Recognizing his influential career as “one of the most accomplished trademark lawyers in the United States,” global intellectual property magazine IAM inducted Pirkey Barber PLLC co-founder Louis Pirkey to its highly respected IP Hall of Fame. Lou was one of only five in the world to join the venerable list in its class of 2020, which included other internationally renowned practitioners and scholars, a UK Supreme Court justice, and trailblazers in Chilean IP law and USPTO administration.
“I have been privileged throughout my career in intellectual property law to be surrounded by talented law partners and associates, astute clients, instructive adversaries, and a supportive family,” Lou told IAM upon news of his induction. “I founded my current firm with Bill Barber and Steve Meleen — fabulous colleagues and two of the best intellectual property lawyers on the planet. They and others have guided me in the right direction and produced outstanding work bearing my name. I am forever grateful for their efforts, and deeply honored to be elected to join so many champions of intellectual property in the IP Hall of Fame.”
“We couldn’t be more proud of Lou for this amazing accomplishment,” said Bill. “This induction truly is reserved for the very elite of the elite in the IP world. What a fitting honor for Lou, not only for all he has done for the world of trademark law, but also for his tireless work as a leader and mentor at Pirkey Barber and in the wider Iegal community. So many of us would not have the careers we have without Lou’s positive influence, and we’re glad to see him earn this global recognition.”
Lou’s accomplished career, which spans more than four decades, also includes serving as president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, a member of the International Trademark Association’s board of directors, chair of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section, charter president of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association, and life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the Austin Bar Foundation.
Since 2006, the IAM (Intellectual Asset Magazine) IP Hall of Fame has honored outstanding individuals who have made a game-changing, positive impact on the global IP landscape. New inductees are chosen by the IP Hall of Fame Academy, which consists of previous inductees as well as other distinguished members of the global IP community.