Fenwick & West and each of its partners who focus on trademark prosecution and litigation once again received top rankings in the 2019 edition of World Trademark Review 1000.
WTR 1000 recognized the firm for the ninth year in a row, honoring Fenwick both nationally and regionally for outstanding trademark work. In its most recent guide, WTR 1000 ranked Fenwick among the nation's best firms for trademark work. The publication also ranked trademark group founder Sally Abel nationally in prosecution and strategy, and litigation partners Andrew Bridges and Jedediah Wakefield nationally for enforcement and litigation.
The firm also earned recognition in California and New York, with New York trademark partner Jeffrey Greene garnering praise for his leadership. In California, the firm ranks first-tier for both prosecution and litigation; just two other firms earned this honor in 2019.
"Born and raised in the heart of Silicon Valley, technology powerhouse Fenwick & West supports a slew of stellar life sciences and cutting-edge technology clients on their trademark matters worldwide," WTR 1000 wrote in its profile of the firm, noting that Fenwick is "innovative just like its patrons."
WTR 1000 recognized the following Fenwick partners individually:
Sally Abel: The publication lists trademark group founder Sally Abel among the top nine trademark lawyers in the United States. She again receives two first-tier rankings for prosecution: nationally and in California. WTR 1000 has honored her among the nation's top trademark lawyers for nine consecutive years, each year since the guide's inception. "Long-time player Abel uses her superior intuition to issue-spot upfront before crafting strategies that will get brand owners through everything," WTR 1000 said.
Eric Ball: Partner and rising star Eric Ball appears on WTR 1000's list of leading trademark litigators again this year. He is "highly recommended" and "a bright lawyer who is really switched on to market developments," the guide reported, citing market feedback. Ball also received high praise from WTR 1000 in past years. "The representation of technology players is a specialty and he has 'won cases consistently without loss,' making him an instrumental addition to the distinguished partnership," the publication wrote.
Andrew Bridges: WTR 1000 ranks partner Andrew Bridges among the United States' 10 best trademark litigators, again recognizing his enforcement and litigation work in the top tier nationally. He also continues to receive top recognition in California where he is one of just eight lawyers recognized as first-tier for enforcement and litigation, along with Fenwick trademark litigation chair Jedediah Wakefield and partner Karen Webb. As one commentator told WTR 1000, "Andrew has a strong background in counselling and prosecution, which means his advice to clients is creative and goes beyond the typical script. He also has an excellent understanding of business issues and gives legal advice which is sensitive to the most crucial concerns of clients."
Connie Ellerbach: For the ninth year in a row, WTR 1000 recognizes trademark chair Connie Ellerbach among the top lawyers for prosecution and strategy work. "Ellerbach is a prosecution ace. She is brilliant at rallying the troops to handle massive global projects," WTR 1000 said. The guide highlighted Ellerbach's work to obtain a favorable worldwide resolution for Life on Air, creator of the popular group video chat mobile app Houseparty, who faced a cybersquatter's unfounded trademark infringement claims and app store challenges.
Jeffrey Greene: "Tasked with building Fenwick & West's presence on the East Coast, Jeffrey Greene is doing a sterling job," WTR 1000 wrote, ranking Greene among New York's leading trademark lawyers for the ninth consecutive year. "Jeff's technical expertise makes him a world-class practitioner. You can have complete trust in his instincts. He is also remarkably responsive," the publication reported, quoting client and peer feedback
Jedediah Wakefield: Chair of both the firmwide litigation group and Fenwick's trademark litigation practice, Jed Wakefield ranks among the nation's best trademark litigators. He also continues to rank in the top tier for enforcement and litigation in California, one of only eight lawyers to earn this honor in 2018. ""He is a great tactician with an exceptional combination of practical and pure legal expertise," one commentator told WTR 1000. "Jed excels at finding unique angles to attack difficult problems and find solutions. He is strategically minded and streets ahead of his adversaries as a business adviser." Commentators also highlighted both Wakefield and Bridges' deep industry knowledge: "Both have taken leading roles on cybersecurity and internet issues; they routinely devote time to capacity building activities outside of client representation. Their role as thought leaders has been crucial to their ability to deal with the most difficult IP issues in an evolving tech landscape."
Karen Webb: This year, WTR 1000 again honored partner Karen Webb among the top seven California lawyers for prosecution and strategy work, alongside Fenwick's Sally Abel. Webb also again ranks among the state's eight best lawyers for trademark enforcement and litigation. "Webb is a rare attorney who combines deep expertise and subject-matter knowledge with a keen business sense," one commentator told WTR 1000. "She understands that decisions are not made in a legal vacuum and always works to drive value. Karen never loses her cool even when times are stressful and she is just a pleasure to partner with." The publication also highlighted Webb's litigation work: "Webb is also a spectacular litigator, there to support clients when the going gets tough."
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 client input. More information on the methodology behind WTR 1000 is available through the World Trademark Review website.
