Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp
Firm overview:
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp (MSK) is a highly respected US law firm with a deep legacy in intellectual property, entertainment, media and technology. Known for its refined boutique structure and partner-driven service model, MSK delivers sophisticated, strategically grounded trademark counsel and maintains a national reputation, operating from offices in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC.
The firm’s non-contentious trademark practice covers brand creation and clearance, global prosecution, portfolio management, licensing, coexistence agreements, rights audits, online brand enforcement and advertising review. With a strong entertainment and media heritage, MSK brings particular expertise to trademark issues at the intersection of IP, content creation, marketing, social media and digital commerce. MSK’s placement as a notable firm in the non-contentious rankings reflects its long-standing influence and its ability to deliver high-impact brand protection strategies tailored to both established and emerging industries.
Team overview:
MSK’s trademark team is admired for its sophisticated judgment, meticulous legal analysis and deep understanding of the modern brand ecosystem. The group combines trademark prosecution expertise with broader IP strategy, ensuring brand decisions are commercially and creatively aligned.
Eleanor Lackman, partner and head of the Trademarks and Brands Practice Group, splits her time between New York and Los Angeles, and is a respected trademark and brand protection lawyer. She advises leading global media companies, entertainment brands, technology innovators, consumer platforms and high-growth digital businesses on brand creation, clearance, prosecution, enforcement strategy and IP-driven commercial transactions. Lackman is a nationally recognised leader in copyright and trademark law, particularly within the media and sports industries, and peers describe her as “great” to work with.
Other key team members include Los Angeles-based Karin Pagnanelli, co-chair of the Video Game & Interactive Entertainment Group, who is a prominent figure in the protection of interactive game franchises.
New York partner Marissa Lewis handles the US trademark portfolio for Aylo (formerly MindGeek), consisting of nearly 200 active trademarks, and is defending the company in federal court litigation.
Also in New York, Lindsay Edelstein, a recently promoted partner active in the Entertainment and IP Litigation practice, plays a key role in mandates for clients like Warner Bros. Discovery and Drake.
Key matters:
•Warner Bros. Discovery: Trademark lawsuit
MSK represents Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in a high-profile trademark lawsuit brought by HomeVestors of America, a national real estate franchiser, over WBD’s HGTV series Ugliest House in America. HomeVestors alleges that the show’s title infringes its trademarks in its ‘We Buy Ugly Houses’ brand and its ‘The Ugliest House of the Year’ contest, and seeks injunctive relief and substantial monetary damages.
The parties have briefed cross-motions for summary judgment on issues including likelihood of confusion, Rogers, and fair use, which remain pending. A bench trial occurred in August 2025.
MSK’s team is Aaron Moss, Josh Geller, Hannah Shepherd and Lindsay Edelstein.
• Comet ML v Perplexity AI:
The firm represents Comet ML in a trademark infringement case against the AI company Perplexity regarding Perplexity’s launch of its ‘Comet Browser’. The companies reached a favorable settlement in August 2025.
MSK’s team is Marissa Lewis and Eleanor Lackman, Elaine Kim, Skyler Terrebonne, Constance Kang and Jim Berkley.
• Estate of David Mancuso: Advising on litigation strategy
MSK represents the estate of David Mancuso, the pioneer behind New York’s invitation-only “Loft” parties in a matter involving trademark infringement, unfair competition, and conversion claims against former collaborators who created an unauthorised entity allegedly misusing Mancuso’s trademarks ‘The Loft’ and ‘Love Saves the Day’ and tangible assets, including audiophile sound system and vinyl record collection.
Eleanor Lackman and Samantha Frankel are on MSK’s team for the matter.
Clients:
Comet ML, Estate of David Mancuso, Warner Bros. Discovery
