Coates IP

Firm overview:

Seattle boutique Coates IP’s USP is its professionals who have worked in some of the most prestigious in-house and law firm trademark practices, and have managed some of the world’s most recognisable brands. With a focus on trademark, domain name, and brand protection, the firm is majority female-owned and has branched into the Mexican and Colombian markets.

Following investment in its expertise and capacity, Coates IP has substantially expanded the scope of work it handles for established clients and has made significant in-roads into new geographic markets.

Team overview:

Founder Stephen Coates has worked at some of the most recognised law firms and tech companies, including as in-house IP counsel at Amazon and Twitter. He has represented leading brands in the fields of technology, consumer electronics, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, entertainment and more.

Allisen Pawlenty has been with the firm since 2022 and has more than two decades of in-house and law firm management experience, and is a well-known brand influencer. Pawlenty has been recognised in WIPR’s Most Influential Women in IP list for two years in a row.

Key matters:

• Stephen Coates represents AI research and deployment company, Open Artificial Intelligence, the developer of ChatGPT, in its Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposition to the mark OPENFPU owned by PixelDisplay.
• Stephen Coates represents Metatheory, the defendant in an ongoing Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposition, filed on 19th November 2024 by Meta to the mark METATHEORY. Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton Atlanta partner Nicole Davis Chollet represents Meta.
• Stephen Coates represents regular client, San Francisco financial services company Plaid, in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposition, filed on 12th February 2024, to the mark PLAD TECH, owned by Ken Garff Automotive.

Clients:

Antares Audio Technologies, Nestlé, Open Artificial Intelligence, Plaid, Reddit, Rivian Automotive