WTR 1000 Again Ranks Fenwick's Trademark Practice One of the Top in the U.S.
Mountain View, CA (February 11, 2016)– Fenwick & West is pleased to announce that the firm and its partners continue to receive top rankings from World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR 1000) for outstanding trademark work. WTR 1000 recognized the firm both nationally and regionally in its 2016 rankings.
WTR ranked Fenwick among the best firms nationally for trademark work. In California, the firm is one of only two firms ranked first-tier for both prosecution and litigation. Fenwick is the only California firm to have individual partners ranked first-tier in both prosecution and litigation, and to have multiple partners ranked first-tier in both categories as well.
Headquartered in the Silicon Valley, the firm is a “‘key presence’ on the California scene,” WTR writes in its profile of the firm, citing client comments. Fenwick’s “rapport with the region’s tech businesses gives it ‘an edge.’”
“It is certainly top tier – it provides sophisticated advice to the technology and startup communities and is well-positioned to provide an excellent level of service,” a client shared with WTR.
Fenwick partner and trademark group chair Sally Abel again receives two first-tier rankings. Abel is listed among the top six trademark attorneys in the United States. Her prosecution practice also earns the highest possible ranking amongst California practitioners.
This “terrific” adviser garners “tremendous respect” in the industry for her “timely and useful advice,” WTR writes of Abel. “’[She] can slug it out in court with the best of them, her prosecution and counseling practice is second to none,’” the profile adds, quoting client feedback.
WTR also honored partner Andrew Bridges with two first-tier rankings. He is one of only four lawyers recognized as first-tier for enforcement and litigation in California. His enforcement and litigation work also ranks in the top tier nationally. Clients praise Bridges as a “top-of-the-line” litigator who “has deep experience in substantive and practical trademark issues.”
In a recent win featured by WTR, Bridges and fellow Fenwick partner Jedediah Wakefield – also ranked in the top-tier for enforcement in litigation – defended leading wearable company Fitbit in an infringement suit brought by Fitbug, a company who also makes fitness trackers. Through Bridges and Wakefield’s efforts, the complaint was dismissed on summary judgment.
Clients laud Wakefield as an “excellent contentious lawyer” and “a prime example of someone who remains professional even in fiercely contested matters and gets cases resolved quickly.”
The WTR ranks partner Connie Ellerbach again among California’s top lawyers for prosecution and strategy work. “Peers hold Connie Ellerbach in high regard,” WTR reports, adding that Ellerbach boasts an impressive client list.
The WTR ranks partner Karen Webb, who debuted on the guide last year, as a leading California lawyer for prosecution and strategy as well as enforcement and litigation once again. “Karen Webb continues to impress with her keen understanding of the intersection between soft IP and internet law,” WTR writes.
World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals is an annual guide published by World Trademark Review honoring the top law firms and lawyers working on trademark prosecution and enforcement matters. In compiling the rankings, WTR 1000 researchers consider information provided from law firms on their work over the past year, insight from other legal professionals and the perspective of the clients benefitting from their work. More information on the methodology behind WTR 1000 is available through the World Trademark Review website.
About Fenwick & West
Fenwick & West provides comprehensive legal services to ground-breaking technology and life sciences companies – at every stage of their lifecycle – and the investors that partner with them. We craft innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions on issues ranging from venture capital, public offerings, joint ventures, M&A and strategic relationships, to intellectual property, litigation and dispute resolution, taxation, antitrust, and employment and labor law. For more than four decades, Fenwick has helped some of the world's most recognized companies become and remain market leaders. For information about a career at Fenwick visit us at fenwick.com/careers.