Step 01 Week 1
Free consultation
We learn about your brand, your goods and services, and your goals. You get an honest assessment of where you stand and a clear path forward.
Services
Trademark counsel built for your strategies, wants, and timelines.
We work with founders, growing companies, and established brands to register, enforce, and defend their trademarks across the U.S. and Canada. Everything depends on what you need and when you need it. Before work begins, we send you a written retainer and invoice for your review and approval if you engage us.
TM OR ®
Federal registration provides nationwide protection.
Common law trademark rights (denoted by the TM or SM symbol) are inherently weaker than registered trademarks because they are geographically restricted, harder to enforce, and do not establish a public legal record. The registration symbol, i.e., ® provides vastly superior protection for several key reasons: A registered trademark grants you exclusive rights across the entire country. When you use the ® symbol you get the legal presumption of ownership and the exclusive right to use the mark nationwide. Your registered mark is entered into a public database, which warns other businesses not to use similar marks. Registration also gives you the right to initiate legal action in federal court, customs recordation, and the authority that enables cease-and-desist letters to be effectively enforced or infringers could be forced to pay you statutory damages and attorney fees in federal court.
Internet search — Risky investment
A quick web search tells you almost nothing about whether a name is truly available. Real protection comes from a proper USPTO clearance and, when the path is clear, federal registration — so you can build the brand with peace of mind.
TM — Common-law protection
Earned by using a mark in commerce. Limited to the geographic area where you actually do business, and harder to enforce against later users in other regions.
® — Federally registered
Nationwide rights, statutory damages, federal-court jurisdiction, and the public record that puts the rest of the market on notice — the level of protection we’re built to deliver.
What to expect
The process, start to finish.
Most federal trademark "use" applications take 12–16 months from filing to registration when the application is accepted. "Intent-to use" applications take 12 months to 3 years from filing to registration depending upon when you start using the mark. Here is what the journey looks like with us alongside you.
Step 02 Weeks 1–2
Comprehensive search & clearance
We search USPTO records, state registries, and common-law sources for conflicts. You receive a go / no-go recommendation before a dollar is spent on filing.
Step 03 Weeks 2–3
Application filing
We draft and file your application with the USPTO — choosing the right basis (use vs. intent-to-use), identification of goods, and international classes to maximize coverage.
Step 04 Months 4–8
USPTO examination
A USPTO examining attorney reviews the application. We monitor the docket and keep you updated.
Step 05 As needed
Office action response
If the examiner raises issues — likelihood of confusion, descriptiveness, specimen problems — we respond with the legal arguments and evidence to keep the application alive.
Step 06 Months 8–10
Publication & opposition
Your mark is published for 30 days so third parties can oppose. Most applications sail through. If an opposition is filed, we handle the proceeding.
Step 07 Months 10–14
Registration
The USPTO issues your registration certificate. You can now use the ® symbol and enjoy nationwide rights, federal-court jurisdiction, and statutory damages.
Step 08 Years 5 & 10
Maintenance
We docket and file the required declarations of continued use so the registration you paid for stays alive — you will hear from us in year 5, then year 10, then indefinitely, in 10-year renewals.
How an experienced attorney saves you time and money.
- A USPTO search before filing avoids the most expensive trademark mistake — building a brand you can't keep.
- Strategic identification of goods and classes maximizes coverage for the budget you have.
- Proper specimens and office-action responses keep applications alive that pro-se filers commonly abandon.
- We docket (track) renewal deadlines at years 5 and 10 and every 10 years thereafter to protect the registration so you won't miss the deadlines.
- Registered marks make cease-and-desist letters work — usually without filing suit.
- We tell you when you do not need us. Honest scope keeps fees aligned with value.
Typical Trademark Registration and Enforcement Services
Trademark Search & Clearance
Before a single dollar of marketing investment goes into your name, we run a comprehensive USPTO and common-law search to surface conflicts, weak marks, and refusals waiting to happen. You get a clear go / no-go recommendation and a strategy for filing.
Trademark Registration
We draft and prosecute use-based and intent-to-use applications with the USPTO, plus state and Canadian filings when they make sense. We respond to office actions, manage the 9–12-month docket, and handle declarations of continued use at years 5 and 10.
Enforcement & Cease-and-Desist
Most infringement issues are resolved with a well-crafted cease-and-desist letter backed by a valid registration. When they aren't, we escalate to USPTO opposition or cancellation proceedings, online platform takedowns, and federal court.
Domain Name Disputes (UDRP)
If someone is squatting on a domain that infringes your registered mark, we file Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) actions to recover the domain — typically faster and far cheaper than litigation.
What does it cost?
Honest scope, flat where we can.
Every brand is different, but here is the range most clients see. Final quotes come after a free consultation — no surprises, no hourly meter running on the first call. Our hourly rate for legal work is $300, should your situation require extra processing or litigation.
- DIY coaching session
- First consultation: free
- You can perform USPTO searches at USPTO.gov. Warning: searching for an exact mark is inadequate since other marks may be confusingly similar. We will provide you with a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of your trademark and make recommendations. Read the DIY guide →
- USPTO clearance search
- $500 (word mark only)
- We will search existing USPTO registrations and applications for any that are confusingly similar.
- Clearance search
- $750 (logo/image)
- We search the USPTO for logos that are confusingly similar, plus state, common-law, and internet domains.
- Comprehensive clearance search
- $1,000 (word mark or logo)
- Including the USPTO, common law sources, state registries, domain names, and the internet.
- Included
- A complimentary follow-up consultation will be provided to clarify your choices and any potential risks associated with registering. Our objective is to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the process and are fully committed to proceeding.
- Federal application
- $1,600 + filing fees per class
- The registration process involves drafting, filing, and prosecution. Government filing fees are $350 per international class. International classes encompass a wide range of categories. See the USPTO list of international classes →
- Brainstorming session to help you choose a strong mark
- $150 / hour + travel and expenses
- Expert creative facilitation by Marcos, moderated by your ideas. Explore possible names for an hour on the phone and then sleep on them — the answer will come to you, maybe even a new name not yet discussed.
- Cease-and-desist letter
- $500 – $1,500
- Typically $500–$1,500 unless the matter requires extensive investigation, negotiations, or litigation.
- State application
- $950 + filing fees per class
- Drafting, filing, and routine prosecution through registration with a state trademark office. State government filing fees typically start around $50.
- UDRP domain dispute
- $2,500 – $5,000 + filing fee
- Faster and cheaper than federal court for most squatters, not all.
- Trademark transfer of ownership
- $500 + filing fees per mark
- If you have locked in your rights, it becomes more feasible to sell your business or name alone. Fees vary based on the number of marks being re-assigned.
- Confidentiality nondisclosure agreements
- $500
- Confidentiality nondisclosure agreements are among your most powerful tools for protecting your sensitive business information — and for peace of mind when sharing it with partners, contractors or employees.
- Litigation at USPTO
- $300/hr - $3,500 retainer to start
When trademark conflicts are not easily resolved, the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) can sometimes offer relief (if you have been infringed) or grief (if you are accused of infringing). Regardless of the outcome, such proceedings can be emotionally taxing, particularly for individuals unfamiliar with USPTO regulations and procedures. We can guide you through the available options, their associated costs, and potential subsequent actions.
Ranges shown are typical professional fees for straightforward matters in 2026; complex disputes, multi-class portfolios, and litigation are scoped separately. Government filing fees are additional and pass through at cost.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your brand. We'll point you to the right service — even if it isn't us.
Keep exploring
Step-by-step guide
How to perform a trademark search
Seven-step knockout workflow: classes, phonetic equivalents, design codes, common-law, and the prosecution-history check most DIY searchers miss.
Read moreSelf-starters
DIY trademark strategies
Build common-law (TM) rights, search USPTO records, and decide when to register on your own.
Read moreCommon questions
Trademark FAQ
Costs, timelines, common-law rights, and what registration actually gets you.
Read more