Biography

Lou Pirkey is a founding partner of trademark specialty firm Pirkey Barber L.L.P. Lou Pirkey has specialized in trademark law, primarily trademark infringement litigation and counseling, for well over 30 years, and is one of America's most highly recognized authorities in the field. Chambers USA guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business refers to him as "the guru" who is "widely recognized as one of the leading trademark litigators in the country." Most recently, Texas Lawyer voted him one of The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century.

Lou's career as a leader in the field and in the profession has included such highlights as the following:

• President of the 15,000-member American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Member of the United States delegation to several conferences on trademark reform at the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva
• Member of the Trademark Review Commission whose work led to sweeping reform of the federal trademark statute, the Trademark Law Revision Act passed by Congress in 1988
• Member of the first Trademark Public Advisory Committee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
• Member of the Board of Directors, International Trademark Association (INTA)

In addition to his trademark litigation practice, Lou is also active in alternative dispute resolution and has served as a neutral in more than 30 trademark disputes. He is a charter member of the Panel of Neutrals of the International Trademark Association/Center for Public Resources. Lou has been teaching trademark law in Texas for 15 years as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law.

In his home state of Texas, Lou was Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and was the charter President of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association.

Professional Activities and Memberships

• American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • President, 1999 - 2000
  • Board of Directors, Past Member
  • Fellow
• State Bar of Texas
  • Intellectual Property Law Section, Past Chair
• Austin Intellectual Property Law Association, Charter President
• International Trademark Association Board of Directors, Past Member
• International Trademark Association/ Center for Public Resources Panel of Neutrals, Charter Member
• The University of Texas School of Law, Adjunct Professor
• George Washington University Law School, Intellectual Property Advisory Board
• Texas Bar Association, Life Fellow

Honors

• The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century, Texas Lawyer Magazine
• Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2009-2010)
• Austin Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers (2010)
• America's Top 25 Preeminent Trade Mark Practitioners, The Best of the Best USA (2009)
• Best Lawyers in America (1991-2009)
• Guide to the World's Leading Trademark Practitioners, Legal Media Group (2009)
• Who's Who Legal (2008), named one of eight "stand-out trademark practitioners" in Texas
• The International Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers, Who's Who Legal (2009)
• 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, National Law Journal (1999)
• Legal Legend, Texas Lawyer Magazine
• Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
• World Intellectual Property Organization, United States Delegate
• Trademark Review Commission, Member
• United States Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Public Advisory Committee, Past Member
• AV® Peer Review Rated*

* CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.

Educational Background

• J.D., with Honors, George Washington University Law School
  • Order of the Coif
  • George Washington Law Review
• B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas

Publications

• Editor, Franchise Trademark Handbook, Forum on Franchising, American Bar Association
• Many articles on topics in Trademark Law

Speeches

• American Bar Association
• International Trademark Association
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Many Others