Intellectual Property Law and Litigation:
An Experienced New England Firm with a Worldwide Practice

At Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM), delivering high-caliber intellectual property (IP) legal services and personal attention to clients are our top priorities. Our IP Group works collaboratively with other DRM practice groups to protect, enforce and commercialize the intellectual property rights of our clients in New England, the United States and throughout the world. Since our group’s inception in 1995, we have grown steadily to become the preeminent IP practice in Northern New England.

DRM’s dedicated lawyers represent domestic and international clients in the full range of intellectual property matters.

Our IP Team has an established track record helping clients protect and commercialize their intellectual property.

• assisted a publicly traded company in developing a patent “fence” around its unpatented core technology
• negotiated a trademark and copyright license to the works of America’s leading architect
• obtained important victories in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation before federal trial and appellate courts
• led due diligence investigations in connection with venture capital financing, asset purchases and other transactions
• negotiated a patent license agreement involving basic patents for a cure for a major disease
• cleared and obtained federal trademark registrations for clients in consumer products, alcoholic beverage, electronics, travel and other industries
• effectively pursued cybersquatters, counterfeiters and infringers

With eight experienced, full-time IP lawyers, trained paralegals and four trial lawyers focusing on IP litigation, our IP clients can expect personal attention and diligent, informed client service.

DRM’s skilled intellectual property attorneys provide sound advice on how to effectively commercialize your creative assets, protect your brands and manage your IP portfolio.

Our IP lawyers have strong technical backgrounds and experience in industry sectors ranging from chemicals to outdoor sports equipment to microelectronics to turbomachinery. Understanding the complexities of technology and business enables us to advise clients how to develop, protect, defend and commercialize assets developed through innovation and creativity. Our IP lawyers have significant experience in building and protecting brand assets.

We handle matters in these areas:

• copyrights
• intellectual property litigation
• intellectual property transactions
• Internet law
• patents
• software licensing
• trademarks
• trade secrets

Based in Vermont, connected globally

Our clients range from high-tech start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. We represent clients located across the United States and also assist a significant number of foreign companies with their IP legal needs. We have close relationships with a worldwide network of foreign associates. Our selection as Lex Mundi’s Vermont member firm places us among 160 prestigious law firms in 99 countries.

Our senior IP attorneys bring to Vermont experience acquired at top Boston and New York firms and at major corporations. We stay intimately connected with our client base, whether local or far-flung, using email, video conferencing and virtual private networks.

Collectively, DRM’s IP attorneys are licensed to practice in Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York and Washington, D.C., as well as before eight U.S. District Courts, four U.S. Courts of Appeals, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Canadian IP Office. They are actively involved in professional organizations and trade associations related to their areas of concentration.

World-class talent at an excellent value

DRM’s New England location attracts elite attorneys who choose the quality of life afforded by the smaller cities and towns of Vermont and New Hampshire. For DRM’s clients, that means you receive the responsiveness and value associated with a smaller law firm, without sacrificing the talent, dedication and experience expected from big-city firms. Our lower overhead allows us to provide the excellence often associated with higher-priced firms at a significantly lower cost.

Contact Us

To explore how DRM’s IP group can help you identify, protect and defend your intellectual property, contact Practice Group Chair Larry Meier.

DRM welcomes contacts from top-tier law school grads and laterals who are interested in exploring prospects for IP positions at DRM.

A full-service New England law firm

Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC is a full-service law firm. As clients’ needs expand, our attorneys’ focused experience and commitment to vigorous collaboration across practice areas and with our clients can provide seamless, cost-effective legal representation.