Louis Pirkey
Lou Pirkey is a founding member of trademark specialty firm Pirkey Barber. He has specialized in trademark law, primarily trademark infringement litigation and counseling, for well over 40 years, and is one of America’s most highly recognized authorities in the field. He was heralded as a “legend of the field” in the 2014 World Trademark Review 1000 and in 2012 as “a groundbreaking trademark lawyer undoubtedly practicing at the highest level.” 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.”
moreLou’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.
In his home state of Texas, Lou taught trademark law for 15 years as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law. 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.
“Founding partner Louis Pirkey is considered one of the finest trademark lawyers in the country. One source said: ‘Whether in a courtroom, in a negotiation or in a client meeting, his low-key demeanor and knowledge of the law commands the respect of everyone in the room.’”
Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2015)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
- The Honorable Lee Yeakel IP Inn of Court
- Charter Member, Executive Committee
- Membership Chair
- International Trademark Association, Board of Directors, Past Member
- International Trademark Association/ Center for Public Resources Panel of Neutrals, Charter Member
- International Trademark Association, Panel of Trademark Mediators (2007-2022)
- The University of Texas School of Law, Adjunct Professor (1991-2010)
- George Washington University Law School, Intellectual Property Advisory Board
- Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- Austin Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
HONORS
- AIPLA “Titans of the IP Bar” (2021)
- Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2009-present)
- Managing Intellectual Property – IP Star (2014-present)
- Texas Super Lawyers® list, a Thomson Reuters service (2003 – present)
- The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White, Inc. (1991-present)
- WTR 1000 The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, World Trademark Review (2011-present)
- 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon (2022)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Excellence Award (2019-2020)
- IAM (Intellectual Asset Magazine) Intellectual Property Hall of Fame Inductee (2020)
- WIPR Leader, World IP Review, Newton Media Ltd. (2015-2020)
- Top 50 Attorneys in Central & West Texas, Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters service (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014-2017, 2019)
- Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Trademark Lawyers, Law Business Research Ltd. (2009-2021)
- Trade Mark Expert Guide, Legal Media Group (2004-2018)
- The Best of the Best USA for Trademarks, Legal Media Group (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
- Most Distinguished Lawyer, Austin Bar Foundation (2015)
- Tom Arnold Lifetime Achievement Award, State Bar of Texas IP Law Section (2015)
- “Lawyer of the Year” for Trademark Law in Austin, The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White, Inc. (2014)
- Managing Intellectual Property – Top Five Outstanding IP Litigators in Texas (2013, 2014)
- “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Intellectual Property in Austin, The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White, Inc. (2012)
- International Trademark Association (INTA) President’s Award (2012)
- International Trademark Association, President’s Award (2012)
- “Lawyer of the Year” for Intellectual Property in Austin, Best Lawyers® by Woodward/White, Inc. (2010)
- Legal Legend, Texas Lawyer Magazine, ALM Media Properties, LLC (2010)
- The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century, Texas Lawyer Magazine, ALM Media Properties, LLC (2010)
- America’s Top 25 Preeminent Trade Mark Practitioners, The Best of the Best USA, Legal Media Group (2009)
- Who’s Who Legal: Texas, named one of eight “stand-out trademark practitioners”, Law Business Research Ltd. (2008)
- 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, National Law Journal (2000)
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, George Washington University Law School, Alumni (2000)
- Trademark Review Commission, Member
- United States Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Public Advisory Committee, Past Member
- World Intellectual Property Organization, United States Delegate
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
*AV®, BV®, AV Preeminent® and BV Distinguished® are registered certification marks of MH SUB I, LLC, used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.
SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS
- Editor, Franchise Trademark Handbook, Forum on Franchising, American Bar Association