Crowell & Moring LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

Crowell & Moring LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Government > Government contracts Tier 1

The ‘deeply knowledgeable’ practice at Crowell & Moring LLP is noted for its deep bench of experienced litigators and counselors. Prominent in the defense, aerospace, IT, telecoms and healthcare fields, the group covers the full range of government contracts work, most notably bid protests, cost accounting disputes, suspension and debarment issues and M&A involving government contracts matters. The Washington DC-based team is led by  Peter Eyre, Daniel Forman and national security group head Adelicia Cliffe. Eyre is specialized in suspension and debarment proceedings and complex internal investigations, Forman has extensive experience litigating high-stakes bid protests before the US Government Accountability Office, The US Court of Federal Claims and various state courts.  Stephen McBrady is another key senior name, and a go-to litigator for disputes against the US Government. Other key names include  litigator Nicole Owren-Wiest, who often leads on cost accounting matters.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 2

Crowell & Moring LLP has expertise in handling false advertising and misrepresentation mandates, while its recent merger with Brinks Gilson & Lione has also bolstered the team’s capabilities in the trademark space. David Ervin co-heads the practice from Washington DC, with his litigation practice focusing on advertising, consumer protection, and intellectual property-related matters across a range of sectors. Holly Melton co-heads the team from New York, and has particular expertise advising companies on ESG-related matters in their marketing and advertising claims, as well as experience handling enforcement matters initiated by the FTC and representing clients before the NAD. Denver-based Meshach Rhoades and Jason Stiehl in Chicago, who joined in May 2022 from Loeb & Loeb LLP, both bring substantial experience in the consumer product class action litigation space. Christopher Cole and Lauren Aronson have recently departed.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 3

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 3

The team at Crowell & Moring LLP brings strength to advising major clients across the retail, education, food, and oil and gas sectors on the development and protection of their international trademark portfolios. The practice is led in Chicago by Andrew Avsec and Howard Michael, who bring experience to acting for start-ups and established brands in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board oppositions and cancellation actions. Virginia Wolk Marino applies expertise to global trademark filing, prosecution, and enforcement strategies. Other key figures include seasoned trademark litigator Jeffery Handelman, Preetha Chakrabarti in New York, who specializes in fashion, NFTs, and the metaverse, and counsel Emily Kappers, who manages complex trademark protection matters in China and the European Union. Unless indicated, all lawyers mentioned work in the Chicago office.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 3

Crowell & Moring LLP has broad regulatory and product risk expertise in the advertising and media space, which lends to its strong capabilities in advising clients in their advertising and marketing campaigns. It acts for client across a wide spectrum of industries, including automotive, hospitality, retail, food and beverage, software, and financial services. The team is co-led by Washington DC-based David Ervin and New York-based Holly Melton- Ervin has substantial experience acting for consumer brands in relation to their advertising activities, as well as with sponsorship and entertainment agreements, licencing, sports marketing, promotion agreements, and loyalty program-related matters, while Melton focuses on investigations, including those initiated by the FTC, and has particular expertise in relation to ESG-related marketing and advertising matters. Lauren Aronson recently departed the firm.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 4

The team at Crowell & Moring LLP is widely lauded for its technology expertise, with attorneys with specific experience across computers and digital electronics, telecoms, transportation control systems, and automotives, as well as pharma and life sciences. The group has extensive experience litigating domestic industry and public interest issues, and is proficient in advising on US customs law, and understanding post-remedy enforcement procedures. The leadership of the team is split three ways between Katie Clune, Josh Pond, and Lyle Vander Schaaf, all based in Washington DC.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5