Intellectual property
A team that is noted for its ‘high expertise’, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP leverages its wide-ranging experience in representing clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, federal circuit courts of appeal and other tribunals to advise global scale clients including Biogen and BSN Sports. Washington DC’s Naresh Kilaru, Anand Sharma, and Erika Harmon Arner jointly head up the offering. Kilaru’s skillset encompasses computer source code, product packaging and domain name disputes. B. Brett Heavner is routinely entrusted by a host of medical device manufacturers, trade associations and financial services clients, while Douglas Rettew excels in relation to traditional trademarks, false advertising and rights of publicity issues. Mark Sommers possesses a wealth of experience before the federal district and appellate courts as well as the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In Pao Alto, Morgan E. Smith operates across a myriad of sectors, from sports equipment and apparel to automotive and telecoms. Washington DC’s Patrick Rodgers is also recommended.
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Profile
Work Department
Intellectual Property
Position
Leader, Trademark and Copyright Practice Group
Career
Naresh Kilaru leads the firm’s trademark, copyright, advertising, and privacy group. He counsels clients on brand protection and enforcement strategies in the United States and around the world. His extensive experience in all aspects of trademark, copyright, and unfair competition litigation includes cases involving computer source code, traditional trademarks, product packaging and product configuration trade dress, false advertising, counterfeiting, gray-market goods, and domain names. He is also involved in domestic and international trademark prosecution. Naresh has been named by The Legal 500 U.S. as a Next Generation Lawyer for trademark litigation.
Languages
English, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu
Memberships
- American Bar Association (chair, IP Transactions & Licensing Committee, Section on Intellectual Property Law, 2013-2017; vice chair, Trademark Litigation Committee, Section on Intellectual Property Law, 2012-2015)
- International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) (chair, Trademark Committee, 2022-2023)
- International Trademark Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- District of Columbia Bar Association (member, Section on Intellectual Property Law, 2002-present)
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- National South Asian Bar Association
Education
George Washington University Law School
J.D., 2002
Harvard University
B.A., Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, magna cum laude, 1999
Content supplied by Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘High expertise in IP litigation. Extremely practical advice focusing on the business.’
‘Douglas Rettew has a pragmatic approach in this highly specialized field. His availability and responsiveness is outstanding.’
‘The Finnegan team is knowledgeable, agile, and responsive. They provide thorough legal counsel and are strategic in their approach.’
‘Finnegan is no nonsense. They solve problems strategically and do not waste time. They provide reasonable and business-friendly solutions while embracing risk.’
‘Super professional and business oriented.’
‘They have acquired knowledge about our business making them able to apply legal knowledge in a very strategically efficient way.'
‘Finnegan is the main counsel of record representing our IP portfolio, leading all registration, enforcement, and litigation efforts. Their deep bench of expertise and experienced talent, with resources to draw upon for any new or novel issue, has been essential.’
‘Brett Heavner's comfort distilling complex issues in lay terms for our leadership team is always appreciated.’
Key clients
- ABRET, Inc.
- Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Emmy’s)
- Atlassian US, Inc.
- ATP Tour, Inc.
- Birkenstock
- Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
- Carlyle Investment Management L.L.C.
- Cascade Maverik Lacrosse, LLC
- Caterpillar, Inc.
- Chuxin Intelligence Enterprises Management (Nanjing) Co. Ltd.
- Combe Incorporated
- Diamond Wind North America, LLC d/b/a Diamond Offshore Wind
- ECCO
- Glioblastoma Foundation Inc.
- GOLO, LLC
- Goose Insurance Services, Inc
- InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
- ISDIN
- Kettenbach GmbH and Co. KG, Kettenbach LP, and Xinial Systems GmbH Co. KG
- Kinesio
- LG Electronics Inc.
- LG H&H
- Marriott International, Inc.
- PNC
- ROCKWOOL International A/S
- Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG
- Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
- Subaru of America Inc.
- Sweet Grace Distilling Company LLC
- Tenergy Corporation
- Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp
- Türkiye Turizm Tanitim ve Gelistirme Ajansi
- Under Armour, Inc.
- Varsity Brands
- Vibe Inc.
- Welspun Inc.
- Whaleco, Inc. d/b/a TEMU
- Wipro Limited
- Zimmer, Inc.
Work highlights
Canceled Puma’s registration for the PROCAT mark, which was used for a line of children’s soccer cleats and related apparel and accessories.
Defended Kettenbach in a high-stakes trademark infringement, patent infringement, and false-advertising litigation related to newly launched, cutting-edge dental products.
Represented InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in litigation asserting infringement of IHG’s distinctive deep blue corporate color, IHG logo, and the trade dress of IHG’s website.