Washington, DC (February 10, 2026) – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that the firm’s trademark team has been recognized for the 15th consecutive year among the elite in the DC metro area and New York by World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000: The World's Leading Trademark Professionals. This honor is reserved for the exemplary practices and professionals in regions widely regarded as central hubs for global and national trademark law.
Moreover, eight Venable attorneys, including Intellectual Property Division co-chair Justin Pierce, were singled out for individual recognition. Other individual honorees include Trademark Prosecution and Brand Management Group co-chairs Rebecca Liebowitz and Andrew D. Price; IP Litigation - Advertising, Brand, and Copyright Group co-chair Marcella Ballard; IP Litigation; Advertising, Brand, and Copyright Group partner Sharoni Finkelstein; Trademark Prosecution and Brand Management Group partner Kristen Ruisi; Trademark Prosecution and Brand Management Group counsel Paula Hopkins; and Trademark Prosecution and Brand Management Group associate Sean Phelan.
The Trademark Prosecution and Brand Management Group earned a Gold Tier ranking for Prosecution and Strategy in the DC metro area and a Bronze Tier ranking in New York. The group was also ranked in the Silver Tier for Enforcement and Litigation in the DC metro area and received a Bronze Tier ranking nationally. As noted in the 2026 WTR 1000 guide, Venable is recognized as a leader in U.S. trademark prosecution and litigation and is praised as “an excellent firm. It offers a strong trademark team, which consistently delivers great results.”
On an individual level, Mr. Price was listed in the Gold Tier in the DC Metro Area, in the Gold Tier for Prosecution and Strategy, and in the Bronze Tier for Enforcement and Litigation. He was also listed as “recommended” in the national table for Prosecution and Strategy. Mr. Pierce was listed in the Silver Tier in the DC Metro Area, in the Silver Tier for Prosecution and Strategy, and in the Bronze Tier for Enforcement and Litigation. Ms. Liebowitz was listed in the Gold Tier in the DC Metro Area and in the Gold Tier for Prosecution and Strategy. She was also included in the national table for Prosecution and Strategy as “recommended.”
Ms. Ballard was listed in the Bronze Tier for New York and in Enforcement and Litigation. Ms. Ruisi was listed in the Bronze Tier for Prosecution and Strategy and in the Bronze Tier for New York. Ms. Finkelstein was listed in the Silver Tier for Enforcement and Litigation in California. Mr. Phelan was listed in the Bronze Tier for the DC Metro Area and in Enforcement and Litigation. And Ms. Hopkins comes recommended in the DC Metro Area and was highlighted for Next Generation.
The WTR 1000 research directory, which focuses exclusively on trademark practices and practitioners, has firmly established itself as the definitive, go-to resource for those seeking world-class legal trademark expertise. As with previous editions, to arrive at the 2026 rankings, WTR undertook an exhaustive qualitative research project to identify the firms and individuals that are deemed outstanding in this critical area of practice.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 900 professionals across the country, in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and all intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit our website.