Lewis Roca Lawyers Named in 2021 WTR 1000 Directory

Press Release

02/17/2021

PHOENIX (February 17, 2021) – Lewis Roca announced four lawyers Michael McCue, Gary Nelson, Anne Aikman-Scalese, and Jennifer Van Kirk have been included in World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2021 guide. WTR 1000 is an exclusive directory that identifies the trademark industry's leading practitioners around the world. 

The firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group is the only law firm in Arizona listed in the WTR 1000 gold tier, exemplifying the firm’s esteemed reputation for “outstanding global knowledge of trademark law.” Anne Aikman-Scalese, in addition to being recognized in Arizona, was recognized nationally in the Generic Top Level Domains category.

 Lewis Roca Lawyers Named to the 2021 WTR 1000 guide:

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 2021 WTR 1000 guide, “few have Van Kirk’s exceptional facility for global brand protection and attentive to the needs of clients.” She is “in tune with market developments and deploys deep industry insight to strengthen portfolios and enforce them robustly when necessary.” With over twenty years’ experience, she 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. He provides trademark services from clearance through registration, enforcement and litigation. As both a litigator and trademark prosecution attorney, he 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. Per this year’s recognition by WTR 1000, McCue is “incredibly effective in a lead outside IP counsel role and as a litigator” and  “delivers insightful advice and great results clients.” 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, recognized in California by WTR 1000, is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He 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. As stated in the 2021 WTR 1000 guide, “Nelson has domain name disputes and internet law on lock. He has great perseverance and the fortitude to overcome problems and achieve clients’ goals.”

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, Aikman-Scalese “possesses broad knowledge of trademark law and has a remarkable ability to quickly catch the essence of each case. She handles multi-jurisdictional conflicts very successfully and is an available, dedicated and creative lawyer.”

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 Rothgerber Christie LLP 

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP is an Am Law 200 commercial law firm handling complex matters in litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations and other practice areas. Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley, and Tucson. For more information, visit lewisroca.com. 

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