Our IP litigators fight vigorously to protect trademarks and work diligently to minimize the legal and business risks inherent in developing new trademarks.

Much of our practice is devoted to counseling clients on how to develop protection for trademarks and trade dress that will avoid costly litigation in the future. Our attention to detail and creative solutions enable clients to launch new marks quickly and effectively.

Goodwin Procter has an outstanding record when it comes to winning trademark and unfair competition litigation. Our attorneys have successfully represented top U.S. companies across diverse industry sectors, as well as many international companies. We also represent clients in significant contested matters and appeals in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as in actions before the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Several of our IP litigators are regarded as authorities on trademark law. Among the many publications our attorneys have authored and/or edited are Intellectual Property Counseling and Litigation and World Trademark Law and Practice, definitive multi-volume treatises on intellectual property law. Several of our attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Trademark Law and The Top 50 Trademark Attorneys. Goodwin attorneys teach intellectual property law courses at some of the nation’s most prestigious law schools.

Our practice constantly seeks new ways to protect trademark rights. We also conduct due diligence studies for clients seeking to acquire or sell trademarks, and help exploit existing trademark rights through licensing. Among the matters we handle are:

• Development and implementation of global, enterprise-wide corporate identity and branding strategies
• All types of trademark-related transactions, such as licenses, assignments, security agreements and coexistence agreements
• Trademark matters arising in connection with business acquisition and financing transactions, emerging companies, joint ventures and technology transfers, including trademark auditing and due diligence, and drafting and negotiating relevant transaction documents
• Labeling, trade dress and advertising compliance issues
• All aspects of the trademark selection and registration process, from screening and searching through prosecution, registration and maintenance, on a worldwide basis

The Internet requires a specific approach to branding and corporate identity issues. Goodwin Procter provides this dedicated support across the full spectrum of trademark and domain name matters that relate to the Internet, assisting clients with:

• Issues pertaining to Internet domain names, particularly as they relate to trademark rights
• Proper use of trademarks and domain names on Web sites, and trademark and copyright compliance issues generally
• Policing and enforcement of trademarks against cybersquatters and other infringers, and the defense of trademark claims brought in state and federal courts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

We focus on providing high quality, efficient service, characterized by a forward-thinking, real-world approach and high standards of professional excellence.

Contacts: Ira J. Levy and R. David Hosp