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McCarter & English LLP is a firm of more than 400 lawyers with offices in Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York, Newark, East Brunswick, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Washington DC. For 170 years, McCarter’s clients have come first, with an emphasis on their business objectives and priorities. The firm understands its clients’ businesses, stays on top of their frequently changing industries and markets and implements strategies that will lead to success.
IP overview
The IP practice at McCarter is ranked among the 100 largest IP practices in the United States, according
to IP Law360. The group has more than 125 IP lawyers, technical specialists and patent agents. The IP group’s deep bench has attracted a wide range of companies throughout the world, which are diverse in both geography and industry. The firm protects everything from celebrity designer brands to sport and
haute couture footwear, pharmaceuticals, food and nutrition brands, cosmetics, airlines, consumer goods and personal care products. The group has great strength in representing clients in high-profile trademark litigation and technically complex patent litigation.
Trademarks, copyright and trade secrets
Building and protecting a company’s brand and image are essential to business success. The IP group strategically implements domestic and international programmes to advance clients’ brand identity and reputation. The trademark attorneys not only handle global brand portfolios from the inception of a client’s intellectual property, but help clients to build and strengthen their valuable market position. The firm is experienced in protecting famous brands from infringers regardless of where they reside and litigating IP matters in courts in the United States and throughout the world, including obtaining injunctive relief, asset restraints and other remedies for its clients. As a result of representing both national and international clients, the IP group has extensive experience addressing infringement and related matters (eg, distribution, licensing and manufacturing) that cross international borders, including effectuating multi-jurisdictional litigation and enforcement. The firm is a leader in trademark protection, anti-counterfeiting, technology-related transactions, patents and litigation.
McCarter is attuned to the special trademark issues faced by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and is experienced in guiding them through the process. As new technologies continue to stretch the boundaries of traditional copyright law, the IP team provides expert counsel to clients on employing copyright to protect their valuable assets (eg, intangible data) and represents clients in licensing transactions. The team advises clients on the requirements for an effective trade secret protection programme and on protection against unfair competition by former employees or business partners, as well as by competitors. Our experience in litigating trade secret and unfair competition cases gives clients an advantage when disputes arise.
Global brand strategists
McCarter’s partners are known in more than 70 countries for developing and executing unique global brand strategies. Over the past 30 years, team members have developed an extraordinary network of attorneys, government officials, customs officers and law enforcement personnel who help get things done for the firm’s clients. Partners have decades of experience establishing worldwide programmes to protect valuable IP rights, including trademarks, trade dress and product designs, trade secrets and copyright. The group has specialised capabilities for dealing with issues relating to the Internet, including dealing with cybersquatters and internet counterfeiters on a cost-efficient basis; working with domestic and foreign companies to deal with foreign-based websites and public auction and social media platforms; successful lawsuits and Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy actions against domestic and foreign website owners; and development of proprietary forensic tools for tracking both the success of takedown programmes and offending URLs, including when they resurface. The firm is known as the ‘go-to’ firm in dealing with these types of IP issues around the world.
Patent prosecution and IP litigation
McCarter’s patent attorneys and professionals have industry experience and graduate degrees in relevant science and engineering fields. McCarter’s IP group is active in all facets of the high-tech and life sciences sectors, including biotechnology, pharmacology, chemistry, nanotechnology, optoelectronics, robotics, medical devices, telecoms, advanced control systems, green technologies, biometrics, software, consumer products and a range of defence, aerospace and energy technologies. McCarter’s technical expertise extends across all disciplines, providing a depth and breadth of experience that ensure effective and efficient IP counselling.
