
Offering a comprehensive trademark practice, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP provides clients with clearance, prosecution, trademark audits and litigation. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants the team litigates matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board as well as federal circuit courts of appeal, district courts, and other tribunals. Joint practice head Naresh Kilaru handles domestic and international trademark prosecution given his broad experience in U.S. district court and appellate litigation while Douglas Rettew litigates cases involving a broad range of issues, including traditional trademarks, domain names and product disparagement. James Barney also leads the department alongside Erika Arner who splits her time between Reston and Washington DC. Mark Sommers provides a full range of services in the trademark, unfair competition, and false advertising arena, including litigation before the federal district courts, federal appellate courts, and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In New York, Patrick Rodgers is recommended. All individuals are located in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The team is very engaged, experienced, and hands-on. It is a pleasure to work with them.
- The team is very engaged, experienced, and hands-on. It is a pleasure to work with them. They have been instrumental in reaching results in challenging matters.
Key clients
- Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmy’s)
- ATP Tour, Inc.
- Birkenstock
- Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
- Carlyle Investment Management L.L.C.
- Caterpillar, Inc.
- Combe Incorporated
- ECCO
- Glioblastoma Foundation Inc.
- GOLO, LLC
- InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
- ISDIN
Work highlights
Represented Caterpillar, Inc., in front of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), in an opposition proceeding against Tigercat International, Inc.; after over a decade of contentious litigation, the TTAB ruled in favor of Caterpillar, finding the CAT and TIGERCAT marks confusingly similar and rejecting Tigercat’s arguments regarding coexistence and lack of consumer confusion.
Representing Birkenstock in a trademark, trade dress, and design patent infringement suit against White Mountain in Massachusetts in federal court for copying several of Birkenstock’s iconic footwear designs.
Representing Marriott in a dispute with Delta Air Lines involving Marriott’s DELTA HOTELS brand.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Patrick Rodgers
Practice head
Naresh Kilaru; Douglas Rettew; James Barney; Erika Arner
Other key lawyers
Mark Sommers; Patrick Rodgers

