Joanne Ludovici is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. From 2010-2013, Joanne was head of the Firm’s Global Trademark Prosecution, Transactions and Strategy Practice Group, where she grew the Firm’s trademark group to be a “top 10” ranked trademark practice, recognized as an industry leader including rankings in Chambers USA, World Trademark Review, Legal 500 and IP Today. Joanne focuses her practice on all aspects of trademark, copyright and domain name acquisition, enforcement and commercial exploitation. She has significant experience in the coordination and strategic implementation of worldwide trademark and domain name portfolios for large multi-national companies, including those in the agricultural, alcohol beverage, computer software, construction and industrial products, consumer goods, energy, entertainment, home improvement, mining, pharmaceutical, security, sports and telecommunications industries. Joanne is also routinely recognized for her substantial transactional experience in the global disposition of million- and billion- dollar brands.

Practice Overview

Counsels clients on the global selection, clearance, acquisition and maintenance of trademarks, service marks, trade names and domain names
Manages comprehensive audits of global trademark and domain name portfolios, and counsels on strategic refinement, supplementation and streamlining of those portfolios
Evaluates intellectual property portfolios in merger and acquisition, restructuring and licensing transactions, including due diligence matters; provides intellectual property protection and leveraging analysis
Represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Develops and implements U.S. and international brand identity programs and international policing programs
Develops trademark and copyright manuals, and establishes in-house training programs, for clients and their employees on procuring and protecting copyright and trademark rights
Manages the strategic implementation of enforcement programs related to trademark, copyright and domain name rights frequently involving famous brand names
Protects and enforces trademark rights, including opposition and cancellation proceedings before the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
Supervises enforcement proceedings in other countries and works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on recording IP rights and seizing infringing products

As a member of the Firm’s Cyber Security & Brand Protection Services Group, Joanne also counsels clients in internet-related areas, in establishing terms and conditions of web site use, privacy policies, fan site policies, contest rules and policing programs. She is routinely involved in the resolution of domain name disputes before ICANN and WIPO, and has been involved in numerous successful appearances in domain name dispute proceedings.

Representative Intellectual Property Clients

The Absolut Company
Bell & Howell
Cell Therapeutics
Engis Corporation
HIG/Bayside Capital
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Rio Tinto
Ted Turner Enterprises
Tyco International
Under Armour

Joanne partners with The Children’s Law Center and serves as pro bono counsel for adoptive parents of children in the neglect system in matters before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Joanne has been named to the World Trademark Review 1000: The World's Leading Trademark Professionals since 2011, and continues to receive its top gold band rankings for her trademark prosecution and transactional work. Joanne was also recognized as a leading trademark lawyer in the 2012-2013 editions of The Legal 500 United States and in 2014, Super Lawyers named Joanne a D.C. Super Lawyer in intellectual property.

Joanne is a frequent writer and speaker on international trademark practice and procedure and is active in the International Trademark Association (INTA). She has been published in the National Law Journal, IP Law 360, Bloomberg, Forbes, Corporate Counsel and other publications. Joanne is also on the faculty of the District of Columbia Bar Association.

Joanne is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia and Rhode Island. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.