Work Area: Law Firm Management

Thanks to elaborate brand-building strategies, thetrademark service provider sector is booming. Someinsiders even suggest that it now competes on anequal footing with the legal profession. WTR charts theevolution of this market and considers how its futuremay unfold

05 January 2011

Albihns.Zacco AB has been expelled from the Association of Swedish Intellectual Property Law Firms (SEPAF) for breach of the organisation’s ethical rules. The decision highlights some of the issues that can arise from IP firm mergers.

12 November 2010

While attorneys calculate how to reform their domain name services in light of the forthcoming gTLD expansion, Hogan Lovells has proved itself ahead of the curve by gaining ICANN accreditation as a domain name registrar. Ladas & Parry established its own ICANN-accredited registrar in 2001 with Ladas Domains; in contrast, the Hogan Lovells registrar function will be run from within the firm's standalone domain name practice for trademark owners. With the world's only such practice, Hogan Lovells has an even sharper edge: it will be able to service key clients better during the sunrise periods of the new domain name spaces.

12 October 2010

Of course, the answer might be: "a firm somewhere in between". Or probably: "it depends". Or even: "it doesn't matter - the expertise of the individual is what counts”. After all, the market for trademark legal services is deeply complex, with clients requiring specific legal expertise and broad business strategy at the same time. Not content with asking the question, WTR has set about identifying the brightest individuals and the strongest firms from around the world, those who can boast the attributes clients demand - and we want your help.

08 July 2010

While litigation is usually regarded as a lastresort in the event of infringement,sometimes it is difficult to avoid. In suchcases it is important to ensure that youhave the right strategy in place –particularly when the infringement has across-border dimension. Nowadays, whenproblems can arise in many corners of theworld, the need to think ahead andunderstand how systems work in differentcountries is greater than ever.

04 May 2010

As the world’s only magazine dedicated to trademarklaw and practice, WTR is uniquely positioned to takethe pulse of the industry. Our second annual GlobalTrademark Survey illuminates exactly wheretrademarks stand in the corporate structure

04 May 2010

While the folks at the recently merged Hogan Lovells state that the new firm offers "enhanced services", one wonders exactly how the organization will differentiate its IP offerings in a competitive market. With many law firms looking increasingly old-fashioned, in-house trademark managers continue to flock to non-traditional service providers – drawing the future battle lines for IP spend.

04 May 2010

On Friday it was revealed that Darby & Darby, a New York-based IP law firm which was established in 1895, is to close its doors. However, despite the demise of one of the industry’s oldest names, it would be wrong to presume that the boutique model is going the same way.

15 March 2010

A reminder that the industry is still feeling the impact of the global economic crisis came this week with the news that Tove Graulund, former chair of MARQUES, has left her position as director of trademarks at European firm Zacco.

08 March 2010

Thirteen law firm mergers wererecorded in the United Statesduring the third quarter of2009 and WTR has been toldthat the pace of consolidation isexpected to increase in 2010.

06 January 2010