Your brand, your code, your designs, your name - these are the assets that make a business worth more than its inventory. The moment a competitor copies them, or an examiner refuses to register them, or someone files a frivolous infringement claim against you, you find out very quickly whether your IP house was built on solid law or on hope. The right NYC IP lawyer is the difference between a brand that compounds and one that disappears.
Updated April 12, 202613 min readEditorially independent
We've shortlisted 10 New York City firms with deep trademark, copyright, and intellectual property practices - from boutique IP shops with five-decade track records to global firms that handle multinational portfolio enforcement. Each firm here can register and clear marks at the USPTO, file in the Madrid Protocol, prosecute or defend opposition and cancellation proceedings at the TTAB, and litigate IP disputes in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 US, IP Stars, Best Lawyers, and World IP Review rankings. We weighted firms with a named, dedicated trademark or IP practice over generalist firms that occasionally do IP work. We do not accept payment for placement. More on our methodology →
1
Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.
151 West 42nd Street, ManhattanFounded 1969Boutique (80+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Trademarks, copyrights, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, design patents, data privacy
The defining U.S. trademark boutique. Five decades of trademark practice and a Tier 1 ranking from The Legal 500 US for trademark litigation. Represents many of the world's most recognizable brands. If trademarks are your core asset, this is one of the first calls in the country.
Fee structure
Hourly ($550-$1,300); flat-fee available for filings
Consultation
Initial conversation
Recognition
Chambers Band 1, Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets
7 Times Square, ManhattanFounded 1965Mid-size (180+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Trademark and copyright registration, management, licensing, enforcement
Significant expertise across the full IP lifecycle. Particularly strong on entertainment, media, fashion, and sports IP - industries where NYC is the global center of gravity.
Practice focus: Trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade dress, high-stakes IP litigation
Deep IP bench inside a BigLaw firm. Engaged by globally recognized brands and individuals to protect popular trademarks and copyrights in high-stakes litigation, as well as in trade dress infringement matters.
1301 Avenue of the Americas, ManhattanFounded 1942Large (600+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Copyright litigation, anti-counterfeiting, brand enforcement, trademark issues
Impressive depth in copyright litigation, anti-counterfeiting, brand enforcement, and trademark issues. Regularly called upon by leading fashion, retail, and media clients for sophisticated counsel.
Practice focus: Trademark, copyright, false advertising, marketing and advertising law
Handles the full range of trademark, copyright, and false advertising matters with established strength in marketing and communications. Best fit for brands, agencies, and creative-economy companies whose IP and advertising claims travel together.
114 West 47th Street, ManhattanFounded 1955Boutique (50+ attorneys)
Practice focus: Trademark, copyright, design patents, anti-counterfeiting, customs enforcement
Long-established Manhattan IP boutique. Particularly known for U.S. Customs and Border Protection trademark recordation and enforcement work - the front line of stopping counterfeit goods at the border.
Fee structure
Hourly ($500-$1,050); flat-fee for routine filings
1114 Avenue of the Americas, ManhattanFounded 1874Large (650+ attorneys firm-wide)
Practice focus: Patent prosecution, trademark, copyright, IP litigation, technology licensing
One of the largest dedicated IP practices in the U.S. Strong full-service IP - registration, prosecution, licensing, and litigation under one roof. Good fit for technology and life-sciences companies that need patent and trademark work together.
Practice focus: Patent, trademark, IP litigation, technology licensing
Legacy NYC IP practice with deep patent and trademark roots. Best fit for technology and pharma companies that need both patent prosecution and trademark portfolio work from the same team.
Practice focus: Trademark filings, brand protection, content and entertainment IP, IP-heavy commercial deals
NYC boutique that handles trademark filings and brand IP for small and mid-sized businesses, including fashion, content, and creator-economy clients. Flat-fee filings make trademark protection accessible to bootstrapped founders. Profile on file.
Fee structure
Flat-fee filings ($800-$2,500); hourly for advisory and litigation
Practice focus: Consumer-protection IP, false-advertising disputes, trademark enforcement, brand-related class actions
Boutique with a notable consumer-class-action and false-advertising practice - relevant when the IP issue overlaps with deceptive marketing claims, label disputes, or brand-related consumer protection. Profile on file.
Fee structure
Hourly ($475-$900); contingency in qualifying cases
Tell us about your matter in 60 seconds. We'll point you to firms on this list that handle your specific issue — and connect you for a free consultation. No obligation, no spam.
What does a trademarks & ip lawyer in New York City cost?
IP work pricing in New York City varies enormously by what you're doing. A flat-fee USPTO trademark application at a boutique generally runs $800-$2,500 plus filing fees. Office Action responses add $1,000-$5,000. TTAB oppositions and cancellations typically run $15,000-$75,000. Federal IP litigation in the SDNY commonly starts at six figures and can reach seven for complex matters. Many of the boutiques on this list offer flat-fee filings and clearance searches; the larger firms usually bill hourly for prosecution and always for litigation.
What's specific about trademarks & ip in New York City
New York City is the global capital for fashion, media, advertising, finance, and entertainment - which means it is also one of the world's most active IP enforcement venues. The Southern District of New York hears more major trademark and copyright cases than almost any other federal court in the country. Customs and Border Protection enforcement against counterfeit imports into the Port of New York is a daily reality for major brands. NYC IP firms tend to have deep relationships with USPTO examiners, federal judges in the SDNY and EDNY, and the major online marketplaces' trademark teams - which translates directly into faster, cheaper enforcement results.
Red flags to watch for when picking a trademarks & ip lawyer in New York City
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of New York City firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific outcome — a registered trademark, a tax-debt reduction, a particular court result — walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The work is handled by an unsupervised junior or paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to representative matters, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific examples and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate New York City firm will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most New York City firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day-to-day? Get a name. Get an email.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign.
What expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs surprise people. Ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes for a matter like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
Who else might be involved? Experts? Co-counsel? Larger matters routinely involve outside experts. Know who's on the team.
How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? The rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
What's the worst-case outcome for my matter? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to register a trademark in New York?
U.S. trademark applications at the USPTO currently take roughly 12-18 months from filing to registration if there are no objections, and longer if the examining attorney issues an Office Action. New York doesn't have a separate state-trademark process for most purposes - your federal registration is what gives you nationwide enforceable rights.
Do I need a trademark before I start using my brand?
No - common-law trademark rights begin the moment you actually use a brand in commerce. But common-law rights are limited to your geographic area of use and are far weaker than a federal registration. Most serious businesses file a USPTO application before, or shortly after, launching a brand they intend to scale.
Can I copyright an idea?
No. Copyright protects the specific expression of an idea - the actual code, the actual photo, the actual text - not the idea itself. If you want protection on the underlying invention or method, you may need a patent or trade-secret protection instead.
Someone is selling counterfeits of my product on Amazon. What can my lawyer do?
A lot. NYC IP firms regularly run anti-counterfeiting programs - takedown notices through Amazon Brand Registry, DMCA copyright notices, USPTO/Customs trademark recordation, civil seizures, and federal litigation in the SDNY against named and 'John Doe' defendants. Speed matters; the longer counterfeits sell, the harder the cleanup.
How much does trademark litigation cost in New York?
A simple trademark opposition at the TTAB can be resolved for $15,000-$50,000. Federal trademark or copyright litigation in the Southern District of New York typically runs $150,000-$1M+ depending on complexity. Many firms offer hourly arrangements at the start and will discuss alternative fee structures or settlement strategy as the case evolves.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team
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