Allison Strickland Ricketts

Practice Areas

Publicity & Privacy

Trademark

Transactions

Career

Allison Strickland Ricketts has deep experience in evaluating the availability of proposed new trademarks, developing strategies to remove obstacles to the adoption and registration of trademarks, and creating strong trademark rights that her clients can use and register with confidence. She has reviewed and evaluated thousands of trademark clearance searches and filed and prosecuted over 2,500 U.S. trademark applications. Allison also protects older registrations in compliance with strict U.S. standards that require the owner to demonstrate that it is making valid use of a trademark in commerce.

Allison is skilled at negotiating resolutions to disputes, preparing effective and advantageous settlement and coexistence agreements, and negotiating and drafting license agreements. Allison's thoughtful and creative advice helps individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes make intelligent and cost-effective decisions about their valuable intellectual property.

A frequent speaker on the topic of trademark law and practice, Allison is especially in demand for insights on the Madrid Protocol system, overcoming difficult Trademark Office refusals to register marks, and structuring coexistence agreements.

She is active in many industry organizations, including the American Intellectual Property Law Association, having served on its Board of Directors and chaired or vice-chaired several of its committees over the years. Allison's clients are drawn from the worlds of fashion, entertainment, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, non-profit organizations, innovative new technology, and many other industries.

Professional Memberships

Compumark Client Advisory Panel, 2016-2018

American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) (Board of Directors, 2005-2008; Amicus Committee, 2009-2012; Special Legislation Committee, 2011-2014; FDA Clearance of Trade Names/Brands Subcommittee, 2008-2009; Trademark Law Committee, Chair 2004-2005, Vice-Chair 2003-2004; Trademark Treaties and International Law Committee, Chair 2001-2003, Vice-Chair 2000-2001; TTAB Sub-Committee, Chair 1999-2001)

Intellectual Property Owners' Association

U.S. Trademark Office Practice Committee (Vice-Chair 2015-2017, Member 2009- 2014)

American Inns of Court, Pauline Newman Inn, 2013-2014

Publications

TTAB Decision Offers Rare Guidance On Insignia Denials, quoted in Law360 article, August 8, 2022

Attorneys Optimistic Pandemic Won't Disrupt USPTO Filings, quoted in Law360 article, March 17, 2020

USPTO Revises Email Address Requirement for Trademark Owners, Lexology, February 14, 2020

New USPTO Rule Requires U.S.-licensed Lawyers for Foreign-domiciled Applicants, Registrants, and Parties to TTAB Proceedings, Lexology, July 3, 2019

Post-registration Audit Program, Lexology, March 14, 2017

Work Highlights

- Guided major apparel brand through extensive clearance and registration process to launch new men’s line

- Conducted pharmaceutical naming analysis for drugs submitted for FDA approval

- Assisted with due diligence for trademark portfolio acquisitions by a winery

Education