Debevoise has a highly successful Intellectual Property Litigation Group, led by Bruce P. Keller and David H. Bernstein, consisting of four partners, three counsel, and over 30 associates.  Our knowledge and experience cover all areas of intellectual property litigation including trademark, trade dress, false advertising, anti-counterfeiting, unfair competition, copyright, trade secret, patent, first amendment, information technology, domain names and right of publicity.

Trademark & Advertising

One client describes Debevoise as “[t]he firm that I want as my top-notch litigation counsel and partner in a trademark infringement suit” (Legal 500 US, 2007).  We have extensive experience in obtaining, and defending against, motions for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in difficult trademark, trade dress, false advertising and anti-counterfeiting cases.  In connection with these cases, we regularly supervise consumer perception surveys and critique the surveys conducted by our adversaries.  In addition to our litigation experience, we regularly advise clients in the clearance of rights and the selection, development, acquisition, registration and protection of trademarks, trade dress, trade names and domain names.

Copyright

Our copyright practice synergistically blends our litigation (including enforcement), licensing and counseling practices.  Our lawyers have decades of experience representing clients in copyright law matters in the United States and in several other major jurisdictions.  In addition to a particular focus on copyright litigation, in both traditional and new media, we counsel clients on copyright matters arising from new digital technology.  We also represent clients in a wide range of transactions and ventures involving the licensing and transfer of copyrights and other intellectual property assets.

Media & Entertainment

Debevoise’s lawyers have broad knowledge and experience on a range of litigation issues including representing a motion picture studio, record company, radio and television broadcasters, talent, companies distributing content through new media, Internet-based businesses and publishers.  We regularly provide pre-publication and pre-broadcast advice as well as post-publication counseling and litigation defense.  We also counsel our corporate clients and litigate in the increasingly busy area of employment-related defamation matters.

Patent

We have a burgeoning patent practice, and litigate complex patent infringement claims in courts, the International Trade Commission, and arbitration forums, often in cases involving multi-jurisdictional actions.