How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Listen as Much as You Speak,' Says Doug Rettew of Finnegan

In this Law.com How I Made It installment, Chip Rettew, co-chair of Finnegan's litigation and trial section, reflects on his path to practice group leadership and how he continues to manage a robust trademark practice. Snippets from the interview can be found below. Read the full interview here.

What made you pick your practice area?

I’ve long been drawn to branding, advertising, and the psychology that drives consumer behavior. At the same time, I entered law school with the goal of becoming a courtroom advocate (yet knowing little of IP law then). Trademark and related litigation proved to be the ideal intersection of those interests. The work blends legal doctrine with psychology, statistics (for the surveys that often appear in our cases), linguistics, and a nuanced understanding of how various businesses operate. And because the issues we litigate and try often involve things people encounter in their daily lives, this field demands special advocacy. Judges and jurors rarely approach these cases as blank slates; they often bring their own familiarity with, and perceptions of, the brands, claims, and/or businesses at issue. It’s always challenging and never boring.

How did you develop your expertise in your practice area?

As a young lawyer, I did everything I could to develop my expertise on two tracks. From a subject-matter perspective, I watched and learned at Finnegan, wrote, spoke, and taught law school as an adjunct professor of trademarks and unfair competition. At the same time, I raised my hand for as many courtroom reps as I could get. Fortunately, the Finnegan partners gave me ample opportunities. It started a few months in, when I tried a small contract case. Things grew from there and I argued a host of motions—from routine discovery disputes to preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders. By the time I was a senior associate, and before I even made partner, I tried my first trademark jury trial as first chair.

Another way I’ve developed my expertise is to routinely listen to CLEs from other great trial lawyers on the art of opening, direct, cross-examination, closing, and everything else in between.

Finally, one thing that greatly prepared me for my practice is something that might not come immediately to mind: bartending. In addition to putting a nice dent in my student loans, my years behind the bar, from high school through law school, taught me invaluable lessons on how to read people, connect with them, and communicate effectively. Fortunately, I have not had to call the bouncers in to eject any rowdy jurors—so far.

Why did you want to become a practice area leader?

I’ve been involved in firm leadership for many years. I was the head of Finnegan’s trademark/advertising/copyright group for close to a decade. After that, I held positions on our management and compensation committees. All the while, my practice grew, having the good fortune of litigating and trying a number of cases and arguing appeals in various circuit courts. I love the art and science of persuading, connecting to, and communicating with people—particularly jurors—and have mentored our younger lawyers on the craft. So, when Finnegan asked me to co-lead our litigation and trial section, I was ready and honored to do so.