Michael S. Metteauer
Michael Metteauer counsels clients on trademark protection strategy and has particular experience in famous brands, non-traditional trademark rights, and internet issues. He handles a diverse range of legal matters, from clearance and transactions to policing and legal proceedings. His counseling approach is shaped by his litigation experience, ensuring cost-effective and goal-aligned solutions for clients.
Michael Metteauer’s practice focuses on strategic trademark counseling and enforcement, with a particular emphasis on famous brands, non-traditional trademark rights, and internet issues. He handles a wide range of matters, from clearing marks for new products to litigating trademark-related claims, primarily before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in federal court. His counseling practice is informed by his litigation experience, where he makes a point of becoming intimately familiar with clients’ businesses and business objectives so that he can provide cost-effective solutions that are consistent with those objectives. Some of his client relationships span two decades or more.
In addition to his client work, Michael has been active in the International Trademark Association (INTA), serving on the Board of Directors and in a number of other leadership positions, including a two-year term as Counsel, the only officer-level position available to law firm members. Through his work with INTA, he has made contacts around the world who are available to assist clients wherever they need trademark assistance.
Michael received his J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. Before law school, he graduated with honors from The University of Texas at Austin, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering.
- The Best Lawyers In America® By Woodward/White, Inc. (2015–2024)
- Lawyer Of The Year For Trademark Law In Austin, Best Lawyers® By Woodward/White, Inc. (2016, 2023)
- WTR 1000 The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, World Trademark Review (2013-2023)
- Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who Of Trademark Lawyers, Law Business Research Ltd. (2007, 2009–2018, 2020-2021, 2023)
- Chambers & Partners USA, Intellectual Property: Trademark & Copyright In Texas, (2015–2017)
- Trade Mark Expert Guide, Legal Media Group (2004, 2009, 2012, 2014)
- Best Of The Best USA – Trade Marks, Expert Guides, Legal Media Group (2018–2020)
- Legal 500 Us, Intellectual Property: Trademarks: Litigation, The Legal 500 (2007, 2015–2019)
- Texas Super Lawyer ® List, Intellectual Property, A Thomson Reuters Service (2016–2019)
- 500 Leading Litigators In America, Lawdragon (2022)
- Volunteer Service Award For The Advancement Of The Association, Inta (2008)
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- International Amicus Committee (2022 – 2023)
- Political Action Committee Board Of Governors (2018 – 2023)
- Non-Traditional Marks Committee (2018 – 2021)
- International Amicus Committee (2014 – 2017)
- Presidential Task Force, Governance (2015 – 2016)
- Counsel (2012 – 2013)
- Executive Committee, Ex Officio (2012 – 2013)
- Leadership Development Committee, Chair (2010 – 2011)
- Leadership Meeting Project Team (2007)
- Long Range Planning Task Force (2006 – 2007)
- Membership Services Committee
- Leadership Development Subcommittee, Team Leader (2006 – 2009)
- Board Of Directors (2003 – 2005)
- Mid-Year Meeting Project Team, Co-Chair (2000)
- Strategic Planning Task Force (1996)
- Trade Dress Committee, Former Chair
- Issues And Policy Committee, Former Chair, Vice-Chair
- Meetings Committee, Former Vice-Chair, Subcommittee Chair
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Travis County Bar Association
- Austin Opera, Board Of Trustees (2006 – Present)
- Executive Committee And Legal Counsel (2010 – 2019)
- Armstrong Community Music School, Board Of Trustees (2007 – 2010)
- Austin Musical Theatre/Broadway Texas, Board Of Directors (1996 – 2003)
- Old West Austin Neighborhood Association
- Ttab Update And Implications Of B&B Hardware, Inc. V. Hargis Industries, Inc. For Corporations, Intellectual Property Owners Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, September 2015
- Think Big! Leadership Ethics And Personal Responsibility, International Trademark Association (Inta) Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, May 2013
- Advanced Dispute Resolution: Borders In A Borderless World, Inta Trademark Law And The Internet Forum, San Francisco, California, February 2009
- Making A Place At The Table For Trademarks Inta Leadership Meeting, Orlando, Florida, November 2007
- Cctlds – What Every Trademark Owner And Practitioner Should Know, Inta Trademarks In Cyberspace Forum, Arlington, Virginia, September 2003
- International Harmonization – Is Harmony Possible Without Harmonization? Inta Annual Meeting, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 2003
- Trademark Owners In Cyberspace: White Knights Or Cyber-Bullies, Inta Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 2002
- Domain Names Around The World, Inta Trademarks In Cyberspace Forum, Chicago, Illinois, October 2001
- Trademark Dilution Law Update, National Cle Conference On Intellectual Property Law, Vail, Colorado, January 2000
- Trademarks In Joint Ventures, Inta Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, May 1999
- Drafting Licenses And Other Agreements And Web Tools, Inta Trademarks In Cyberspace Forum, Toronto, Ontario, October 1998
- Internet Issues Update, Inta Mid-Year Meeting, Puerto Rico, November 1997
- Defending Against Charges Of Infringement Using Informal Discovery, Inta Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, May 1996
- Contributing Author, Recent Developments In Intellectual Property Law – Trademarks, Aba Ptc Section Newsletter, 1990 – 1995
- Contributing Author, Patent Law Handbook, West Group (Formerly Clark Boardman), 1991 – 1995
- State Bar Of Texas
- U.S. Patent And Trademark Office
- U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Western District Of Texas
- J.D. with Honors, The University of Texas School of Law, 1989
- B.S., with Honors, The University of Texas at Austin, 1985
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