We are Crowell & Moring

Founded 40 years ago with a commitment to build a different kind of law firm, Crowell & Moring LLP today is an international law firm representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and transactional matters. We are internationally recognized for our representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as our ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. With approximately 550 lawyers based in the United States and Europe, the firm helps international corporations and emerging enterprises navigate complex legal challenges and create business solutions across the globe. The firm is particularly noted for its strength in the following core areas:

Litigation & Trial:

Litigation is a core strength of the firm and our deepest practice. Fully two-thirds of our lawyers prosecute and defend cases, handling billion-dollar civil trials, criminal trials, administrative proceedings, and arbitrations in the United States and in global forums on matters spanning all practice and industry competencies.

Regulatory & Policy:

Our firm has deep experience working with agencies across the U.S. Executive Branch and government agencies within the EU. It is home to more than 100 former government officials who have held pivotal positions in the U.S. and international agencies. Our lawyers and consultants have experience drafting, negotiating, and implementing critical regulations that impact business across industries.

Transactions & Corporate:

Crowell & Moring offers a full-service corporate practice with an emphasis on M&A, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, corporate securities and finance and complex outsourcing, IP and commercial arrangements in industries such as healthcare, defense, financial services, retail/consumer goods, energy, life sciences and high tech.

Investigations:

Our firm conducts investigations on behalf of leading businesses, boards, and individuals, both for internal purposes and in response to government enforcement inquiries and actions. We have represented clients in matters spanning more than 80 countries and six continents in high-profile and international internal investigations, congressional probes, compliance counseling, and monitorships, with focus subjects ranging from FCPA to financial fraud, to whistleblower complaints.

European IP Practice

Crowell & Moring provides a full array of intellectual property (IP) legal services to help companies obtain, manage, and enforce their IP rights whatever their commercial field. Our Brussels based IP lawyers offer a combination of skill and experience across the IP disciplines including patents, supplementary protection certificates, trademarks, designs, trade secrets and copyrights. With the backing of approximately 60 IP lawyers in our U.S. offices, our IP practice is truly international in nature. "Clients appreciate the firm’s 'reactivity, accessibility and business-oriented approach.'" Chambers Europe, 2019 Our litigation experience covers the full spectrum of IP disputes. We have particular experience in cross-border issues, and in designing and implementing strategies for both national and complex multi-jurisdictional IP disputes, particularly in Europe and the U.S. In Europe we represent clients at all levels of the civil and criminal court system, up to and including the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), and we act before all relevant administrative bodies. We are also well known for our wide experience in arbitration. "Crowell & Moring handles thorny brand rights disputes with consummate skill: 'It functions as an elite IP litigation shop – of which there are very few in Belgium – and can handle the most complex cases, always bringing creative and persuasive arguments before the court.'" World Trademark Review 1000, 2018 Our lawyers provide counseling on all aspects of IP, including validity, enforcement, freedom-to-operate and infringement issues. We structure, negotiate, and implement IP transactions, including licensing and R&D agreements; we advise on IP portfolio management procedures and design proprietary information protection programs; and we offer training on IP protection, assist clients in establishing internal policing and enforcement policies, and conduct IP due diligence studies. In cooperation with our U.S.-based Crowell & Moring colleagues, we counsel clients on trade-related IP matters, focusing on antitrust, international trade, communications, labor and employment, health care, and corporate and government contracts. "Top-tier practice advising clients from the manufacturing, telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries on patent infringements, trade mark proceedings and copyright litigation." Chambers Europe, 2018 Our IP lawyers are regular contributors to handbooks, legal journals, and blogs, and they teach students and speak at conferences and seminars throughout Europe. The Brussels IP practice is one of the largest and strongest in Belgium.

Our Services and Experience

Patents and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC) Litigation Highly regarded by clients and competitors alike, our patent practice deals with a wide range of matters and is best known for successfully handling complex, multi-jurisdictional litigation. Recent matters include several pharmaceutical molecules, amino acids, industrial machinery, medical devices, artificial sweeteners, bread spread, and gambling machines. In the life sciences sector, we have developed extensive experience in SPC litigation. Our experience as patent litigators in the life sciences industry has also led to our handling a variety of regulatory issues which often intersect with IP rights, including issues relating to market authorizations, pricing and reimbursement, parallel import and abuse of dominance. "Crowell & Moring handles matters with creativity, perseverance and a no-nonsense approach which is why it is the go-to firm for generic pharmaceutical manufacturers." IAM Patent 1000, 2019 "Knights in shining armour to a selection of generic pharmaceutical companies, the partners at Crowell & Moring’s Brussels office 'offer prompt, creative and intelligent solutions to complex pharmaceutical issues. It’s a go-to firm for patent issues, regularly retained for its sound and innovative counsel.'" IAM Patent 1000, 2018 Trademarks and Designs Our trademark and design practice provides strategic advice to trademark and design owners and assists them in the worldwide prosecution and enforcement of their portfolios. We litigate and represent clients in national courts as well as at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the Benelux Intellectual Property Office, in all matters relating to the validity and infringement of trademarks and designs. "Crowell & Moring maintains a glorious global trademark and design practice. […] the Brussels team steps up to the mark with confidence and poise, earning recognition as 'one of the top litigation outfits in the country.'" World Trademark Review 1000, 2019 Trade Secrets and Know-How Crowell & Moring has substantial depth and experience litigating trade secret disputes, particularly disputes that have multi-jurisdictional dimensions. In addition, we assist our clients in developing the necessary policies and procedures to guide them through all facets of trade secret preservation and protection strategies, beginning with the initial genesis of an idea through to its development and commercialization. “An appreciation of how best to protect know-how and prevent the misappropriation of trade secrets is a further strength.” IAM Patent 1000, 2015 Copyrights We have a long-standing and highly-regarded copyrights practice, which is extremely active in content, software and database protection. We assist our clients in negotiating agreements of all types, ranging from simple license agreements with contractors or employees, through complex broadcasting agreements with film producers to cable re-transmission and digital television agreements with collecting societies and broadcasters. We also have substantial experience litigating copyright disputes, representing publishers, artists, producers, advertising agencies and distributors on all levels, up to and including the CJEU. "Advises clients from the manufacturing, telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries on patent infringements, trade mark proceedings and copyright litigation." Chambers Europe, 2019 "Crowell & Moring advises on trade mark and copyright disputes. Kristof Roox, Jan-Diederik Lindemans and Thomas De Meese lead many of the disputes in this area. The team recently acted in a commercially important copyright dispute before the Brussels Court of Appeal." Managing IP Magazine, IP Stars, 2018

Our Industry/Sector Focus

We represent many of the world’s leading technology companies as well as SMEs from diverse industry sectors. Our clients have included large pharmaceutical companies, network operators and service providers, broadcasters, film and television producers and distributors, operators of broadband cable/telephony, internet and digital television operators, social network operators, online retailers, gambling software vendors and online and land-based bookmakers, postal services, cosmetics, luxury, fashion, and consumer goods, advertising agencies, architects, authors and performers, and financial institutions and insurance companies.

Intellectual Property Litigation

The intellectual property team at Crowell & Moring helps clients across the United States and abroad realize the full value of their intellectual property and defend it against unauthorized use. Our litigators have been recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Europe as among the top intellectual property practitioners in the field. We are trial lawyers first and foremost. When it comes to IP disputes, the vast majority of our lawyers have extensive courtroom experience and understand how to present complex ideas in straightforward terms that appeal to judges and juries. We practice regularly before district courts across the country, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and other courts and government agencies.