ATLANTA (February 20, 2017 ) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partners James Bikoff, J. Rodgers Lunsford III, and Bruce McDonald have been recognized on World Trademark Review 1000 list (WTR 1000) of the world’s leading trademark professionals of 2017. This year marks the seventh edition of the research directory.
Focusing exclusively on trademark practices and practitioners, The WTR 1000 has firmly established itself as the definitive ‘go-to’ resource for those seeking legal trademark expertise. To maximize its value for users, this year the research has been expanded to increase the guide’s geographical scope, identifying the trademark industry’s leading lights in 72 jurisdictions around the world. In addition, the United States section features 18 state-specific chapters. World Trademark Review undertook an exhaustive qualitative research project to identify the firms and individuals, which have been included due to substantial positive feedback from the market. In addition, when identifying the leading firms, factors such as depth of expertise, market presence, and the level of work on which they are typically instructed were all taken into account.
James Bikoff is a Partner in SGR’s Washington, D.C. Intellectual Property Practice. His more than 30-year practice focuses on formulating and implementing worldwide trademark and copyright protection and enforcement programs for clients in the consumer and industrial product sectors, as well as non-profits, and service providers such as banks and insurance companies. He also engages in Internet and domain name counseling and enforcement actions. Mr. Bikoff is chair of the Trademark Litigation Committee of the Intellectual Property Section of the American Bar Association, a member of the European Community Trademark Association, the International Trademark Association/Chair of the Internet Committee’s Domain Dispute and Whois Subcommittee, and the New York Intellectual Property Law Association. Recently, he was selected to serve as a member of the Law360 Intellectual Property Editorial Advisory Board.
Rodgers Lunsford is a Partner in SGR’s Atlanta Intellectual Property Practice. His specific expertise is in litigating intellectual property disputes. He also supervises litigation abroad, directs trademark enforcement programs, counsels clients with regard to intellectual property matters, prosecutes applications to register intellectual property, and transfers intellectual property rights and technology. Mr. Lunsford was named Atlanta’s Trademark Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2016 by The Best Lawyers in America®. He has also been recognized by Chambers USA as “one of the trademark aristocracy within the Atlanta legal market,” and has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, Georgia Super Lawyers and Georgia Trend Legal Elite. Mr. Lunsford is a past Chairman of the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of Georgia and a former Chair of the Firm’s Intellectual Property Department.
Bruce McDonald is a Partner in SGR’s Washington, D.C. Intellectual Property Practice. His practice focuses on trademark and copyright law, including registration, clearance opinions, investigations and enforcement. He manages the domestic and international trademark portfolios for many small companies and several large ones, including one of the largest U.S. life insurance organizations. A Russian language scholar by training, Mr. McDonald’s fluency has led to representation of Russian institutions and state-owned enterprises. He serves on the American Bar Association’s International Intellectual Property Rights Committee and the Committee on Privacy, E-Commerce & Data Security and is liaison of the Intellectual Property Section. In addition, Mr. McDonald is a member of the Cosmos Club.
To further view SGR’s attorneys on the list, click here.
About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
SGR is a full service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s more than 200 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, construction and employment law. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, London, Munich, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.