Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner

Firm overview:

Finnegan is a “fabulous” IP boutique that “always comes up very high for prosecution”. The prosecution practice is responsible for the registration and application of nearly 25,000 domestic and international trademarks, routinely filing before the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the UK Intellectual Property Office and the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Finnegan is entrusted with the global portfolio for the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), ensuring trademark protection in each jurisdiction where its tennis tournaments are held; and ice hockey equipment manufacturer, Bauer Hockey, that has engaged Finnegan for 15 years. The firm has also assisted with filing and prosecuting several thousands trademark applications in the US and abroad for Caterpillar.

Team overview:

“Experienced and practical” Danny Awdeh has served as leader of Finnegan’s trademark, copyright and advertising group for a twice-extended term. Widely recognised in the industry for his thought leadership, Awdeh has a proven track record across trademark disciplines.

Washington-based partner Douglas Rettew is “one of the most talented trademark litigators out there...he is a straight shooter, very strategic, very creative, very articulate.” With experience before the TTAB up to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal, Fourth, Eighth and Eleventh Circuits, a particular skill of Rettew’s is temporary restraining orders, having obtained a temporary restraining order for US outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia, and successfully defended Under Armour from a preliminary injunction to recall its products.

Key matters:

• New York Finnegan partner Doug Rettew represents the plaintiff, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, in a pending Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposition to the mark TDR CAPITAL, filed on 20 November 2024. The defendant, UK private equity firm TDR Capital, is represented by Dallas-based Baker McKenzie lawyer, Dyan House.
• Doug Rettew has appeared in numerous recent TTAB proceedings including matters for A&H Sportswear, American Chemical Society, Biogen, Bridgestone, Combe, Hologic and Under Armour.
• Finnegan partner Brett Heavner represents TikTok in a pending Trademark Trial and Appeal Board opposition, filed on 12 March 2024, to the mark TIKCROS owned by TIKCROS, represented by YK Law of Herndon, Virginia.

Clients:

Ambev, AMC Mortgage, American Retirement Association, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Bauer Hockey, Bridgestone Firestone, ByteDance, Dr August Wolff KG Arzneimittel, Gateway, Maglula, Patagonia, Sony Group, Under Armour.