Trademarks

We help brand owners identify existing and prospective trademarks, perform clearance searches, file and prosecute applications at the USPTO and with foreign council abroad. Disputes sometimes arise during the application process or the applications of third parties. In those cases we assist clients, before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Often clients wish to license or acquire their trademarks or the trademarks of others. We assist with those transactions.

Patents

Inventors and employers often develop technology. We help with the application process (from filing to issuance) and routinely offer legal opinions as to issues such as: patentability, infringement, and state of the art. In the event that someone challenges the validity of your patent, our team will assist you at the USPTO and in federal court.

Copyrights

From creatives to corporations we find efficient ways to protect copyright portfolios. Additionally, with the emergence of copyright trolls, it helps to enlist the help of experienced IP litigators. These trolls seek shakedowns, our business clients benefit from our experience to make informed decisions about case strategy.

Trade Secrets

We help businesses proactively protect their sensitive information with NDA’s and non-competes. No matter how good your business is, employees come and go. Sometimes employees leave with bad intentions and share your secrets with competitors. We help clients stop the bleeding and return to business as usual.

Dispute Resolution (i.e., Litigation)

Things do not always go according to plan. A competitor might step on your toes (innocently or maliciously) and you would like them to stop. In other instances, you might make a misstep. In either case, you want experienced counsel who can give you objective advice. At the same time, you want someone who will efficiently and effectively implement a strategy(s) that resolves the problem and puts you in the best position. We routinely resolve disputes through letters, emails, and phone calls. In more complex matters, we have successfully represented clients in trial and appellate courts around the county, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

While we handle cases across the United States, we are especially familiar with the following courts:

-United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (e.g., Austin, San Antonio, Waco)
-United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (e.g., Marshall, Plano, Tyler)
-United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (e.g., Houston, Corpus Christi)
-United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas (e.g., Dallas, Fort Worth)
-United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (e.g., patent appeals, appeals from the USPTO)
-United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (i.e., appeals from federal lawsuits in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi)

Transactions

Transactions share many attributes of marriages. Parties go in with the best of intentions, but there are challenges and sometimes things do not work out. We assist our clients—and often their existing counsel—with all stages of IP deals. We assist with due diligence—reviewing public records and private documents—as well as drafting and negotiating terms. Every deal is different and it is important to consider the consequences of what you agree to.