In addition to Kelly IP’s “Gold” national and Washington, DC firm rankings for 2022 (top-tier national trademark firm for the fifth consecutive year, and top 3 DC Metro area trademark firm for both trademark litigation and prosecution and strategy for the eighth consecutive year), the World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR 1000) has again recognized Kelly IP’s lawyers as leaders in the field. These individual recognitions demonstrate the high-caliber talent and significant expertise that define Kelly IP.

As a firm, the WTR 1000 report describes Kelly IP as “[a] tailormade strike force for prestigious clients, Kelly IP is a brands boutique that, in under a decade, has cemented its name as a top player. It has a uniquely collaborative culture in which lead relationship partners loop in colleagues to take on the tasks they are best suited to without concern for compensation-related issues. It’s an approach that places clients’ needs front and centre at all times and leads to optimal results, and that is made possible by an absence of the usual bureaucracies associated with BigLaw.”

WTR 1000 provided the following client feedback on Kelly IP’s lawyers:

• Dave Kelly, is described as a “redoubtable litigator . . . who has an impeccable reputation and is unanimously hailed as one of the foremost trademark minds in the United States.” Dave was named to the top “Gold” band of lawyers nationally and for the DC Metro area for both trademark enforcement and litigation and prosecution and strategy.
  Linda McLeod, a former Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Judge, is described as “given her insider insight as a former trademark examiner and TTAB judge – she knows how the USPTO works as well as anyone. Highlights for the firm during the review period include extensively assisting Disney and related companies (ABC, Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm) with clearance matters, oppositions and cancellations, enforcement and complex prosecution.” Linda achieved Gold status for both trademark enforcement and litigation and prosecution and strategy for the DC Metro area and Silver status for enforcement and litigation nationally.
• Rob Litowitz, is described as giving clients “a wonderful sense of confidence when he’s in your corner” and “as a master strategist who goes above and beyond to get great results. He is reasonably aggressive, an excellent out-of-the-box thinker and an articulate and persuasive strategist.” Rob achieved Silver status for trademark enforcement and litigation in the Metro DC area.
• Stephanie Bald, is described as “a master of all trades when it comes to branding; . . . offer[ing] wide-ranging support to Fortune 500 company Capital One, frequently liaising with top-level executives due to the high-profile nature of . . . assignments” and “representing American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) in a trademark infringement suit against Walmart concerning AEO’s pocket stitching trademark for women’s jeans.” Stephanie was ranked among top trademark lawyers for trademark enforcement and litigation as a Silver status lawyer both nationally and for the DC Metro area.
• Lynn Jordan, is described as “one of the stars of prosecution and TTAB practice” and as “more like a colleague than an external adviser. She is practical, user friendly, incredibly knowledgeable and a delight to deal with. There is no more suitable candidate for inclusion in the WTR 1000 – the same would be true if it were a top 10.” Lynn was named a Gold status lawyer for trademark prosecution and strategy in the DC Metro area.
• Jason Joyal is described as “incredible to partner with” and “[h]e communicates complex legal matters clearly, understands the business side of things and is always available and responsive”. Jason was named a bronze status lawyer for trademark enforcement and litigation in the Washington, DC area.

The WTR 1000, through an extensive research process conducted by a team of analysts that interview and communicate with numerous lawyers and their clients, identifies the leading trademark law firms and lawyers globally. The WTR 1000 2022 results can be found at www.WTR1000.com.