Debevoise & Plimpton

Debevoise & Plimpton is highly recommended in New York for trademark litigation, a practice that earns a national reputation for its IP trial lawyers. The firm is also notable in the state for its copyright practice.

Key practitioners at the firm are IP litigation group chair David Bernstein and partner Megan Bannigan, who are both deeply focused on high-stakes trademark litigation. The firm has a reputation for handling noteworthy, “bet-the-brand” cases. Clients of the firm include Bank of America, Costco and WeWork.

In 2021, the firm was shortlisted by Managing IP for the Trademark Contentious Firm of the Year in the Northeast award. The firm won the US Trademark Contentious Firm of the Year award.

2023

"Due to the lockstep nature of the firm (one of the only true lockstep firms left as I understand it), I have access to lawyers of all specialties at the drop of a hat. It really stands out how much the partners pitch in for one another and truly act as a seamless group. Megan Bannigan has been key to making these introductions as they come up, always keeping in mind what's best for our business. "

"Debevoise & Plimpton's trademark attorneys are able to efficiently formulate and implement creative solutions to novel issues and communicate their advice clearly and effectively. Plus, their responsiveness is second to none. "

In the pharmaceutical space, the firm is active in a global battle between the “two Mercks,” representing Merck KGaA in connection with trademark infringement, false advertising, cybersquatting and breach of contract claims.

Debevoise & Plimpton, along with co-counsel Williams & Connolly, represented Booking.com in its US Supreme Court case, where the Court ruled 8-1 that Booking.com’s eponymous domain name is not generic and could register as a trademark.

Additional trademark clients include Costco Wholesale, GlaxoSmithKline, Bank of America, WeWork, NBC Universal, Exponent Private Equity, Wave Hill and Revive Organics.

Copyright clients include Arcesium and Revive Organics.

Patent clients include Steve Madden and Clayton Dubilier & Rice.