The Legal 500

Within Copyright, tier 4

Kenyon & Kenyon has a full-service copyright practice and is particularly strong on the non-contentious side, with experience in areas such as advertising, transactions and financing. James Rosini chairs the firm’s trademark, copyright and design group, which acts for television, publishing and media spheres as well as high-profile entertainment individuals, and software and telecoms entities. It represented BNP Paribas subsidiary CooperNeff Advisors in a case involving alleged copyright infringement relating to a software platform used for daily financial trading. Trial and appellate attorney T. Cy Walker and Brian Mudge, who specialises in software and internet-related issues, were among the lead lawyers on the case. Jonathan Reichman has transactional and litigation expertise in the area of copyright, with particular experience within the entertainment field, dealing with matters involving fictional characters and estates of leading writers and artists. Reichman recently led on an international dispute involving a well-known toy manufacturer.

Within Patent licensing and transactional , Kenyon & Kenyon LLP is a first tier firm,

Kenyon & Kenyon has a premium and institutional client base that speaks volumes for the quality of the work that its licensing lawyers undertake year in-year out. The team, which is headquartered in New York and includes lawyers in three other offices across the US, takes a distinctive client-focused approach to patent law which has assisted it to retain a number of longstanding clients, among them some of the world’s largest patent portfolio owners. With some 95% of the lawyers coming from scientific backgrounds, the team covers areas including chemicals and pharmaceuticals, computers, consumer electronics and entertainment, and is particularly strong on the automotive side, representing some of Europe’s largest manufacturers. European practice group head Michael Lennon leads the team from the New York office and brings 25 years of experience to the group. Lennon, who is also an experienced litigator, is noted for his work for clients such as Audi, Daimler, Volkswagen and Aladdin Knowledge Systems. Key partners in New York include John Flock and George Badenoch, who chairs the firm’s electrical and mechanical practice group, with Charles Weiss and Deborah Somerville also coming highly recommended. Other major clients include Robert Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, Sony, Toyota and AT&T.

Within Patent litigation: full coverage, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP is a third tier firm,

IP boutique Kenyon & Kenyon primarily focuses on patent litigation and provides ‘excellent advice and experienced staff that are on top of the latest developments’. The team ‘takes a holistic view of clients, their needs and the industry in general’, serving a wide range of sectors that includes hi-tech and life sciences, and is developing strength in ITC proceedings. In life sciences, it represented key client Teva in litigation against rival companies Sandoz and Pfizer, and obtained a favorable appeals decision for Photocure ASA in another case. John Bateman is an ‘excellent litigator’, who is ‘able to focus on the important points rather than getting lost in a case’. On the hi-tech side, clients include Sony, SAP, and automotive clients include Volkswagen. Life sciences co-chair Steven Lee and European practice chair Michael Lennon are also key attorneys. Marcia Sundeen leads on litigation before the ITC, and successfully represented China-based chemicals company Sinorgchem in a patent infringement suit filed by Flexsys.

Within Patent prosecution: utility and design patents , tier 4

Kenyon & Kenyon is an IP boutique that provides ‘excellent advice and experienced staff always on top of the latest developments’. The firm, which has 150 lawyers and patent agents, covers the full range of technologies, including life sciences, chemicals, and electronics. The group is co-chaired out of New York by Gerard Messina, who covers the electronics, mechanical and computer technology spaces, and Patrick Birde, whose focus is on chemicals and medical devices. The team is strong in re-examination matters, and many in the group coming from scientific backgrounds, so it is well suited to dealing with a wide variety of technologies. The firm was particularly active in 2010, obtaining 979 US patents and 238 foreign patents. The team acts for a healthy mix of Fortune 500 companies and foreign-based manufacturers, many of whom are longstanding clients. Key names include Robert Bosch, Boston Scientific, SAP, Sony, Intel, eBay, Audi and Toyota.

Within Trademarks: litigation, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP is a second tier firm,

Kenyon & Kenyon has a strong team for trademark disputes, with practice head James Rosini advising leading names across various sectors, including telecoms, insurance, retail and publishing. He has a strong track record in domain name disputes, including recently acting for Wal-Mart before the WIPO. ‘A strong strategist and leader’, Edward Colbert’s track record includes successfully defending AT&T against AOL, and he recently won a case for bourbon distillery Maker’s Mark, which brought a trademark suit against Jose Cuervo in relation to the design of its distinctive red dripping wax seal, prohibiting the competitor from using it on bottles of its tequila brand. With experience in major trademark litigation, Howard Shire represented Ozzy Osbourne against Tony Iommi regarding ownership of the Black Sabbath trademark, with the case reaching an out-of-court settlement. Both Colbert and Michelle Mancino Marsh also recently won a victory of summary judgment for Jim Beam Brands, in another case against Jose Cuervo, regarding a settlement breach in relation to Jim Beam’s ‘Old Crow’ brand and design.

Within Trademarks: non-contentious (full coverage), Kenyon & Kenyon LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘talented and dedicated’ trademarks team at Kenyon & Kenyon had a busy 2010 between taking over a number of multinational client portfolios and working on major global rebranding deals. James Rosini heads the team from New York, and has more than 30 years’ experience, offering ‘knowledge, the ability to explain what is likely to happen, and efficient and effective practical advice’. He is supported by Edward Colbert in Washington DC, who is an ‘excellent resource’ and a high-class team that is ‘efficient and very responsive’, and delivers ‘pragmatic advice on top of a high level of legal skill’. The firm took over the handling of trademark portfolios of clients including Walmart, Analog Devices, AIG and Olympus, and led a number of high-profile projects; these included the name change of General Motor’s financial division to Ally Bank, and AIG’s global rebranding to Chartis Insurance, which involved clearing the name in 180 jurisdictions across the world. Other key clients are the Tampa Bay Rays, Citifinancial, Amicom, SAP, Sony, Woolworth & Kenny, and Akzo Nobel.