Kelly IP is an innovative boutique focused on all aspects of trademark, trade dress, copyright, design, domain name, and unfair competition law. The founding partners – Dave Kelly, Rob Litowitz, Linda McLeod, Lynn Jordan, and Stephanie Bald – all are recognised leaders in the trademark field and are known for their creative, practical, responsive, and cost-effective advice. They believe that brand owners deserve lawyers who are as passionate as they are about nurturing and protecting their brands and creative works, and they brought this vision to fruition by opening Kelly IP in May 2013. In doing so, the partners leveraged their 110 combined years of 'big law' IP experience – including leading hundreds of civil litigations and thousands of oppositions and cancellations, sending thousands of demand letters, filing hundreds of UDRP complaints, clearing thousands of marks, and filing, prosecuting and maintaining tens of thousands of trademark applications and registrations – and created a firm with a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
The firm immediately established an international reputation by scoring significant litigation victories in trademark cases before the courts and the TTAB, counselling on cutting-edge issues for many of the world's leading brands, and being recognized as a leading firm for online enforcement. Kelly IP has been consistently ranked as a top firm nationally for both contentious and non-contentious trademark work by IP Stars and others (e.g., Legal 500, World Trademark Review 1000, Managing Intellectual Property) and has received national awards for both trademark litigation and prosecution. We believe that the following client feedback from a prominent publication best sums up Kelly IP: "What makes its group of all-stars super-competitive is that you receive a world-class service at a significantly reduced rate – you get so much for your money."
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Other Notable Firms
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Other Notable Firms
Kelly IP is a boutique firm specializing in all aspects of trademarks and copyrights. The firm offers a full range of services in these areas, including trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, counselling, licensing, pre-litigation opinions, litigation and enforcement.
Notable IP practitioners: David Kelly, Stephanie Bald, Robert Litowitz, Lynn Jordan, Linda McLeod, Jason Joyal
David Kelly is a founding partner and the firm's namesake. Bald has handled cases of all stages in federal courts across the country and before the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Joyal specializes in trademarks, trade dress, copyright, false advertising, and unfair competition litigation and counseling.
2026
"They are friendly, approachable, quick to respond, and give clear advise. It seems to be a closely knit team, and we are very happy with their work. Their counsels are very knowledgeable."
"Extremely experienced, commercially focused, user friendly, knowledgeable."
"Thankfully we haven't had to deal with IP litigation. But when we've discussed more sensitive issues that could involve litigation, they've always taken a measured, client-focused approach."
"Quick to respond, clear advise, and not afraid of saying what the client needs to hear."
"Kelly IP's IP litigation service and team are incredibly knowledgeable and strategic, with vast knowledge in myriad litigious situations. They provide robust and thoughtful recommendations and options that nearly always end in the predicted outcome. They engage substantively on non-US issues, collaboratively working with foreign counsel to investigate alternative paths forward before brining a recommendation to me – and they often seek second opinions to ensure the best outcome. Overall, they are thorough, skilled partners that we value very highly."
"Kelly IP's IP filing and prosecution team are the best I've ever worked with. They deeply understand our products and business, enabling them to provide amazing client service without the need to involve business teams in legal affairs. They were able to leverage this knowledge in their analysis of our existing TM portfolio, prior to taking on our work, which led to a revamp and streamlining of our portfolio. They are diligent in their advice, always offering timely, thoughtful, and useful insight."
"Beyond the primary scopes of work that Kelly IP provides, namely TM filing and prosecution and litigation, they often will step in to provide advisory guidance to business teams on a variety of tangentially related matters. Non-legal professionals are always impressed with Kelly's team and the well-researched, sound advice they provide."
Stephanie Bald
"She is very knowledgeable, and translates that knowledge into clear advise. Very friendly, and quick to respond."
"Stephanie has the amazing skill of being able to deduce years of experience into clear, concise, and well-founded advice. She is transparent in all aspects of business, including in billing, fee negotiations, and other areas of client service. She has been a wonderful partner that I have chosen to rehire through multiple companies."
Lynn Jordan
"She is extremely knowledgeable in relation to IP and entertainment law and is able to provide commercial advice very quickly."
Kelu Sullivan
"Kelu is great to work with. She's always very responsive, and I learn something every time I speak with her."
"Kelu is very friendly and business-minded. She does not try to push her services if there is a case where it makes sense to skip a comprehensive search, for example. She knows our business well and has experience working with other fintechs which helps her provide practical advice."
2025
"Kelly are absolutely outstanding - a truly stellar outfit. With brilliant people at all levels, you won't find a firm in the US to better them. Their associates are especially unusually strong and, along with the partners, are a delight to work with. Their legal knowledge, business acumen and personability are second to none."
"Kelly are right at the top of the tree of US firms. They are smart, totally focused on the commercials, know their clients inside out and are a total joy to work with."
"Dave Kelly is an incredibly talented and knowledgeable attorney, with year of experience."
"They provide clear, robust advice and tend to get results."
"They're a lovely set of people in addition to being amazing counsel. They can provide practical advice and are super responsive to client needs."
"They are business-oriented, organized, and kind. They also have experience in the field and are cost-efficient."
"Kelly IP offers world class legal services with a practical, business-friendly approach. They have a deep bench that can cover all of our needs."
"They are always available and provide great and sage advice."
"Stephanie is great. She is a real expert on trademarks and USPTO proceedings. She's also easy to talk to and I've felt very comfortable introducing her to my other legal colleagues."
"They are excellent lawyers, subject matter experts, who are both user friendly and highly commercial in their approach."
"They are cost effective, know our business well, and provide practical advice."
"The partner's familiarity with the Company's prosecution and enforcement history, and another partner's experience with the USPTO."
"Kelly IP offers business friendly advice in an easy and practical manner. Their expertise is unparalleled in the field."
"Legal advice as well as commercial advice."
"I like the team's low rates, strategic thinking, and concise reporting. They work to learn our business and provide advice tailored to our business needs."
"They are very responsive, easy to work with, commercial and understand the unique needs of our organization."
"Very professional and easy to work with."
"Responsiveness, effectiveness and thoroughness of advice."
"Their success rate at overcoming USPTO objections is relatively high."
Kelly IP recently represented the legendary automobile maker Rolls-Royce in a trademark dispute. The firm has also represented Harley-Davidson for over a decade, providing a full range of contentious trademark services to them.