Insights

Washington – June 1, 2023: Crowell & Moring earned 82 rankings for 68 lawyers across 48 categories, as well as 37 national and statewide practice area rankings, in the Chambers USA 2023 guide. The rankings are driven by independent interviews of clients and lawyers at peer firms.

Chicago – February 9, 2023: World Trademark Review has recognized Crowell & Moring as a top trademark firm on both sides of the Atlantic, listing Crowell both in the U.S. national rankings and Belgium national rankings in its 2023 guide. In addition to its U.S. national rankings, Crowell received the highest ranking—gold—in Illinois, and also earned regional recognition in California.

Trademark infringement lawsuits are often resolved early on in the litigation lifecycle.  Many defendants will simply change the mark they are using to limit damages and disincentivize a plaintiff from pushing forward with a claim.  Further, many trademark lawsuits are resolved at the preliminary injunction stage.  However, there are recent cases that suggest a growing trend of substantial verdicts being awarded to plaintiffs in trademark infringement lawsuits. These cases should serve as an opportunity for companies to think more strategically when it comes to allegations of trademark infringement.

Monster has matched the size of its energy drinks with its recent arbitration award—securing a staggering $175 million in a trademark dispute heard by arbitrator Bruce Isaacs. While many contractual conflicts are resolved through arbitration, few trademark infringement cases land in arbitration and even fewer involve such a high monetary award.

On October 2, 2018, a screw manufacturer filed suit against a competitor in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in a lawsuit that suggests an increasingly blurry line between trademark infringement, unfair competition, and False Claims Act (FCA) causes of action. 

If you’ve spent much time driving in San Francisco, Detroit, or Pittsburgh, you may well have shared the road with an autonomous vehicle guiding itself down the highway. The same is true in a variety of other locations, as dozens of companies conduct trials of their self- driving cars and trucks.

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) will host its annual In-House Counsel Conference.