About Ladas & Parry LLP

Ladas & Parry LLP is a law firm primarily engaged in the practice of intellectual property (IP) law. Our practice is broad-ranging, from all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright law, to advice on entertainment law, domain names, security interests in intellectual property, licensing, franchising and related aspects of commercial law and other legal areas dealing with technology.

With our offices in Europe and our European-qualified attorneys and practitioners in the United States we have an unmatched understanding of the international IP scene.

You can acquaint yourself with the present partners and counsel of Ladas & Parry LLP on-line, and learn more about our individual backgrounds, should you choose to do so.

The firm that became Ladas & Parry LLP was established in New York in 1912 by Lawrence Langner to assist U.S. firms in their international patent and trademark activities. Since then, we have grown to become one of the major U.S. law firms involved in securing and enforcing intellectual property and related rights in the United States and throughout the world.

With over 50 attorneys and intellectual property professionals in five offices (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London and Munich), we are frequently engaged to handle substantial legal projects while providing expertise in many highly specialized areas. At the same time, our moderate size fosters personalized service and close attorney-client relationships.

Our staff members are conversant in the major international languages of commerce and several of our professional staff have qualifications in foreign jurisdictions. A wide range of professional skills enables us to efficiently tailor services to our clients' needs - from planning and management of a complete intellectual property portfolio to advice on specific laws and practices throughout the world.

I. Patents - U.S. and Foreign

Ladas & Parry's patent attorneys - with technical backgrounds in the mechanical, electrical, electronic, chemical, and biotechnology arts - know the intricacies of patent office practice in the United States and abroad. As the world community moves toward harmonization of patent systems, our knowledge of both U.S. and foreign law places us in a unique position to understand patent law practice as it is evolving worldwide.

Our patent and litigation services include drafting of patent specifications; patent searches; opinions on patent validity and infringement; conducting appeals, interferences, oppositions, and re-examination and reissue proceedings; and filing under various international treaties to establish priority rights and secure regional protection.

Our experience in foreign patent law is long-standing. Of particular value today is our involvement in patent practice in important foreign jurisdictions such as the European Patent Office, Japan, China, Korea, India and Taiwan.

II. Trademarks - U.S. and Foreign

Ladas & Parry LLP is actively engaged in securing, maintaining, and enforcing trademark rights in the United States and throughout the world.

We provide a full range of trademark portfolio planning services. We conduct trademark searches and advise on trademark clearance, selection, and enforcement. Our expertise extends to trademark-related commercial considerations such as labeling, packaging, and advertising to comply with various governmental regulations, for example, under the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.

In the international arena, we are able to coordinate opposition, cancellation and infringement against conflicting trademark applications or registrations in nearly every jurisdiction of the world in order to enforce our clients trademark rights.

III. Copyrights - U.S. and Foreign

Ladas & Parry LLP is involved in various aspects of copyright law, including its interface with other intellectual property rights such as in the protection of computer software programs and industrial designs. We guide our clients in the choice of suitable protection for artistic and literary works as well as counsel our clients with respect to the myriad changes affecting copyright law as it pertains to new technology.

IV. Customs Activities

Where appropriate, we can arrange for recordal of trademarks and copyrights with the U.S. Customs Service to prevent importation of counterfeit goods.

V. Litigation

In the United States, Ladas & Parry LLP has been engaged in the successful litigation of intellectual property cases in Federal and State courts, the Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the International Trade Commission, as well as in arbitration proceedings. Ladas & Parry LLP also litigates internationally through close contacts with leading intellectual property advocates throughout the world. We evaluate the issues and strengths of our clients' positions, recommend the best counsel and foreign court procedure, and work closely with overseas counsel before and during an action.

VI. Entertainment Law

Ladas & Parry LLP is active in providing advice to the entertainment industry with respect to motion pictures, theater, television, music, and publishing. We are familiar with not only the legal issues pertaining to intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry, but also related business practices. For companies and individuals, our services include contract negotiation and litigation of disputes on such issues as credits or billing, creative control, transfer of rights and creative products, rights of privacy and publicity, and unfair competition.

VII. Security Interests in Intellectual Property

It has become increasingly common for borrowers to offer their patents, trademarks, and copyrights as security to collateralize business loans and to assist in debt restructuring - either in mergers and acquisitions or in liquidations and reorganization. Ladas & Parry LLP advises lending institutions, corporate counsel, and borrowers on the creation, perfection and enforcement of security interests in intellectual property portfolios.

VIII. Related Business and Commercial Law

Ladas & Parry's services include assisting clients with the legal aspects of developing markets for their products including licensing, franchising, character-merchandising, and general commercial negotiations related to intellectual property rights; and preparation and review of agency, licensing, distribution, and joint venture agreements.

We provide counsel on the avoidance of antitrust pitfalls, and on the applicable competition and licensing rules of the United States, the European Union, Japan, the Andean Community countries, and other jurisdictions imposing strict restraints on anticompetitive activities.

IX. Assignments and Recordals

When ownership of a patent or trademark portfolio of rights changes, it is vitally important that the change be recorded correctly and promptly in order to establish proof of current ownership and, in most instances, to protect the validity of the patents, trademarks, and copyrights involved. Ladas & Parry LLP specializes in the preparation and filing of documentation to record assignments, mergers, and changes of company names against patent and trademark rights worldwide. This unique area of expertise has resulted in Ladas & Parry's Mergers, Acquisitions and Licensing Department being engaged by clients in various industries to effect recordal of assignments, mergers and changes of name against worldwide patent and trademark portfolios in the most cost-efficient manner possible.

X. Trademark, Domain Name and Company Name Watch Services

Protecting and maintaining a trademark, domain name or company name requires constant vigilance against the unauthorized adoption of the same or similar mark, domain or company name.

Ladas & Parry's Watch Services are designed to alert our clients to potentially conflicting trademark, domain name and company name applications and registrations as they are published in official gazettes and other media in the United States and throughout the world.

XI. Maintenance and Administrative Services

Ladas & Parry LLP is organized to take on, for its clients, the myriad details of maintaining and renewing patents and trademarks in the United States and in every country of the world granting patent and trademark rights. Due to our continuing involvement in U.S. and foreign patent and trademark practice, we are able to promptly update our records and procedures to take into account changes in laws and regulations.

In view of our broad international experience, we are able to deal effectively with the complexities of foreign currency fluctuations and details involved in the legalization of documents by foreign consulates.

Our computer facilities maintain patent and trademark records, and issue patent tax and trademark renewal reminders for our clients. In many countries, including the United States, we pay patent taxes and trademark renewal fees directly to the government patent and trademark offices, thereby minimizing costs. Clients may have on-line access to their intellectual property portfolio, including patents, designs, trademarks, copyrights, trade names, domain names, and more via Ladas Exchange® online access. Clients also have on-line access to substantive legal materials not otherwise available at this public website.

The Ladas & Parry LLP Advantage

Whether the firm provides a full range of services relating to intellectual property or gives advice in a specific situation, Ladas & Parry LLP brings to its clients the advantages of years of experience and broad-ranging expertise. We offer:

a comprehensive knowledge of intellectual property laws and practice in the United States and abroad;

an international perspective that gives us a particular insight into intellectual property law as it is now evolving worldwide and allows us to coordinate U.S. and foreign activities;

the resources to track the rapid and complex changes occurring in many areas of intellectual property practice;

advice in connection with the commercialization of intellectual property rights; and

a dedication to client service that has kept us in the forefront of our profession for over ninety years.

We invite you to call, fax or e-mail any of our offices to discuss your intellectual property and related legal needs. You may click on the relevant links below for further contact details.

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