Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
Firm overview:
Premier IP firm Sterne Kessler is trusted by companies with high-value brands to protect and enhance their IP assets. The firm provides full-service trademark solutions, including portfolio development, clearance, filing, prosecution, and maintenance, alongside strategic counsel on global filing strategies, licensing, brand agreements, acquisitions, and due diligence.
The firm’s multi-disciplinary team excels in trademark enforcement, handling matters involving trade dress and design patent infringement, false advertising, unfair competition, and cybersquatting. Attorneys regularly secure victories before US district courts, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and the International Trade Commission.
Notable successes include a landmark anti-counterfeiting case on behalf of BTL Industries, achieving nearly $200m in damages, and ongoing brand protection for Volkswagen, covering litigation, marketplace enforcement, and non-litigation remedies. Sterne Kessler’s integrated approach across prosecution and litigation, combined with complementary IP expertise, ensures clients receive comprehensive protection for some of the world’s most recognised brands.
Team overview:
Monica Riva Talley, director and head of Sterne Kessler’s Trademark & Brand Protection Practice, advises clients on comprehensive brand strategy and enforcement. She manages complex US and global trademark portfolios, counselling on clearance, prosecution, licensing, and anti-counterfeiting strategies across a wide range of industries. Talley is recognised for her practical, results-driven approach in protecting high-value brands.
Building on this expertise, Ivy Estoesta serves as director, focusing on design protection and portfolio management. She guides clients through trademark and design strategies, including counselling on complex enforcement matters, coordinating international filings, and leading US design practice initiatives. Her work ensures brand integrity across both digital and physical marketplaces.
Tracy-Gene Durkin, director, leads the Mechanical and Design Patent Group and is a member of the Trademark & Brand Protection Practice. She specialises in brand protection, portfolio strategy, and enforcement, offering clients practical solutions that integrate litigation and prosecution expertise to safeguard IP assets across domestic and international markets.
Other notable members of the team include counsel Lauriel Dalier, a former examining attorney with nearly two decades of experience providing strategic counsel to clients. Dalier works with a diverse group of clients to protect and enforce their valuable brands and trademark rights globally.
Key matters:
- Biohaven Pharmaceuticals: Global trademark filings and enforcement
Sterne Kessler advises Biohaven Pharmaceuticals on all global trademark filings and enforcement for its brands, including the widely promoted prescription migraine treatment Nurtec ODT. The firm manages clearance, prosecution, and contentious matters, supporting the protection and commercialisation of this high-profile brand, which was recently sold to Pfizer.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Global trademark portfolio management
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation relies on Sterne Kessler for comprehensive global trademark portfolio management, including clearance, prosecution, and enforcement. The firm ensures protection of the foundation’s marks worldwide, supporting its mission to improve global health, alleviate hunger and poverty, and expand access to education and opportunities for underserved populations.
- Blue Man Group: US trademark portfolio management
For Blue Man Group, Sterne Kessler manages the US trademark portfolio, handling development, enforcement, and counselling on brand protection for partnerships and new business initiatives. The firm supports the company in safeguarding its globally recognised trademarks, which have become a significant source of economic and commercial value for its international tours and residencies.
Clients:
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Blue Man Group, BTL Industries, Cirque du Soleil, FIGS, Full Sail IP Partners, Jukin Media, Nasdaq, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Richardson International, The Washington Post, Thule, Trove Brands, Verizon, Volkswagen Group, World Centric
