Lewis Roca Lawyers Recognized as Leading Trademark Professionals in 2023 World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 Directory

Honors & Recognitions

02/21/2023

PHOENIX (February 21, 2023) – Lewis Roca announced six lawyers David Jackson, Michael McCue, Gary Nelson, Anne Aikman-Scalese, Jennifer Van Kirk, and Meng Zhong have been included in the 2023 World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals  guide. The firm is also the only law firm ranked in the 2023 WTR 1000 gold tier category in Arizona and one of only four law firms listed in the recommended category in Nevada. WTR 1000 is an exclusive directory that identifies the trademark industry's leading practitioners around the world.

Jennifer Van Kirk, recognized in Arizona by WTR 1000, is a partner in the firm’s Phoenix office. She advises clients on all aspects of ‎trademark and brand protection, including trademark clearance, prosecution, licensing, portfolio ‎management and litigation guidance. Van Kirk has cultivated a network of trusted firms in nearly 200 countries to help clients protect their brands internationally. As stated in the 2023 WTR 1000 guide, “she gets global portfolios in tip-top shape, wisely deploying the best foreign contacts with which she has established fruitful relations over many years.” With over twenty years’ experience, Van Kirk advises clients on which global registrations to pursue, ‎filing strategies to maximize coverage, and cost-containment options. She has overseen hundreds of cases before U.S. and foreign tribunals to protect her ‎clients' IP interests.

Michael McCue, recognized in Nevada by WTR 1000, is a partner in the firm’s Las Vegas office with additional presence in the firm’s Silicon Valley and Los Angeles offices. Per this year’s recognition by WTR 1000, McCue is “a smart, responsive, and practical lawyer whose advice is easy to understand. He’s great to bounce ideas off and an excellent sounding board when you run into a sticky situation or are dealing with cases of first impression.” He provides trademark services from clearance through registration, enforcement, and litigation. As both a litigator and trademark prosecution attorney, McCue has the perspective and knowledge to ensure that his clients’ trademark portfolios are developed, managed, and enforced in a manner that maximizes their value and strength in the United States and around the world. Additionally, he has litigated hundreds of trademark cases in federal courts throughout the United States and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including cases involving some of the most famous trademarks in the world.

Gary Nelson was recognized in the bronze tier in California by WTR 1000. A partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Nelson handles the prosecution and maintenance of large international corporate trademark portfolios in the fashion, sports and entertainment, food, computer software and hardware and office supply industries. He is involved in the enforcement and defense of trademark, copyright, and patent rights for his clients and is knowledgeable in trademark, copyright. and patent licensing. Nelson has been lead counsel on over 150 trademark opposition/cancellation proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; and has filed hundreds of UDRP Complaints with the National Arbitration Forum and the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) to force the transfer of ownership of contested domain names. Nelson is also a domain name arbitrator panelist for WIPO.

David Jackson, recognized in Arizona by WTR 1000 for the first time, is a partner in the firm’s Phoenix office. His practice covers a full spectrum of intellectual property services, and he works closely with clients to help them develop comprehensive, global brand strategies. As stated in the 2023 WTR 1000 guide, Jackson is “not just an excellent team player, he is also a key relationship partner for some important patrons, including an industry-leading innovator in the audio engineering field.” He works with a wide range of clients in various industries including a Fortune 500 global technology solutions provider, a global billion-dollar tool manufacturer, and an internationally recognized research university. Jackson manages complex global trademark portfolios for clients and advises them on trademark selection, clearance and prosecution, trademark protection and enforcement including litigation, intellectual property agreements and transactions, and online intellectual property issues.

Meng Zhong, recognized in Nevada by WTR 1000, is a partner in the firm’s Las Vegas office. His practice focuses on matters involving copyright, trademark, right of publicity and trade secrets. Per this year’s recognition by WTR 1000, Zhong is “an experienced litigator who makes a huge difference for those dealing with difficult online and offline infringement matters.” He has handled a wide array of intellectual property litigations at both the trial and appellate levels in Nevada and other jurisdictions for some of the biggest and most well-known institutions and companies around the world. Zhong also has helped numerous clients in the seizure of counterfeit products at Las Vegas trade shows, which includes investigation, motion practice, and execution of the seizure order at the trade shows.

Anne Aikman-Scalese, recognized in Arizona and nationally in the generic top-level domains category by WTR 1000, is of counsel in the firm’s Tucson office. She assists clients with a wide variety of commercial contracts, worldwide trademark registration strategy and prosecution, copyright protection, IP due diligence and IP licensing transactions. She has experience handling global trademark portfolio management, enforcement and dispute resolution (including TTAB proceedings) for the largest division of a Fortune 500 corporation, a federally-recognized Indian tribe, and a popular resort with casino and entertainment venues. Aikman-Scalese also has in-depth knowledge of new gTLD policy-making processes at ICANN and has served as a trademark expert in federal court proceedings. Per this year’s recognition by WTR 1000, “Anne has unparalleled knowledge and vast experience, which enables her to achieve the best results for clients; she’s a determined lawyer who always puts your commercial interests first. Consistently accurate in her estimations and assessments, she provides crystal-clear advice and smart, business-focused strategies.”

Published by Globe Business Media Group in London, WTR researchers conducted interviews and exchanged correspondence over a four-month period with hundreds of lawyers, attorneys, and their clients involved with trademarks to identify the firms and individuals that are deemed outstanding in this critical area of practice. Individuals qualify for inclusion in the WTR 1000 upon receiving sufficient positive feedback from market sources with knowledge of their practice and the market in which they operate.

About Lewis Roca

Lewis Roca is an Am Law 200 law firm serving clients globally in complex litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations, labor and employment, and regulatory counseling. Its offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley, and Tucson. To learn more about the firm, please visit us at our website at www.lewisroca.com.

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