother Teresa Center with the protection and enforcement of IP rights in relation to the publication of books and films. Other clients include DriveTime Automotive Group and Broadcast Music. Philadelphia-based Hara Jacobs and Phoenix-based Brian LaCorte are also recommended.

Cooley LLP's four-partner trademark team has specialist knowledge and continues to punch above its weight. Washington DC-based practice chair Peter Willsey is an expert in copyright and trademark law, including litigation. Litigator John Crittenden in San Francisco is also recommended, along with Janet Cullum in New York, who is noted for her domain name expertise, and Anne Peck in Palo Alto, who advises on international trademarks and copyright ownership. The group has quickly established itself as a leader within the social network sphere, and its impressive client list includes a number of well-known global brands. Recent highlights include assisting with the management of Facebook's mark, providing tactical support to LinkedIn in relation to the management of its trademark portfolio, and managing the trademark portfolio for Yelp!. Other clients include Mozilla (Firefox), Google and Bluetooth.

DLA Piper LLP's trademark team provides ‘a five-star service' across a broad range of industries including apparel, food and beverage and leisure. Though the core team members are based in Washington DC and Chicago, it fields individuals across the firm's network, ensuring that ‘responses are immediate' and coverage ‘seamless', whether on domestic or international matters. Washington DC-based practice head Ann Ford is ‘very practical and extremely effective at cutting to the core of a dispute to avoid needless litigation. She thinks like a client and understands what is important from the business point of view'. Chicago-based Mark Feldman is ‘one of the top trademark lawyers in the world; he is responsive, pleasant, interesting, and always willing to go the extra mile'. The ‘responsive' Heather Dunn in San Francisco is also recommended, especially for internet matters. The group's clients include a leading cable television and multimedia entity, a national food and beverages retailer, and a luxury brand retailer.

Foley & Lardner LLP's ‘excellent' six-partner trademark practice has a client base which demonstrates it is a match for many larger practices. Clients include Citigroup, Kraton and many apparel and sports manufacturers. The ‘business-centric and responsive' Jeffrey Greene heads the practice, which also includes Andrew Baum, who is ‘an exceptional trademark attorney with a strong and loyal support staff'. Miriam Beezy and of counsel John Carson in Los Angeles, as well as Milwaukee-based Mark Diliberti, are also recommended. Senior counsel Toni Hickey, former USPTO chief of staff, recently joined the Washington DC office.

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP has a ‘fabulous and well-organized' trademark team that provides ‘fantastic' service, and, despite being a large general practice firm, ‘gives lots of “small firm" attention with “big firm" appeal'. The 17-partner group is split across New York and Washington DC, and has a strong client base consisting of a number of leading global brands in a diverse range of industries. The group is led by New York-based Andrea Calvaruso, who is ‘cost-effective and manages her team fantastically'. Calvaruso is the relationship partner for clients including The Miss Universe Organization, Foot Locker and Gucci America. Other clients include Avon Products, Bacardi and Polo Ralph Lauren. Nancy Lutz is also recommended, and is an expert in domain names.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton's ‘excellent' and extensive trademark practice is led from Atlanta by the admired and hugely experienced William Brewster. Since the merger between general practice firm Kiltpatrick Stockton and IP boutique Townsend & Townsend & Crew, the firm has increased presence across the US, and has a client base to match. Recent highlights include managing the global portfolio for InterContinental Hotels (and all related companies including Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn), and undertaking global clearance and enforcement actions for Levi Strauss. Other clients include Apple, Williams-Somna and Oxford Industries. Atlanta-based Christine James is also recommended, as are Georges Nahitchevansky and Jason Vogel in New York, and ‘excellent negotiator and strategist' David Mayberry in Washington DC.

King & Spalding LLP's trademark practice is predominantly based in Atlanta, with support coming from offices across the US including Houston and New York. Group head Holmes Hawkins primarily focuses on litigation, particularly patent infringement matters. The practice's other key partners are litigator Bruce Baber, who splits his time between New York and Atlanta; Kathleen McCarthy in New York, whose main expertise lies in copyright and false advertising; and Julie McWhirter, who predominantly advises on the IP aspects of corporate transactions. The team continues to act as primary outside counsel to Coca-Cola, and also assisted another a global beverages company in a co-branding initiative with a well-known musician. Other recent work highlights include representing the world's largest shipping and logistics company in the management of its global trademark portfolio.

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP is a well-respected boutique that has a strong trademark client base, notably in the food and beverages, cleantech and nanotechnology industries. The trademark team sits within the firm's 126-partner intellectual property practice, which is spread across eight offices, with the main bulk of members based in Irvine, California. Managing partner Steven Nataupsky heads the group, and has significant experience in the entertainment, medical devices and mechanical industries. Jeff Van Hoosear is the head of brand protection, and specializes in international trademarks and copyright law. The practice manages a number of domestic and international portfolios for clients in the beverages and apparel industries.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP's ‘response times are always prompt and industry knowledge is current'. The experienced Joanne Ludovici-Lint heads the team, which also includes the ‘very intelligent and professional' Richard Kim. The group represents many companies with leading brands in food and beverages, automotive and technology. The 20-partner group handles trademark filings and manages the portfolios of clients such as Absolut Spirits and Pebble Beach Company. Other clients include Tyco and Shiseido. Recent highlights include advising Lockheed Martin on an unauthorized use of Skunk Works, and assisting Waterworks with the establishment of a trademark licensing program for bath-related goods.