Managing worldwide portfolio for a top 25 U.S. financial institution, including clearance, filing strategy, maintenance, and enforcement matters. Enforcement includes infringement as well as domain name cybersquatting and phishing.
Managing worldwide trademark portfolio for a payment solutions company, including prosecution, clearance, strategy and enforcement.
Managing US and foreign portfolio for a Congressionally mandated organization that supports US national parks, including clearance, filing strategy, examination and maintenance as well as managing licensing and agreements.
Managing worldwide portfolio for a paint and coatings manufacturer, including clearance, filing strategy, examination, and maintenance. Handling worldwide assignment of marks following internal business reorganization.
“Honigman stands out as the best law firm for all intellectual property matters. Highly respected in the state, they are flexible and forward-thinking, consistently delivering high-quality work. More than just a law firm, they are a true partner, with a team whose dedication, proficiency and creativity form the foundation of their excellent client service.
Attorney Biographies
Partner
202.844.3371
rhofstatter@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Copyright
Rachel Hofstatter helps clients acquire, protect and enforce intellectual property rights. She prosecutes and manages trademark portfolios worldwide, designs and implements filing and enforcement strategies, counsels clients on trademark and copyright issues, and handles IP transactions including due diligence and licensing. She has represented clients from various industries in intellectual property litigation in federal court, at the US Patent and Trademark Office, and at the National Arbitration Forum. Her litigation experience includes the prosecution and defense of trademark, trade dress, copyright and patent infringements, unfair competition, domain name disputes, trademark oppositions and cancellations, and false advertising claims.
Prosecution: Managing domestic and international trademark portfolios, including worldwide search and clearance of marks and designs, trademark and trade dress applications, office action responses, ex parte appeals and maintenance of registrations; coordinating foreign applications and registration maintenance; preparing and recording assignments worldwide; preparing and filing US copyright applications; managing domain name registrations.
Trademark enforcement and litigation: Developing and managing enforcement programs; litigating in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in federal courts; defending trademarks against third party objections; mediating trademark cases; arbitrating domain name disputes under policies such as the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).
Transactions: Negotiating and drafting trademark and copyright licenses, assignment agreements, consent agreements, coexistence agreements, non-disclosure agreements, collaboration agreements, security interest agreements, photograph and video releases, intellectual property warranties and disclosures for acquisition and purchase agreements; conducting due diligence for intellectual property disclosures.
Client counseling: Advising clients on trademark and copyright matters, including cost effective and efficient filing strategies, proper use of trademarks, infringement analysis, rights of privacy and publicity; preparing trademark use guidelines; drafting employee policies on trademark use; reviewing client advertising materials for trademark and copyright concerns.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Recording and renewing trademarks with CBP; managing CBP seizure notifications for clients; conducting training sessions for Customs officers.
Rachel Hofstatter
Representative Matters
Structured and implemented an enforcement program including anti-phishing take-down measures for a top 25 bank.
Represented many domestic and international clients with prosecution and maintenance of marks in the US and worldwide.
Handled and resolved successfully opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Trial team for plaintiff resulting in a consent judgment in which the defendant admitted willful infringement.
Co-authored amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit regarding the genericness of a mark.
Trained Customs and Border Protection officers on how to determine whether a watch is a counterfeit Swiss watch.
Manage seizure notifications for counterfeit imports.
Negotiated dozens of license agreements, consent and coexistence agreements, assignment agreements, and settlement agreements for resolving litigation.
Counseled clients on brand expansion and new markets.
Advise clients regarding right of publicity and invasion of privacy inquiries and release documents.
Drafted employee policies regarding trademarks and social media.
Successfully defended against a preliminary injunction for a telecommunications client.
Conducted due diligence and negotiated intellectual property warranties for acquisition agreements.
Prior Experience
Steptoe & Johnson LLP, 2004-2020
Education
The George Washington University Law School, J.D.
with Highest Honors; Order of the Coif; Senior Notes Editor, The George Washington Law Review
The Pennsylvania State University, B.A. with Honors and with Highest Distinction; Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Awards
World Trademark Review 1000 –the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals: 2017-2025
2024 “Rachel is one of the most intelligent attorneys out there and her work ethic is beyond amazing. She responds quickly, gets great results and gives sound advice. Her ability to weave into the fabric of her clients’ business and understand their needs means she proactively protects and defends crucial trademarks.”
2022 “Rachel has great expertise on all matters relating to trademarks. She
responds quickly, gets excellent results, knows her clients’ needs and suggests creative ways to attain key objectives.”
2021 Hofstatter “manages complex trademark programmes that would otherwise be extremely time-consuming and labour-intensive tasks to handle in-house with great expertise.”
World Intellectual Property Review Leader (2023)
The Legal 500, Intellectual Property: Trademarks: Non-Contentious: 2014 - 2016
Emerging Technologies and Practices Task Force Leader, 2022 - 2023
Enforcement Committee, 2016 – 2019
Task Force Leader, Pretext Investigations, 2018 – 2019
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2012 – 2016
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, 2019 – present Board member
Northern Virginia task forces; Women’s Philanthropy lay leadership
Anessa Owen Kramer
Partner
248.566.8406
akramer@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Copyright Litigation
Anessa Kramer is an intellectual property attorney with significant experience managing large international trademark portfolios for clients across a wide spectrum of industries, including pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. She manages U.S. and global trademark enforcement work, in particular, for a number of prominent and famous trademarks that are part of our everyday landscape. Anessa is particularly skilled in the implementation of cost-effective trademark clearance, procurement, and protection strategies, and she is widely recognized for her ability to provide “bespoke” services to clients, focused on their specific needs and business. Her experience touches all areas of trademark law, including domain name issues, social media, digital and print advertising and marketing, and licensing.
Trademark clearance and prosecution: brand management counseling; developing and implementing cost-effective portfolio management and global trademark clearance strategies; selection and management of foreign counsel; and representation of clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Trade dress: prosecuted numerous trade dress applications before the USPTO involving product configurations and look-and-feel; enforcement of trade dress rights
Trademark enforcement: implementing and managing both small- and large-scale trademark enforcement programs, including through watch services, investigations, cease-and-desist letters, and litigation; extensive representation before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; representing clients in federal courts around the country in trademark/trade dress infringement, dilution, cybersquatting, counterfeiting, unfair competition, and false advertising litigation; working with U.S. Customs to stop infringements at the border; obtaining temporary restraining orders/ex parte seizure orders and executing seizures in counterfeiting cases
E-commerce: challenging infringing domain names through Uniform DomainName Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) and cybersquatting actions; negotiation of domain name transfer agreements; representing clients in matters involving keyword advertising and other internet issues
Corporate transactions: conducting due diligence review on behalf of purchasers of intellectual property rights; assisting in due diligence on behalf of sellers of intellectual property rights; negotiation of sale of intellectual property rights; recordation of security interests and assignments
Licensing: drafting and negotiating license agreements; considering protection and enforcement strategies for licensed goods
Advertising and marketing: review advertising and promotional materials for compliance with advertising and trademark laws; evaluation of possible false advertising claims; review sponsorship and product placement agreements.
Representative Matters
Manage the global trademark portfolio of pharmaceutical companies, including prosecution, enforcement, and clearance
Manage the global trademark portfolio of an international consumer health business and its affiliates, including worldwide enforcement and clearance
Structured a cost-effective trademark enforcement program on behalf of owners of several famous brands
Handled and successfully resolved dozens of oppositions before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, including a number that have gone through trial
Reclaimed dozens of infringing domain names in cybersquatting UDRP actions on behalf of multinational companies
Advised clients on trademark issues arising in the social media and advertising/digital advertising context
Obtained preliminary injunction and monetary damages against multiple defendants in trademark infringement action in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
Negotiated dozens of license agreements, coexistence agreements, consent judgments, and settlement agreements as a means of resolving trademark disputes
Counseled companies, from Fortune 500 companies to start-up entities, on trademark clearance and mitigation of risk relating to international brand expansions.
The George Washington University Law School, J.D. with honors
The George Washington Journal of International Law and Economics, Managing Editor; Moot Court Board; George Washington Legal Research and Writing Program, Dean’s Fellow Michigan State University, B.A. with honors
Admissions
Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Awards
Listed in Chambers USA, 2017-2025
Recognized in Band 1, the top tier, in Intellectual Property in Michigan; Chambers USA states:
“Anessa is a thoughtful, creative and highly skilled trademark attorney who has been a true partner to our business in every sense of the word. “Anessa provides business savvy advice quickly.”
“Anessa gives incredibly practical and business-savvy trademark advice.
She is incredibly responsive and provides great value for money.”
“Anessa is a fantastic lawyer and business partner. She’s thoughtful in her analysis and clear in her advice.”
One source lauds her as an “excellent attorney” who is “very responsive” and “provides clear, understandable advice.”
“Anessa Kramer has a highly regarded trademark practice, frequently assisting clients across a full range of portfolio management matters. She is described as a ‘superstar’ by impressed peers.”
“Anessa Kramer advises on all areas of trademark law, including domain name issues, social media matters and licensing. Clients describe her as ‘an expert in the field’ who gives ‘really terrific advice.’”
“Anessa Kramer is widely regarded as one of the leading trademark specialists in the state, with considerable experience advising global brands on matters of trademark prosecution and enforcement. Clients describe her as a ‘fantastic counselor,’ with one source going on to add: ‘She is responsive, business-savvy and smart.’”
The Best Lawyers in America, 2014-2025
Recognized in practice areas of Trademark Law and Copyright Law
Troy Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year,” 2023
Troy Trademark Law “Lawyer of the Year,” 2017
World Trademark Review, Global Leader, 2022 and 2024
World Trademark Review 1000 –the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2015-2025
World Trademark Review 1000 states: “[Anessa Kramer’s] wealth of foreign
Anessa Owen Kramer
counsel connections in over 150 countries provides a stronghold for companies looking to enforce their trademarks internationally. Testament to the quality of her work, Kramer is well respected by peers: ‘Even if we are competitors, it is nice to see her on the other side. She is great.’”
“[Anessa Kramer] is a fantastic business partner who gives practical advice while remaining creative and open to new approaches. She delivers exceptional value and flexibility, has substantial international experience and demonstrates extremely good instincts for conflict resolution and avoidance. She’s one of the best trademark attorneys in the US.”
“[Anessa Kramer] navigates difficult issues with skill and grace. She is ultra-responsive and a superb relationship manager who is always clear on the staffing of matters and pricing. She understands the commercial impact of her advice and is a great business partner”.
“Nobody is as quick, practical, smart or proactive as Anessa, whose advice can be relied on 100%.”
“Kramer is beloved by foreign associates who cite her as being ‘outstanding on all fronts.’ ‘To find a US attorney who is not only supremely capable and commercial but who also offers excellent value is incredibly hard, but Anessa fits the bill perfectly. She is one of the best trademark lawyers in the world. Super responsive, intelligent and practical, she thinks ahead and can answer your questions before you’ve even asked them. Her excellent team instills great confidence so that you know you are in the best of hands.”
“Highly recommended for her portfolio management proficiency, [Anessa] is in sync with her clients – who are invariably famous brand owners – on a commercial level.”
“Strategic maven Anessa Kramer is a ‘fantastic attorney who consistently impresses. She always has an interesting take on matters and puts together excellent prosecution plans.’”
“[Anessa] stands out for her adroit portfolio management and her flair at recovering web addresses for beleaguered brand owners in domain name arbitration.”
“Colleague Anessa Kramer is lauded for her prosecution prowess; able to handle a great number of marks with ease, she has also successfully implemented cost-effective brand management programmes for a number of high-profile clients.”
DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2012-2019
Michigan Super Lawyers, 2010-2024
Named as one of the:
Top 25 Women Business Super Lawyers, 2014-2017
Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, 2014-2020
Top 100 Super Lawyers, 2016
Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS, Recognized as Trademark Star, 2013-2022, 2024-2025
Named to “Top 250 Women in IP” globally, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Law Bulletin Media
Leading Lawyers, Copyright & Trademark Law, 2017, 2023-2024
Leading Lawyers, Intellectual Property Law, 2017, 2023-2024
International Who’s Who of Trademark Lawyers, 2013-2015, 2020
Michigan Lawyers Weekly, recognized as one of 25 “Leaders in the Law,” 2010
Sylvia Simon Greenberg Young Leadership Award, Honored by Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, 2010
Crain’s Detroit Business, recognized as one of Crain’s “40 under 40”
Metropolitan Detroit business leaders under the age of 40, 2007
Professional & Community Involvement
Michigan Arts and Cultural Counsel, 2020-present (Appointment by Governor Gretchen Whitmer)
State Bar of Michigan
International Trademark Association
Anticounterfeiting Committee, 2020-present
Committee Member, 2003-present
Michigan Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
President, 2016-2017
President-Elect, 2015-2016
Membership Chair, 2013-2015
The Roeper School Board of Trustees, 2012-2021
The Jewish Fund
Board Member, 2011-2020 Liaison, 2009-2011
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Board of Governors, 2008-2014; 2020-present
Partner Leader, Trademark and Copyright Practice Group 734.418.4288
jreitz@honigman.com
Areas of focus Intellectual Property Trademark and Copyright Litigation
Julie Reitz is an intellectual property attorney with significant experience in assisting large organizations manage their global trademark and copyright portfolios. Her clients include national and multinational clients with distinguished intellectual property portfolios. She provides counseling and collaboration on worldwide use, registration, and protection for her clients. She is highly knowledgeable in many aspects of trademark and copyright law, including:
Trademark clearance and prosecution: brand management and intellectual property portfolio counseling; national and international registration, maintenance, and renewal of trademarks; prosecution of domestic trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; selection and collaboration with foreign counsel for worldwide protection of trademarks; representing clients in proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in foreign jurisdictions
Copyright: registration and copyright management counseling
Corporate transactions: conducting analysis and review of intellectual property portfolios on behalf of purchasers; assisting in due diligence on behalf of sellers of intellectual property rights; negotiation of purchase and sale of intellectual property rights; recordation of security interests and assignments
Licensing: drafting and negotiating license agreements; considering protection strategies for licensed rights
Enforcement: enforcement actions involving trademarks and copyrights; prelitigation enforcement, including cease and desist letters, follow-up actions, and preparation negotiation of settlement agreements; representing clients in actions before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in foreign jurisdictions
Advertising and marketing: review advertisements for trademark and copyright issues, including avoidance of third-party issues and proper trademark usage; advertising-related experience, such as sponsorship/ product placement agreements and related licensing agreements
Julie Reitz
Representative Matters
Represented numerous international clients with prosecution and maintenance of international trademark applications filed through the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks
Prepared and negotiated numerous license agreements, coexistence agreements, franchise agreements, and settlement agreements
Prior Experience
Cooper & Riesterer, PLC, Brighton, MI, Associate, 2005-2008
Domino’s Pizza, LLC, Ann Arbor, MI, Intellectual Property Manager, 1998-2005
Education
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D.
magna cum laude; Sol Siegal Award; Raymond Burr Award
Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, Scholarly Writing Editor and Managing Associate Editor
Michigan State University, B.A. Education
Admissions
Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Awards
The Best Lawyers in America, 2019-2025
Recognized in practice area of Trademark Law
Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2013-2015
World Trademark Review, Global Leader, 2022
World Trademark Review 1000 –the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2017-2025
2025 [Julie Reitz] leads the practice with a business-savvy approach and a wealth of expertise, earning her a reputation as “one of the best”. “She consistently makes clients feel like her top priority, always available for calls or urgent advice, and her guidance is unfailingly top-notch.”
2024 “[Reitz] centres her strategy on her clients’ international objectives, taking a globalised approach to maximise their brands.”
2023 “[Julie Reitz] consistently delivers the quick turnaround required in fast-paced industries, makes the trademark process seamless and excels at helping clients understand their options and keeping them informed.”
2022 “Throughout the pandemic, [Julie] has kept everything running so smoothly with our large portfolio – there was never a pause in anything, despite all that’s been going on in the world.”
2021 “Julie handles searches, filings, office actions and renewals in a way that makes the process of protecting trademarks seamless. She keeps you informed along the way so that you understand all your options and is quick to notify of any potential infringements. Overall, she does a fantastic job.”
2020 “[Julie Reitz] is an embedded partner with our global legal team and a key business leader who helps guide important business decisions every day. She takes a lot off our in-house staff’s plate and is a tremendous resource who brings enormous and uncommon expertise, wisdom and common sense to the table.”
2019 “Keeping the trademark and copyright group in a healthy groove as leader is Julie Reitz. [She] has razor-sharp prosecution and brand management skills.”
2018
2017 “‘Extremely efficient and business minded,’ she is ‘very clear on how and where you should spend your money – a truly pragmatic and proactive professional.’”
World Trademark Review, Global Leaders, 2022-2024
Professional & Community Involvement
International Trademark Association, 1998-present
Outreach Subcommittee, Co-Chair Young Practitioners Committee, Member Brand Restrictions Committee, Member
State Bar of Michigan, Member, 2005-present
Intellectual Property Section
Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association, 2008-present
American Bar Association, 2005-present
Intellectual Property Section
Additional Team Members
Aubrey Biache
Staff Attorney
248.566.8486
abiache@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Copyright
Aubrey Biache is an intellectual property attorney assisting with trademark prosecution, maintenance, and enforcement matters and copyright matters. Her experience includes conducting trademark clearance searches, preparing and filing trademark applications and maintenance documents and copyright filings, drafting demand letters and on-line takedown requests, and drafting and filing responses to office actions ranging from simple requirements to complex refusals.
As a former USPTO Trademark Examining Attorney, Aubrey is intimately familiar with the inner workings of the USPTO and has widespread prosecution experience searching the federal trademark database and examining thousands of trademark applications in various industries, including software and information technology, medical equipment, fashion and apparel, sporting equipment, beauty and health products, food and beverage, financial services, and business services. She uses this knowledge to assist clients with navigating the trademark registration system and has a proven track record of obtaining trademark registrations for small and large companies in numerous industries.
Prior Experience
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Examining Attorney, 2016-2021
Education
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. cum laude
Michigan State University, B.S. Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
Admissions
Michigan
Amanda Blackburn
Associate
734.418.4226
ablackburn@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Copyright
Amanda Blackburn is an intellectual property attorney who focuses her practice on a wide range of matters including prosecution and management of worldwide trademark portfolios, trademark and trade dress protection and enforcement, copyright issues, and federal trademark and copyright litigation.
Amanda advises clients in various industries ranging from internationally famous brands to smaller startups on brand prosecution, clearance, and enforcement matters. Amanda’s counseling practice includes developing global trademark protection and enforcement strategies, prosecuting trademark and trade dress applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), conducting trademark clearance searches, advising on global trademark filing strategies, and evaluating fair use trademark and copyright claims.
As a litigator, Amanda assists clients in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) oppositions and cancellation actions, district court litigation involving trademark, copyright, and unfair competition claims, and domain name disputes under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).
Education
University of Toledo College of Law, J.D. with honors
Hope College, B.A.
Business Management
Academic Alumni Honors Scholarship
Admissions
Michigan
Awards
The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025
Recognized in practice area of Intellectual Property Law, Ones to Watch
Michigan Super Lawyers
Recognized as a Rising Star, 2021-2024
Steven Forte
Associate
248.566.8620
sforte@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Copyright
Steven is an associate in the Intellectual Property practice group and focuses his practice on intellectual property and technology transaction matters. Steven works closely with his corporate colleagues to conduct due diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt and equity financing, and private equity and venture capital matters, with attention to intellectual property, information technology, data privacy and security, and software related issues. Steven also drafts and negotiates purchase agreements, assignments, license agreements, transition services agreements, joint development, and security agreements in connection with technology transaction matters.
Steven also handles a wide variety of trademark matters for clients, including conducting trademark clearance searches, preparing and filing trademark applications, and responding to office actions. Steven also has experience drafting cease and desist letters and negotiating consent agreements.
As a registered patent attorney, Steven also works on a variety of patent matters in the automotive and medical device industries, including the prosecution of patent applications and conducting freedom-to-operate and validity/patentability analyses.
Prior Experience
Pulse IP, Trademark Attorney, 2021
Smith & Hopen, P.A., Registered Patent and Trademark Attorney, 2019-2021
University of Central Florida, B.S. Biomedical Science
Admissions
Michigan
Florida
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Aaron
Rosenthal
Staff Attorney
202.899.4132
arosenthal@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Copyright
Aaron Rosenthal is an intellectual property attorney who focuses his practice on trademark prosecution, filings maintenance, and drafting Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) briefs. His experience includes conducting and reviewing trademark clearance searches, and preparing and filing trademark and copyright applications. Aaron counsels a broad range of clients on domestic and global trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, defense, and enforcement matters. As a former Trademark Examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Aaron helped thousands of applicants navigate the trademark registration system.
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Staff Examining Attorney
Education
DePaul University College of Law, J.D.
Sotheby’s Institute of Art, M.A.
Brown University, B.A.
Admissions
District of Columbia
Illinois
Professional & Community Involvements
American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
Copyright Society of the USA, Member
Elizabeth Serrano
Staff Attorney
312.701.9374
eserrano@honigman.com
Areas of focus
Intellectual Property Trademark and Copyright
Elizabeth Serrano is an intellectual property attorney who focuses her practice on trademark and copyright related matters. Liz assists with preparing and filing copyright applications and with domestic and foreign trademark prosecution, clearance, enforcement and brand protection. She conducts trademark clearance searches and she prepares trademark applications, office action responses and maintenance filings for submission with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, Liz manages domestic and international trademark portfolios. She also assists with pre-litigation trademark enforcement matters through cease and desist letters and helps draft and submit filings with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
