Bradford J. Axel
Shelley M. Hall
Scott A. W. Johnson
Shannon M. Jost
Leslie C. Ruiter
Paralegals
Matthew J.W. Schumacher
intellectual property
The Stokes Lawrence intellectual property team provides innovative, practical and experienced counsel to a wide range of clients, from individuals seeking to protect their trademarks or inventions to multi-national corporations with global intellectual property portfolios. We litigate intellectual property rights in state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
We advise an international clientele of innovators, entrepreneurs, financial services providers, retailers, manufacturers, internet-related companies, telecommunications companies, health care providers, software developers, restaurateurs, chocolatiers, musicians, artists, designers, and educational institutions on the full spectrum of intellectual property matters. For many clients, we function as business advisors and operate as an extension of in-house counsel. For all of our clients, large and small, we provide focused, practical legal advice by understanding their business, their creations, their innovations, and their industries.
The primary areas of the firm's intellectual property practice include:
IP Strategy, Registration and Prosecution
Intellectual property is the heart of our clients’ businesses. We offer sophisticated, efficient solutions and counseling for clients seeking to protect and enforce their trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. We have deep experience in worldwide trademark clearance, registration and portfolio management, and work closely with our global network of associated counsel. We assist our clients with patent counseling, opinions, procurement and portfolio management in a wide range of industries. Our clients rely on us for strategic advice and registrations involving leading-edge copyright issues, including digital music, media, and online content.
IP Transactions and Due Diligence
Strategic planning and management are critical to recognizing the value of our clients’ intellectual property assets. Our team includes experienced transactional attorneys who have a breadth of experience in all manner of development, license, acquisition and transfer agreements. We work on the front lines, assisting some of the world’s leading purveyors of technology and digital content in developing innovative means of protecting, leveraging and monetizing their intellectual property.
We negotiate and conduct due diligence for corporate transactions, and investigate and structure IP ownership and security interests. Looking inward, we help our clients in structuring their employee and management agreements and relationships to protect corporate confidences, trade secrets, and information, and provide in-house training and workshops for employees who are involved with the company’s intellectual property.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
When disputes arise or enforcement actions are necessary, our team draws on its extensive litigation experience to safeguard our clients’ interests. We routinely litigate intellectual property matters in state and federal courts, and in contested proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We recognize that litigation is not always the answer, and are skilled in alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. We have resolved countless domain name ownership disputes in our clients’ favor using the ICANN domain name dispute resolution procedures.
Advertising and Marketing
We work closely with in-house counsel and business people to successfully negotiate the complex regulations and statutes concerning advertising, marketing, and sweepstakes. We understand that marketing decisions are implemented in real time. Our clients rely on us for responsive, targeted, effective solutions.
Privacy and Data Protection
Consumer loyalty is critical to our clients’ success. We assist our clients in navigating applicable rules and regulations, and in drafting and complying with privacy and data protection policies to protect their competitive positions.