DLA Piper receives 2021 Intellectual Property Practice Group of the Year award from Law360

DLA Piper is pleased to announce that Law360 has named the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice a Practice Group of the Year for 2021.

Law360 highlighted the firm’s “level of specialty” in the IP field, “whether dealing with copyrights or trademarks, patents or advertising,” and cited several high-profile matters handled by the group, including its successful representation of Dr. Seuss Enterprises in a copyright lawsuit over ComicMix LLC's Dr. Seuss-"Star Trek" mashup "Oh, the Places You'll Boldly Go!"

“I think that's a really good example of how all the teams work together. We had numerous attorneys from multiple offices that worked on that piece of litigation [and] had a strong institutional knowledge of what was important to the clients,” Gina Durham, vice chair of DLA Piper’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice and chair of the US Trademark, Copyright and Media practice, told Law360.

The publication also noted DLA Piper’s representation of Nike in a trademark and copyright dispute with NBA star Kawhi Leonard that was settled after a federal judge ruled that Nike owned the “Claw” logo in question, a case that Durham said illustrates “the team's ability to address matters strategically.”

The publication highlighted the group’s commitment to growing diverse teams, a priority articulated by Erin Gibson, chair of the firm’s International Trade Commission practice. The ability to deliver seamless global solutions was also noted, with leading entertainment and advertising attorney Ben Mulcahy crediting it as a “key differentiator” for client service.

DLA Piper’s Intellectual Property and Technology (IPT) practice spans more than 90 offices in 40 countries. The team litigates clients’ most important disputes, manages global portfolios and handles complex transactions that have significant outcomes for many of the most recognized brands. DLA Piper’s IPT lawyers advise on business-critical areas that drive innovation and transformation, maximizing and protecting clients’ IP assets. The group is recognized worldwide by legal directories and industry members as one of the leading groups of its kind, seamlessly combining multi-jurisdictional reach with local knowledge and experience.