Tracy-Gene G. Durkin Named by Financial Times among Top 10 Legal Innovators in North America

Washington D.C. (December 17, 2018) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is thrilled to announce that Tracy-Gene G. Durkin has been named one of the “Top Ten Legal Innovators in North America” by the Financial Times in the 2018 Innovative Lawyers in North America report.

In acknowledging Ms. Durkin, the Financial Times reports, “Ms. Durkin became a leading authority on design patents and won clients such as Apple. Three of the design patents she helped the company acquire were at the centre of its litigation with Samsung, which was settled ultimately in 2018.”

A highly recognized leader in design patents, Ms. Durkin has been sought out by top-tier consumer product companies and by colleagues around the world for her deep understanding of utility and design patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Her expertise includes helping clear new products and trademarks for use in the marketplace, selecting appropriate IP protection, and enforcing such protection through mediation, litigation, and licensing.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be recognized by the Financial Times and to be named in company with such accomplished colleagues,” said Ms. Durkin. “When it comes to addressing our clients’ global design protection challenges, we will continue to seek unique, cutting edge approaches to solving them.”

In addition to Ms. Durkin’s recognition, Sterne Kessler’s Trademark & Brand Protection practice has been ranked as “Highly Commended” in the FT report in the category of “New Business and Service Delivery Models.” The editors acknowledge the firm for “taking a holistic approach to brand protection” and note, “the firm helps clients address counterfeiting through identifying weaknesses in the supply chain, search engine optimization, and international portfolio development. Clients are able to defend their brand, improve operations and increase sales.”

The annual awards were held in New York on December 10, 2018. To read the full FT report, please click here. See the “Top Ten” feature on page 39.

About Financial Times’ Most Innovative North American Law Firms Awards

In its ninth year, the Financial Times “Innovative Lawyers” program, including a FT special report supplement and an awards gala, recognizes law firms for innovation in a variety of practice areas based on the originality of legal work, the rationale behind strategy, and the impact of the work on clients’ business. Telephone interviews and feedback from clients and independent references are used to assess each nominee. The report is compiled in partnership with RSG Consulting and is the only legal industry ranking of lawyers by innovation.

About Sterne Kessler

Based in Washington, D.C. and renown for more than four decades for dedication to the protection, transfer, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Sterne Kessler is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. Its team of attorneys, registered patent agents, students, and technical specialists include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of IP law tackling innovations across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s practitioners hold nearly 50 masters and 50+ doctorate degrees in science or engineering and represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities in a client service driven environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating. Visit the firm online at sternekessler.com.