Erik Combs
Erik Combs is a highly experienced attorney, focusing on trademark, copyright, and unfair competition law. His expertise lies in domestic and international trademark enforcement, online brand protection strategies, and trademark and software licensing. Known for his responsiveness and practical approach, Erik is a trusted advisor in the field of intellectual property law.
Erik Combs focuses his practice on trademark, copyright, and unfair competition law. He specializes in domestic and international trademark enforcement strategies and the development and execution of online brand protection policies and processes. Erik also has expertise in assisting clients with trademark and software licensing and transactional matters. He is a versatile practitioner who peers have described as “responsive, practical, and reasonable.”
Erik is a committee leader, organization member, and speaker in the national and local IP communities. He currently serves as Vice-Chair for the Trademark Internet Committee for the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). He was nominated to represent the firm as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Pathfinder in 2021 and remains involved in the organization. Erik routinely speaks at national and local conferences regarding trademark issues and presented at the 2019 AIPLA Mid-Winter Institute and 2022 AIPLA Spring Meeting.
Erik has been involved in a variety of pro bono efforts. He serves as a mentor attorney to The University of Texas School of Law Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic, advising clinic students to assist with their pro bono counseling of small businesses, non-profits, and community groups. He also represented a Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas client through the legal probate process, including assisting with decisions to ensure minimal impact on the government-provided benefits relied upon by a close family member with a mental disability. For his efforts, he was honored with the Covington Pro Bono Service Award in 2019.
Erik earned his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law, where he has regularly visited as a guest lecturer on intellectual property law for the past several years. While attending law school, he served as Managing Editor of the Texas Environmental Law Journal and received the Dean’s Achievement Award in Patent Law.
Outside of the office, Erik enjoys college football, grilling, and traveling.
- Judge, Saul Lefkowitz National Moot Court Competition (2023)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Vice-Chair, Trademark Internet Committee (2022-2023)
- Annual Meeting Topics Committee (2023)
- Chair, AIPLA New Lawyer’s Committee Webinar Subcommittee (2016-2019)
- Leadership Council On Legal Diversity, Pathfinder (Class Of 2021)
- The Honorable Lee Yeakel IP Inn Of Court (2014-2018)
- Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
- Technology Committee Member (2018-2020)
- Austin Black Lawyers Association
- State Bar Of Texas
- WTR 1000 The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, World Trademark Review (2023)
- Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch For Intellectual Property Law By Woodward/White, Inc. (2024)
- 500 Leading Litigators In America, Lawdragon (2022)
- Covington Pro Bono Service Award (2019)
- Speaker, The Tension Between The Right To Privacy And Online Brand Protection, Aipla Spring Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, (2022)
- Guest Lecturer, IP Law Overview, Entrepreneurship And Community Development Clinic At The University Of Texas School Of Law, Austin, Texas, (2015-2023)
- Co-Author, Domain Names: Uniform Domain Name Procedure (Udrp) Complaint, Tara M. Vold And S. Erik Combs Iv, Practical Law Company, March 2020
- Speaker, Persuasion In Practice: Persuading Judges And Juries, Aipla Mid-Winter Institute, February 1, 2019
- Speaker, Domain Name Rights Protection Mechanisms & Icann Developments, Clear Law Institute Webinar, March 12, 2018
- Speaker, IP Law For Estate Planning And Probate Attorneys, Intermediate Estate Planning And Probate Course, Texasbarcle, Houston, June 2017
- Co-Author, Trademark Surveys: Ten Common Pitfalls, James T. Berger, Trademark Surveys In The Age Of Daubert, 2016
- Speaker, Intellectual Property Law Society At The University Of Texas School Of Law, Trademarks 101, Austin, Texas, February 2015, October 2015
- 2014 J.D., The University of Texas School of Law
- Dean’s Achievement Award in Patent Law
- Managing Editor, Texas Environmental Law Journal
- 2006 B.S., Washington University in St. Louis
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