The Legal 500 > United States > United States > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP is an IP specialist firm providing full-service portfolio management both in the US and internationally. Largely based in the firm's DC office, the trademark team is 'excellent'. Danny Awdeh sits at the helm and alongside Douglas Rettew has been advising the domestic and international portfolios of clients such as Varsity Brands. Mark Sommers is another key figure and singled about by one client as being 'a top trademark lawyer'. Also recommended is Naresh Kilaru, who has been assisting the computer technology company Infosys with its trademark portfolio across 50 countries. Laura Johnson is a standout associate in the Boston office.

Noted for its 'encyclopedic knowledge of the law', 'practical solutions' and 'business-friendly advice', Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C. provides comprehensive trademark advice to a number of household names, including GAP and Old Navy, Colgate-Palmolive, and The LEGO Group. Of particular note in the past year, James Weinberger and Leo Kittay have been handling enforcement work for Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Comics in relation to marks associated with Superman, Batman, Harry Potter and Looney Tunes. Other key names include Allison Strickland Ricketts, Nadine Jacobson and Lydia Gobena. David Ehrlich has retired.

Baker McKenzie LLP's trademark team works on portfolio management, transactions and licensing for a number of international clients. New York-based Pamela Church leads the team and recently advised The C.S. Lewis Company on portfolio management and domain name issues surrounding Lewis' fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. Also in New York is Lisa Rosaya, who worked alongside Church in the C.S. Lewis Company matter. David Davis is a name to note in the Chicago office; he has been handling matters relating to the trademark portfolio of the popular international fitness franchise F45 Training.

Based in New York, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, PC's trademarks group attracts praise for its 'keen strategic sense' and 'thorough understanding of the law'. The practice group is headed by Deborah Squiers, who is highly skilled in trademark counseling and prosecution on a global scale. Joel Karni Schmidt is especially active in the areas of hospitality and fashion, and Mary Kevlin manages the trademark portfolios of clients including Major League Baseball. The sizable team also includes trademark licensing specialist Lynn Fruchter and Meichelle MacGregor, who has expertise in domain names and e-commerce issues. Also recommended are Mary Donovan, an expert in international trademark and licensing, and Kieran Doyle, who is active in the nascent marijuana industry. Clients also benefit from the firm's 'Cowan Connect' service, which provides online access to trademark records at all times.

Dechert LLP's trademarks group is led by Philadelphia-based Glenn Gundersen, an expert in trademark searching and clearance, with additional capabilities in prosecution, fair use and licensing. Gundersen advises clients including Apple, Marriott and Zara on portfolio management issues. Associate Jennifer Insley-Pruitt in New York regularly assists Gundersen with managing these portfolios.

DLA Piper LLP (US)'s coast-to-coast trademark team has 'a great ability to manage a large, global portfolio' and is recognized by clients for its willingness to 'take actions based on prior client guidance'. In Washington DC, Ann Ford advises The Dannon Company on issues relating to its trademark portfolio, and of counsel Ryan Compton is rated for making 'the extra effort to understand how to best communicate'. Frank Ryan in New York is highly skilled in handling media and sports-related deals. On the West Coast, San Francisco-based Gina Durham handles prosecution, clearance and portfolio management.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP's East Coast trademark team handles clearance, registration, licensing, enforcement and portfolio management matters. Contacts in the firm's DC office include practice co-head John Gary Maynard, who has particular strength in handling domain name issues, and Susan Smith, who is rated for her work in overseas portfolio management. New York-based joint practice head James Rosini advises major retailers, banks and software companies on a host of trademark portfolio issues, and Jonathan Reichman (also in New York) is a name to note for portfolio management in the entertainment industry. Also recommended is Richmond-based Stephen Demm, who specializes in trademark counseling and prosecution.

K&L Gates distinguishes itself in part by the strength of its international network, advising on cross-jurisdictional portfolio management and representing multinational names such as Amazon, Abercrombie & Fitch and Procter & Gamble. Seattle-based Pam Jacobson acts as the co-practice group coordinator of the firm's IP procurement group and has niche expertise in representing government entities. Also highly recommended is David Byer, who is based in Boston and is particularly standout in the areas of gaming, retail, publishing and technology.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP handles trademark prosecution, counseling and licensing matters, acting for clients such as Grant Thornton, Hitachi and Wrigley's. The Chicago office is home to practice head Jennifer Mikulina, who is particularly strong in prosecution work. Also in Chicago is Christina Martini, who is rated for her expertise in handling international trademark portfolios.

Baker & Hostetler LLP handles portfolio management, prosecution, clearance and licensing issues for an enviable client roster which includes Apple and Sony. Cleveland-based Deborah Wilcox leads the trademark team and stands out for her work protecting against domain name squatters and black-hat search engine optimizations. Washington DC-based Mark Tidman chairs the firm's IP group and is experienced in clearances, registrations and enforcement issues. New York-based Robert Horowitz is also recommended.

Cooley LLP strengthened its presence on the East Coast with the hire of Jeff Greene in New York from Fenwick & West LLP. Among his recent standout work, Greene has been advising the cloud computing company ServiceNow on its global trademark protection and enforcement strategy. On the West Coast, Bobby Ghajar, who works from the firm's Los Angeles office, has been active in clearance, prosecution and enforcement matters for AnheuserBusch. In San Francisco, senior counsel John Crittenden is highly recommended for his work on global trademark protection strategies, acting for clients such as Kamut International.

Fenwick & West LLP has an impressive client roster of multinational clients, most notably in the technology sector. Mountain View-based Connie Ellerbach leads the practice and has managed portfolios for global companies and startups, with expertise both in counseling and prosecution. Sally Abel is a former litigator and is adept at helping clients avoid disputes. Also highly recommended is Karen Webb, who has carved out a niche in trademark law relating to social media.

Recognized for its strengths in prosecution, portfolio management, licensing and policing, Greenberg Traurig, LLP represents a host of household names clients such as Home Depot, Toyota and Ralph Lauren. The team also has a wide geographical spread with practice heads Susan Heller, Mark Galis and  Joel Feldman based in Orange County, Chicago and Atlanta, respectively. Heller leads the trademark team globally and as such she is particularly strong in handling international IP portfolios. New York-based Masahiro Noda is another key figure in the practice group; he specializes in portfolio management and prosecution.

Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.'s multi-disciplinary practice works across a variety of industries and has particular strengths in brand launches and clearances.  Based in Dallas, David Bell attracts praise for his 'extensive knowledge in all jurisdictions' and his 'thoughtful and responsive' service. The Dallas office is also home to Purvi Patel Alber, who is exeriened in clearance, protection and enforcement issues, and Jeffrey Becker, an name to note for merchandising and licensing agreements.

Jones Day utilizes its international network to coordinate and lead global trademark strategies for a number of well-know brands. Cleveland-based practice head Meredith Wilkes is advising The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on its brand launches and marketing initiatives throughout the US, the UK and Germany. Also recommended in the Cleveland office is Carrie Kiedrowski, who is noted for her work on online trademark protection and domain name issues.

King & Spalding LLP is the trusted trademark counsel for big-name brands including The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot and Madison Square Garden, among many others. Richard Groos is a key name in the firm's Austin office; he is particularly experienced in trademark matters in the hospitality and retail sectors. Kathleen McCarthy in the New York office stands out for her social media and Internet-related trademark work. Kenneth Steinthal in San Francisco is another name to note for IP litigation.

Orange County-based Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP works on trademark protection strategies both for major brands and start-ups, with a client base spanning a variety of industries including fashion, cosmetics food and beverage, and technology. Managing partner Steven Nataupsky leads the team and is an expert in trademark and domain name protection, acting for Monster Energy as a key client. Susan Natland is another name to note; she brings unique experience to the team, having previously worked as virtual in-house counsel for a major online retailer. Also recommended is Jeff Van Hoosear, who is particularly experienced in trademark work in sporting goods and apparel industries.

Loeb & Loeb LLP handles a full range of trademarks matters, covering protection and enforcement, transactions such as licensing and merchandising agreements, sponsorships, and brand integration deals. Los Angeles-based Melanie Howard heads the practice group and is highly experienced in the entertainment and fashion industries. Douglas Masters is a key name in the Chicago office; he acts for clients such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP attracts praise for its 'pragmatic advice' and 'hands-on approach'. The trademark team has a strong presence on both US coasts. In the Washington DC office, Karen Butcher heads the practice and focuses on transactional work, and Anita Polott advises on global trademark strategies in addition to maintaining an active transactions practice. Also on the East Coat, Rachelle Dubow in Boston has experience of clearance, registration and enforcement issues. Looking west, Rochelle Alpert in San Francisco stands out for her trademark portfolio management work, particularly in the areas of Internet and social media.

Norton Rose Fulbright is particularly skilled in the areas of trademark processing, registration and prosecution. Minneapolis-based Timothy Kenny leads the team and recently advised the credit rating agency Fair Isaac on its rebranding strategy as FICO. Alicia Morris Groos in Austin is another contact in the practice group; she recently assisted the bakery chain Tiff’s Treats with the registration of various new products.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's nationwide IP team has particular strengths in the areas of energy, technology, retail, consumer, and many more.  San Francisco-based Beth Goldman is the standout individual for transactional and advisory work; she has been busy managing the trademark portfolios for major clients such as Vera Wang, Salesforce.com and Gymboree Corporation. On the East Coast, New York-based Peter Vogl has worked for BIC Corp on a number of clearance and prosecution issues. The wider IP business unit is jointly led by Sten Jensen in Washington DC and Jared Bobrow in Silicon Valley.