Our Distinctions in Legal Excellence
Showcasing the tangible evidence of our expertise and dedication to excellence.
The expertise, value, attentiveness, and responsiveness that Pirkey Barber provides is unparalleled.
Pirkey Barber “has grown its practice immensely and built up a huge roster of brilliant clients,” to become “a respected, long-time player in the field with a sophisticated approach.
Pirkey Barber provides an exceptional service characterised by speed, responsiveness, subject-matter and practical proficiency. The firm is best in class.
An ‘outstanding’ and ‘highly venerated firm with a who’s who list of clients’, Pirkey Barber is brimming with ‘sophisticated and capable attorneys’.
The IP boutique founded by trademark luminaries Louis Pirkey and Bill Barber maintains its market-leading presence in Texas, with the state’s deepest dedicated trademark bench and one of the most sophisticated practices in the country.
2024
Gold
- Nationally Ranked Firm: Pirkey Barber ranks in the Gold Tier among top US firms for trademark law
- One of two firms to receive a Gold Tier ranking for Texas
- Nationally Ranked Attorneys: Bill Barber (enforcement and litigation), Lou Pirkey (enforcement and litigation, prosecution and strategy)
- Texas: Bill Barber, Michael Metteauer, Alicia Morris Groos, Lou Pirkey, Shannon Vale
Silver
- Nationally Ranked Attorneys: Bill Barber (prosecution and strategy), Michael Metteauer, (prosecution and strategy), Shannon Vale (prosecution and strategy)
- DC Metro Area: Tara Vold
- Texas: Sherri L. Eastley, Steven Espenshade, Chris Kindel, Anna Kuhn, Wendy Larson, Steve Meleen, Christopher Weimer
Bronze
- DC Metro Area: Pirkey Barber is among twelve firms with a Bronze Tier ranking
- California: Erik Combs
- Texas: Alexandra Bistline, Megan Bradshaw, Jered Matthysse, Rebecca McCurry, Tyson Smith, Travis Wimberly
2025
- Firm of the Year, U.S. Trademark Disputes – South
- One of only four firms in the U.S. to receive Tier 1 rankings in both Trademark Prosecution and Trademark Disputes
2025
- Bill Barber, Sherri Eastley, Chris Kindel, Wendy Larson, Steve Meleen, Louis Pirkey, and Travis Wimberly recognized as Trademark Stars (National and Texas).
- Anna Kuhn recognized as a Trademark Star (Texas).
- Rebecca McCurry recognized as a Notable Practitioner (Texas).
2025
Best Lawyers®
The 31st Edition of Best Lawyers in America® included 24 Pirkey Barber attorneys across three practice areas: Trademark Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, and Copyright Law.
- Trademark Law – Bill Barber, Rodney Caldwell, Sherri Eastley, Steven Espenshade, Alicia Morris Groos, Chris Kindel, Anna Kuhn, Wendy Larson, Katherine Klammer Madianos, Steve Meleen, Michael Metteauer, Lou Pirkey, Shannon Vale, and Chris Weimer
- Litigation – Intellectual Property – Bill Barber, Rodney Caldwell, Wendy Larson, Jered Matthysse, Steve Meleen, Lou Pirkey, Tyson Smith, and Travis Wimberly
- Copyright Law – Steven Espenshade, Alicia Morris Groos, and Shannon Vale
Ones to Watch
Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch recognized 7 Pirkey Barber Attorneys for their outstanding professional excellence: David Armendariz, Alexandra Bistline, Megan Bradshaw, Erik Combs, Lisa Harkins, Rebecca McCurry, and Elizabeth Stafki
Best Lawyers® recognized Lou Pirkey as the 2025 Austin Lawyer of the Year in Litigation – Intellectual Property.
2025
USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers
- Firm ranked in Band 1 in the category of Intellectual Property – Texas alongside only one other firm.
- Individual rankings in the areas of Trademark and Copyright in Texas: Lou Pirkey (Senior Statespeople), Bill Barber (Band 1), Sherri Eastley (Band 3), Alicia Morris Groos (Band 3), Anna Kuhn (Band 3), and Wendy Larson (Band 3).
2024
USA Thought Leaders: Trademarks
- Bill Barber, Alicia Morris Groos, Chris Kindel, and Lou Pirkey
USA Recommended Practitioners: Trademarks
- Alicia Morris Groos, Wendy Larson, Jered Matthysse, Steve Meleen, Michael Metteauer, Shannon vale, Christopher Weimer
2024
- Alex Bistline, Steve Meleen, Lou Pirkey, Shannon Vale
2024
Best Lawyers
In 2024, the 30th Edition of Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White, Inc. included 22 Pirkey Barber attorneys across three practice areas:
- Trademark Law – Bill Barber, Rodney Caldwell, Sherri Eastley, Steven Espenshade, Alicia Morris Groos, Chris Kindel, Anna Kuhn, Wendy Larson, Katherine Klammer Madianos, Jered Matthysse, Steve Meleen, Michael Metteauer, Lou Pirkey, Shannon Vale, and Chris Weimer
- Litigation – Intellectual Property – Bill Barber, Rodney Caldwell, Wendy Larson, Jered Matthysse, Steve Meleen, Lou Pirkey, Tyson Smith, and Travis Wimberly
- Copyright Law – Steven Espenshade, Alicia Morris Groos, and Shannon Vale
Ones to Watch
The 2024 edition of Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch recognized David Armendariz, Alexandra Bistline, Megan Bradshaw, Erik Combs, and Elizabeth Stafki for their outstanding professional excellence.
2022
- Eleven of our attorneys were recognized in 2022, the guide’s inaugural year: Bill Barber, Alexandra Bistline, Erik Combs, Alicia Morris Groos, Wendy Larson, Jered Matthysse, Steve Meleen, Michael Metteauer, Louis Pirkey, Christopher Weimer, and Travis Wimberly.
2021
- Texas “Rising Stars:” David Armendariz
2020
- The Best of the Best USA Trademark: Michael Metteauer
2020
Wendy Larson- International Law Office Client Choice Award in the category of Intellectual Property: Trademarks for Texas
- Four of our attorneys hold Martindale Hubbell’s prestigious AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated* designation, including Bill Barber, Rodney Caldwell, Lou Pirkey, and Shannon Vale.
2013
2013 Go-To Law Firm for the Top 500 Companies for our work in Intellectual Property Law
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