Douglas A. Rettew

Partner

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Douglas A. Rettew

Partner

+1 202 408 4161 +1 202 408 4161
doug.rettew@finnegan.com doug.rettew@finnegan.com

901 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001-4413

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Douglas (Chip) Rettew, co-leader of Finnegan’s litigation and trial section, has been recognized in World Trademark Review WTR 1000 as “[o]ne of the best litigators in the country with an unbelievable success rate,” “a go-to litigation lead for world-famous consumer brands,” and “a bigwig in the IP arena” whose “shrewd litigation and trial skills are unmatched.” WTR 1000 further hailed Doug as a “a no-stone unturned trial lawyer… he boasts ample experience cutting across major dispute forums nationwide. His strategic approach is matched by compelling arguments that have left an indelible mark in federal courts.” According to one client, “When it’s time to go into battle, we want him on our side.” Doug focuses his practice on trademark, false advertising, and unfair competition litigation, trials, appeals, and disputes.

Doug has been noted by clients in World Trademark Review WTR 1000 as “practical and responsive,” and “a fantastic resource and ally for any company in a complicated dispute.” “He brings an amazing amount of enforcement experience to the table and is excellent at providing different legal and commercial viewpoints.” Doug litigates cases involving a broad range of issues, including traditional trademarks, false advertising, product disparagement, rights of publicity, unfair competition, trade dress, design patents, and domain names. Doug is also involved in advertising issues and counseling, right-of-publicity matters, and trademark and copyright prosecution and licensing. Clients include Under Armour, Bridgestone, the NFL Players Association, Capital One, Subaru, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), and PNC Bank.

Doug has first-chair jury and bench trial and appellate experience and has argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal, Second, Fourth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits. He also litigates oppositions, cancellations, and ex parte appeals before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Doug has significant experience in obtaining (and defeating) temporary restraining orders (TROs) and preliminary injunctions, including those involving counterfeiting and ex parte seizures.

Doug is frequently touted as one of the nation’s top trademark lawyers. Touting the group’s “brilliant courtroom reputation,” one source in World Trademark Review WTR 1000 said the following about Doug: “At the helm is eminent group chair Douglas Rettew: ‘His combination of deep legal knowledge and excellent contentious skills engenders a strategic and resourceful approach. He is an exceptional team player whose representation could not be better.’” Another source claimed that his “expertise and service level set the standard that I use to assess all other counsel (on a global basis)” and that he “provides succinct, insightful and strategic advice in a timely manner. His communication and negotiation skills are stellar.” Another source noted, ”[h]e stands out for his ability to actually work out what really matters to me and become invested,” while another stated he is “a fantastic resource and ally.” In 2019, Doug testified during the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing addressing the presumption of irreparable harm in Lanham Act cases.

Doug has also been recognized as a Star Lawyer by Acritas StarsTM; recognized by International Law Office (ILO) and Lexology’s Client Choice Awards for excellent client service in the area of Trademarks; selected as a leading lawyer for trademark litigation by The Legal 500; selected as a Global Leader in private practice and ranked nationally and regionally for his contributions to the fields of litigation and prosecution by the World Trademark Review; recognized as a WIPR Leader for trademarks in the United States by World IP Review; and ranked among top U.S. trademark lawyers in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Trademark Law Practitioners since 2016. He has also served as the principal editor for Trade Dress: International Practice and Procedure: USA Section, International Trademark Association (INTA) from 2010-present. He previously served as leader of the firm’s trademark and copyright practice, as well as a member of both the management and compensation committees.

NOTE: No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Experience

After a four-day trial, secured a jury ruling for Under Armour that Armorina’s use of the ARMORINA mark constitutes trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark dilution. Was selected as National Law Journal’s prestigious Litigator of the Week for the case.

1:19-cv-02417, D. Md., Judge Boardman

After a full trial before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, on an appeal from a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) case, obtained a ruling that the parties’ VAGISIL and VAGISAN marks conflict and that “VAGISIL is a famous mark that has attained substantial commercial strength.”

1:17-cv-00935, E.D. Va., Judge Ellis

Secured a victory on summary judgment for Dean Guitars and the Estate of Dimebag Darrell Abbott in a hotly-contested copyright infringement and unfair competition case of first impression, with multiple Lanham Act, invasion of privacy, and state law claims. The case involved one of the world’s most popular heavy metal guitarists—Darrell Abbott of the band Pantera—and a lightning bolt graphic on his “Dean from Hell” guitar, which for decades has been an inseparable part of Abbott’s persona and likeness. Argued before the Eleventh Circuit, who affirmed the ruling.

8:17-cv-01795, M.D. Fla., Judges Jung, Honeywell
2:17-cv-03027, C.D. Cal., Judges Walter, Wilner
19-10013, 11th Cir., Judges Wilson, Carnes, Branch

Prevailed in a bench trial for Under Armour, securing a consent judgment acknowledging fame of UNDER ARMOUR, ARMOUR, and other ARMOUR-formative marks and a permanent injunction against use of ASS ARMOR on snowboarding shorts.

1:15-cv-20853, S.D. Fla., Judges Cooke, Torres

After a full trial, obtained a decision that Gateway’s cow-spots trademark is strong and famous, and that the defendant’s black-and-white spotted plush novelty computer monitor wraps infringed Gateway’s trade dress rights. Argued before the Eighth Circuit, who affirmed the ruling.

4:01-cv-4096, D.S.D., Judge Schreier
03-3410, 8th Cir., Judges Smith, Beam, Colloton

Prevailed in jury trial, obtaining verdict that the plaintiff's asserted family of software packaging designs was unprotectable.

3:08-cv-02912, N.D. Cal., Judge White

Insights

Hybrid Seminar

23rd Annual IP & Social Justice CLE Seminar 23rd Annual IP & Social Justice CLE Seminar

March 6, 2026

Washington, DC

Hybrid Conference

2025 New York Intellectual Property Law Institute 2025 New York Intellectual Property Law Institute

September 29-30, 2025

New York

Hybrid Seminar

22nd Annual IP and Social Justice CLE Seminar 22nd Annual IP and Social Justice CLE Seminar

February 28, 2025

Alexandria

Hybrid Conference

2024 California Intellectual Property Law Institute 2024 California Intellectual Property Law Institute

October 21-22, 2024

San Francisco

Hybrid Conference

2024 New York Intellectual Property Law Institute 2024 New York Intellectual Property Law Institute

September 30 - October 1, 2024

New York

Articles

The Trademark and First Amendment Dance Continues: Application of the Rogers v. Grimaldi Test After Jack Daniel’s The Trademark and First Amendment Dance Continues: Application of the Rogers v. Grimaldi Test After Jack Daniel’s

September 2024

Practising Law Institute

Upcoming Events

Lecture

IPIC/McGill Summer IP Course 2026: Understanding Trademarks IPIC/McGill Summer IP Course 2026: Understanding Trademarks

July 14, 2026

Montreal

Hybrid Conference

Intellectual Property Law Institute 2026 – New York Intellectual Property Law Institute 2026 – New York

September 28-29, 2026

New York

Hybrid Conference

Intellectual Property Law Institute 2026 – California Intellectual Property Law Institute 2026 – California

October 19-20, 2026

San Francisco

Professional Recognition

"A no-stone unturned trial lawyer, he [Chip Rettew] boasts ample experience cutting across major dispute forums nationwide. His strategic approach is matched by compelling arguments that have left an indelible mark in federal courts."

"Rettew is lauded as 'an exceptional strategist and litigator who is invaluable in complex global litigation, as well as smaller matters at the USPTO and TTAB. Doug is practical, pragmatic and smart, as well as being an incredible subject matter expert. He goes above and beyond when developing strategies for brand protection, and finds creative and cost-efficient ways to deliver an outstanding legal service.'"

"Doug (Chip) Rettew is a superb litigator and all-around trademark expert. He has the client’s best interest in mind at all times, and, like a chess player, is strategic with long term vision."

"Doug Rettew and his team are always ready to assist with any IP issue. Very knowledgeable with complex general IP/trademark, litigation, and copyright issues."

"The team of Doug Rettew and Patrick Rodgers were great to work with. Doug was highly engaged at every step of our trademark litigation. Patrick is very talented at brief writing and discovery planning."

"Tenacious litigator Rettew has a knack for devising business-friendly solutions and is a safe pair of hands for big-ticket litigation."

"Incredibly smart and diligent, but also very accessible, Finnegan is our go-to firm for any trademark litigation. Doug Rettew leads a team of lawyers who make the complicated seem simple and will do whatever it takes to protect our intellectual property."

"Know you are getting the best in IP protection. Doug Rettew and his team are as good as it gets, and their courtroom preparation and presentation are flawless."

"Another top name is Douglas 'Chip' Rettew, whom fellow trademark attorneys insist is "the man to turn to for any trademark litigation matter". He and Mark Sommers have been hailed as 'stellar lawyers. They are tenacious in representing their clients’ interests'".

“Douglas Rettew is one of the go-to litigators for trademark litigation. He has represented some of the largest brands in the world.”

“‘Doug is about as deeply knowledgeable and versatile as they come, and has an engaging manner and personality that set him apart and give him an edge when making presentations to juries.’”

“Doug Rettew inspires confidence, achieves positive outcomes and provides reliable and practical advice. I am very confident that when working with Doug we are in good hands and will obtain excellent results.”

“Douglas (Chip) Rettew runs a tight operation and sets the standard for his colleagues to follow. He understands his clients’ businesses intimately, and his broad skills are essential in getting to grips with the myriad risks that brand owners face. Douglas goes the extra mile when developing strategies for brand protection and finds creative and cost-efficient ways to deliver an outstanding legal service. He’s a bigwig in the IP arena; his shrewd litigation and trial skills are unmatched.”

“I would say he stands out for his ability to actually work out what really matters to me. He takes the time to actually ask and find out, and become invested in that rather than – there are far too many partners that will tell me what they think my problems are and not actually take the opportunity to actually find out for sure. At the same time then having done that, he is particularly creative and good at trying to work out all possible angles to address those problems.”

“Takes a genuine interest in what we’re doing and what we’re trying to achieve and what really matters for us. Willing to provide advice and assistance that helps makes that happen rather than just provide generic advice that sounds lovely, may be technically correct, but isn’t actually that useful.”

“Practice head Douglas Rettew has strong trial and appellate experience and his representative clients include RIM, Capital One and Under Armour. Rettew successfully represented Bridgestone in appealing a TTAB proceeding against Federal Corporation’s application to register the Milanza mark.”

“The group is formed of 11 partners, headed by lynchpin of the practice Douglas Rettew from Washington DC, ‘whose knowledge of the law of trademarks is outstanding.’”

“Finnegan. Henderson. Farabow. Garrett & Dunner LLP's team in Washington DC has ample trademark litigation experience and has been handling a number of trademark disputes across a broad range of industries. Notable experts are practice head Douglas Rettew as well as Mark Sommers and Danny Awdeh.”

“Recommended lawyers include the ‘outstanding’ Douglas Rettew.”

“Boasting ‘a strong reputation in court trials’, the group is a regular fixture in high-stakes Federal Court, Trademark Trial and Appear Board (TTAB) and appellate proceedings, such as sweeping, multifaceted lawsuits for client Under Armour; Douglas Rettew and Danny Awdeh have visited almost every legal venue in the land to enforce its rights against multiple defendants. Rettew primarily handles court hearings, but also ably turns his hand to contract negotiations and wide-ranging strategic mandates.”

“‘One of the best litigators in the country with an unbelievable success rate…practical and responsive’, he is ‘a fantastic resource and ally for any company in a complicated dispute’. ‘He brings an amazing amount of enforcement experience to the table and is excellent at providing different legal and commercial viewpoints.’”

“Other top names in the DC office include Gerald Ivey and Doug Rettew, the latter of whom specializes in trademark matters. A peer calls Rettew ‘very impressive’ and ‘very, very professional’ while a recent client boasts that Rettew was ‘very creative in helping us obtain the maximum protections for our IP.’”

“…Douglas Rettew is a ‘smart, well-informed and practical guy who runs a very tight ship.’”

“Heading the trademark and copyright group is the ‘phenomenal’ Douglas (Chip) A. Rettew. ‘He did a masterful job cross-examining the opposition’s experts and getting admissions that undermine their entire reports and testimony,’ enthused one ‘very happy’ client. His work for marquee brands such as ASOS and Caterpillar is ‘brilliant. He’s creative, he gets the results, and he’s also amazingly cost-sensitive.’”

“At the helm is eminent group chair Douglas Rettew. ‘His combination of deep legal knowledge and excellent contentious skills engenders a strategic and resourceful approach. He’s an exceptional team player whose representation could not be better.’”

“Rettew is a rock star—he is so knowledgeable and wonderful to work with. He is able to look at problems through a commercial lens to identify how they will affect your business and can resolve issues on a legal and business level. He is also great at managing budgets and working through billing concerns.”

“His excellent service is flawless, as he is perpetually responsive and prepared.”

“Doug is one of the best trademark litigators in the country; he has a great understanding of business and our specific industry.”

“Doug is able to craft enforcement strategies which work and are in line with both the client’s legal and business interests.”

“Doug has an unrelenting pursuit to effectively and efficiently achieve the best results on behalf of his clients.”

“His legal advice is outstanding; he offers practical and strategic solutions to billing, staffing and other business challenges to achieve positive outcomes.”

“Doug instils confidence in the attorney client relationship; he routinely encourages his clients to contact him whenever they need.”

“He is an expert in explaining and breaking down complex legal issues.”

“Doug is a truly respected and valued legal and business partner.”

“Doug is knowledgeable and practical; he provides valuable counsel and he is an attorney you can trust completely.”

“Doug is practical, pragmatic and smart; he is an incredible subject matter expert.”

“Doug makes the effort to innately understand the client’s company; he is a trusted business partner.”

“He goes above and beyond when developing strategies for brand protection; he finds creative and cost-efficient ways to deliver outstanding legal service.”

“Doug responds quickly and he is easy to work with; he truly understands the additional business pressures.”

“When it’s time to go into battle, you want Doug on our side; his litigation and trial skills and acumen are unmatched.”

“Doug is a great guy and a joy to work with; he is an extraordinary advocate in court.”

“Doug is a perfect partner; he is not only an able lawyer but also the one of the most affable.”

“He learns the organization's needs and culture; his advice is particularly relevant and helpful.”

“He offers a rare combination of the highest quality legal work along with his passion and enthusiasm for representing his clients.”

“He stands apart for his truly exceptional business and financial acumen; he brings a genuine sense of partnership to every axis of the outside counsel relationship.”

“He is strategic, creative and pragmatic in his approach to legal challenges.”

“Doug makes recommendations that fit the strategic goals and risk tolerance of the business.”

“He has an exemplary balance of substantive expertise and business judgment; he considers the business implications of a legal strategy and offers business solutions as well.”

"Douglas is a practical, diligent and smart lawyer; he is an incredible trademarks expert."

"Douglas intimately understands the company’s needs; he is a trustworthy business partner."

"He understands the additional business pressures that exist for clients; he provides creative and cost-efficient solutions."

"His litigation and trial skills are unmatched; he brings a depth of business knowledge, expertise and collaboration."

“‘Doug innately understands our company and is a trusted business partner,’ a client says. ‘When it’s time to go into battle, we want him on our side.’”

“Douglas Rettew is a leading trademark practitioner at the firm, who a client says ‘goes above and beyond when developing strategies for brand protection.’”

“‘Chip is a very savvy advocate who is universally respected as a positive force in litigation and an up-front, reasonable guy.’”

“‘[V]ery supportive of everyone’ in a way that helps clients get results and colleagues advance their careers.”