Steve Meleen
Steve Meleen is a trademark law veteran with more than 25 years of experience in the field. His focus is trademark litigation while boasting extensive experience in copyright counseling and litigation. His impactful leadership roles include President and board member of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association, Chair of the Trademark Internet and Trademark Litigation Committees of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and Chair of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section’s Trademark Committee, showcasing his ongoing dedication and influence within the legal domain.
Focus areas:
Litigation
Social Media & Domain Names
Advertising
Disputes Authority Steve Meleen Is A ‘Masterful Tactician Who Can Swiftly Determine The Most Effective Course Of Action To Achieve A Great Resolution.’
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2013)
Steve Meleen Is A Go To For Gut Checks And Answers To The Questions That Ceo's Throw At In-House Counsel. Ridiculously Smart, He Has Exceptional Litigation Judgement And Provides Sound, Thoughtful Advice In Every Situation. As One Client Enthuses: 'There Is Nobody I Would Trust More To Handle A Complex Infringement Case.'
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2020)
Steve Meleen Is A Trademark And Unfair Competition Law Expert With A Focus On Trials And Litigation. He Has Been At The Forefront Of The Firm's Work On Internet-Related Issues And Domain Names.
- Chambers & Partners USA (2016)
Steve Meleen, A Talented And Worthy Adversary In Court.
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2015)
Extremely Bright Litigator Steve Meleen Has A String Of Successes To His Name. He Polices And Enforces The Rights Of A Host Of Well-Known Brands, Including Dell Inc., Sxsw Inc. And Tgi Friday's Inc.
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2014)
Meleen Knows How To Enforce Rights In A Strategic, Practical Manner And Instills Confidence When Handling Complex Litigations; He Always Provides Sound, Thoughtful Advice And Is A Pleasant Person To Be Around, Too.
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2018)
Meleen Is A Well-Rounded Attorney Whose Nimble Courtroom Performances Have Secured Repeated Successes For A Multitude Of Clients, Including Exxonmobil.
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2017)
Meleen Also Has A Strong Contentious Focus, With A Flair For Online Challenges: 'There Is Nobody More Trustworthy When It Comes To Handling Complex Litigation Than Steve. His Approach To Enforcement Situations Is Sound, Thoughtful, Strategic And Practical.'
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2021)
Steve Meleen Is A Well-Regarded Practitioner In Trademark And Unfair Competition Law Who Specializes In Trademark Litigation. He Is Particularly Active In Internet Issues, Where He Actively Monitors Developments And Policies Impacting Trademark Owners.
- Chambers & Partners USA (2018)
For many years, we have counted on Steve Meleen to handle our most complex and contentious matters. Steve’s deep insight of the law and enforcement experience have been invaluable to us. He projects an effective and measured confidence, and is a great thinking partner. When it comes to bet-the-brand litigation, there are few attorneys in the United States who possess the same skill set and success rate.
- World Trademark Review's WTR 1000 (2023)
Steve Meleen has specialized in trademark law since he began his career with Arnold White & Durkee in 1996. Steve handles all aspects of trademark and unfair competition law, and primarily focuses on trademark litigation. He is also experienced in copyright counseling and litigation.
Steve has been actively involved in internet developments and policies affecting trademark owners, and devotes a significant portion of his practice to internet-related trademark issues. He has served as President and board member of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association, Chair of the Trademark Internet and Trademark Litigation Committees of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and Chair of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section’s Trademark Committee.
Steve received his J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of Texas Law Review and Order of the Coif. Before law school, he was a nuclear engineer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, specializing in reactor plant shielding of nuclear-powered submarines, aircraft carriers, and guided-missile cruisers.
- Chambers & Partners USA, Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Copyright In Texas (2015-2023)
- 500 Leading Litigators In America, Lawdragon (2022)
- Lawyer Of The Year For Litigation – Intellectual Property In Austin, Best Lawyers® By Woodward/White, Inc. (2022)
- Lawyer Of The Year For Trademark Law In Austin, Best Lawyers® By Woodward/White, Inc. (2013, 2019)
- WTR 1000 The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, World Trademark Review (2011-Present)
- Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars (2013-Present)
- Managing Intellectual Property – Top Seven Outstanding IP Litigators In Texas (2015)
- The Best Lawyers In America® By Woodward/White, Inc. (2011-Present)
- Trade Mark Expert Guide, Legal Media Group (2014-Present)
- Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who Of Trademark Lawyers, Law Business Research Ltd. (2007-Present)
- Texas Super Lawyers® List, A Thomson Reuters Service (2015-Present)
- Texas Rising Stars List By Super Lawyers®, A Thomson Reuters Service (2004)
- WIPR Leader, World IP Review, Newton Media Ltd. (2015-2021)
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Commander’s Special Achievement Award, 1990
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Fellows (2017-Present)
- Former Chair, Trademark Internet Committee
- Former Chair, Trademark Litigation Committee
- American Society Of Mechanical Engineers
- Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
- President (2019), Board Member (2016-2020)
- Federal Bar Association
- The Honorable Lee Yeakel IP Inn Of Court
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Online Trademark Use Subcommittee, Former Chair
- State Bar Of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section
- Council Member (2014-2017)
- Former Chair, Trademark Committee
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Austin Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- Texas Law Review Association Board Of Directors Sustaining Life Members
- “Building Your Evidence for Trademark Infringement and Counterfeiting Cases,” State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Litigation 2024, January 2024
- Editor-In-Chief, Trademark Infringement Remedies, 3rd Edition, 2017 And Cumulative Supplements; Aba Section Of Intellectual Property Law (Bna)
- Panelist, Trademark Trial And Appeal Board Mock Trial, State Bar Of Texas 29th Annual Advanced Intellectual Property Law Course, Austin, Texas, February 2016
- Intellectual Property Issues In Bankruptcy And The Exclusion Of Trademark Licenses From The Definition Of Intellectual Property, 34th Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, Ut Law, Austin, Texas, November 2015
- Speaker, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Trademark Boot Camp, Cease-And-Desist Campaigns, Washington, Dc, June 2014
- Moderator, Texas Bar Cle Advanced Intellectual Property Law Course, Austin, Texas, February 2013
- Co-Host, Inta Roundtable, IP Due Diligence In M&A Transactions, Austin, Texas, September 2012
- Hot Topics, Warm Muffins, And Dying Embers In Trademark Trial And Appeal Board Practice, Texas Bar Cle Advanced Intellectual Property Course, Houston, Texas, March 2012
- Lecturer On Internet Trademark Issues, The University Of Texas School Of Law
- Aipla Live Online Seminar: Patent, Trademark And Copyright: Hot Topics From 2007, November 2007
- Trademarks 2006-07: Monsters, Hogs, And Daisy Duke (Rated R), Year In Review Plenary Session, Aipla Annual Meeting, October 2007
- Advertising On The Internet And Resulting Trademark Issues, Minnesota Cle Trademark Law 2007, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 2007
- Host, Inta Roundtable, Legal Issues In Marketing And Advertising, Austin, Texas, January 2007
- Judge, American Bar Association And National Arbitration Forum Arbitration Competition, November 2006
- Federal Dilution, State Bar Of Texas Advanced Intellectual Property Law Course, Austin, Texas, March 2006
- Co-Host, Inta Roundtable, Trademark Litigation, Austin, Texas, October 2005
- Trademark Law Update, Including Dilution, State Bar Of Texas Intellectual Property Law Course, Austin, Texas, April 2003
- Co-Author, Recent Developments In Trademark Law: Elusive Dilution? Sorting The Resulting Confusion, Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal, Winter 2003 (11 Tex. Intell. Prop. L. J. 351)
- Trademarks 2002-2003: Lingerie To Lawn Care, Austin Intellectual Property Law Association, May 2003
- Co-Author, Aipla’s Amicus Curiae Brief, Dastar Corp. V. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., 2003
- Co-Author, Transnational Domain-Name Disputes, The U.S. Perspective, International Trademark Association, Trademarks In Cyberspace 2002, Brussels, Belgium, September 19, 2002
- Host, Inta Roundtable, Unconventional Trademarks, Austin, Texas, October 17, 2000
- Trademarks In Cyberspace, Inta/Nala Presentation, Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 2000
- Recent Developments In Intellectual Property Law, Aba IPl Newsletter, 1997-1999
- Co-Author, Recent Developments In Trademark Law, State Bar Of Texas Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, June 1997
- State Bar Of Texas
- U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Western District Of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District Of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Northern District Of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Southern District Of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District Of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, District Of Colorado
- 1995 J.D., with Honors, The University of Texas School of Law
- Texas Law Review
- Order of the Coif, Texas Chapter
- 1988 B.S., Cum Laude, Engineering Management, Oral Roberts University
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