Insights

Chicago – February 3, 2026: World Trademark Review has once again recognized Crowell & Moring as a top trademark firm in its 2026 guide. Crowell received the highest ranking—gold—in Illinois for enforcement and litigation, and prosecution and strategy. The firm also achieved “Recommended” status in the International category and silver in the U.S. National and Belgium categories, and earned recognition as a top firm in California. Crowell is one of only three firms in Illinois to earn a gold ranking both for litigation and prosecution. 

Irvine, Calif. – January 15, 2026: Crowell & Moring today announced the addition of experienced trial attorney Joshua Robbins as a partner in the Orange County office, strengthening its market-leading health care litigation team and further expanding the firm’s ability to handle complex health care fraud cases. Robbins is a highly accomplished litigator with extensive courtroom experience in both the public sector as an assistant U.S. attorney in Southern California, and in private practice, where he regularly engages in “bet-the-company” litigation on behalf of sophisticated clients and high-profile individuals.

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.