Squire Patton Boggs

Firm overview:

Full-service firm Squire Patton Boggs has a comprehensive global presence, with 17 of its 40-plus offices in the US. Four of these have a significant trademarks practice: Cleveland, Ohio; Palo Alto and San Francisco, California; and Washington, DC.

“Squire Patton Boggs is an essential partner to our business,” says a client—indeed, the firm places a focus on long-term client relationships.

The firm acts for some of the world’s most recognised brands, for example portfolio management and prosecution services for shoe brand Clarks. Trademark specialists at Squire offer a particular strength in luxury goods, fashion and technology.

Squire Patton Boggs’ trademark services come under the umbrella of brand protection, including trademark, copyright, registered and unregistered design protection, and portfolio counselling. The firm has also represented clients in contentious matters, acting on UDRP proceedings and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

The firm is particularly proactive in adopting new technologies and offers thought leadership in its Global IP & Technology blog, and its practitioners lecture and teach on some of the most important and timely IP issues.

Team overview:

Partner David Elkins has led the firm’s Global Intellectual Property & Technology practice group since 2010. Based in Silicon Valley, Elkins’ expertise covers the full spectrum of IP practices, with

Named as a Leader by WIPR in the past three years running, he is widely recognised as being a top lead trial and arbitration counsel.

Philip Zender, US practice group leader of the Technology Transactions and Brand Protection, Trademark & Copyright groups, has more than 30 years’ experience in IP matters and business and commercial transactions. His main focus is on trademarks, transactions and legal issues involving IP and technology.

Zender is “a top-notch attorney”; he “has complete command on all trademark and intellectual property matters in the US”. He has been recognised as a WIPR Leader for the past three years.

Partner Candice Kwok is known for her sophisticated understanding of IP value and track record of success in helping her clients realise it through brand management. Kwok was selected in WIPR’s Influential Women in IP list, 2022, and as a WIPR Leader in 2024.

A multilingualist, her US practice includes trademark prosecution for domestic and international clients, collaborating with other Squire Patton Boggs offices on global portfolios with more than 1,000 marks. Dual-admitted in California and Singapore, she divides her time between the two trademark practices.

Key matters:

• A team of Phillip Zender, Candice Kwok and Susie Ruiz-Lichter manage the 1,200-mark portfolio of C&J Clark International, better known as the shoe brand Clarks. Squire Patton Boggs has handled prosecution and enforcement matters, including working with US customs on anti-counterfeiting, and has defended against infringement claims brought against the client in the US.
• Zender and Ruiz-Lichter manage OCLC’s global trademark portfolio. OCLC is a non-profit library organisation that offers technology sharing services worldwide, with more than 30,000 libraries in 100 countries. The team helps OCLC with the full lifecycle of trademark services, from clearance and prosecution to maintenance and contentious matters.
• Zender and Kwok manage the worldwide trademark portfolio of Enova. US-based Enova is a publicly traded multinational technology and analytics company, which uses technology to develop innovative financial products and services for individuals and businesses.
  
  Squire Patton Boggs assists the client in all stages of trademark protection, including clearance, prosecution, maintenance and contentious proceedings, on a worldwide basis. Enforcement activities include an ongoing programme of frequent trademark enforcement actions, domain name disputes, UDRP proceedings, and social media and e-commerce takedowns.

Clients:

Zippo Manufacturing Company, C&J Clark International (Clarks), Enova International (fintech) and affiliates Enova Financial Holdings and CNU Online Holdings, and OCLC.