Protecting a brand, invention, or creative work in Des Moines?
Intellectual property — a trademark, a patent, a copyright, or a trade secret — is often a Des Moines business's most valuable asset, and protecting it depends on getting filings and agreements right before a competitor or an infringer forces the issue. An IP attorney secures your rights and enforces them when someone crosses the line. The lawyer you choose can decide whether your brand or invention is truly protected.
Choosing an IP attorney matters because intellectual property is technical and unforgiving — a weak trademark filing or a missed patent deadline is hard to undo. Below are Des Moines-area firms and attorneys that appear consistently across Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, and Martindale-Hubbell, with verifiable IP experience. Many are registered patent attorneys or seasoned trademark practitioners, and most handle protection and enforcement alike.
How we picked these 8: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell), bar recognition, verifiable credentials, and consistency across independent directories. Firms that appeared across two or more independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Patent prosecution, trademark, copyright, IP litigation
Founded in 1924, MVS is one of the oldest dedicated IP firms in the country, with registered patent attorneys including Kirk M. Hartung and Super Lawyers-recognized practitioners advising clients in many countries.
Practice focus: Patent prosecution and litigation, trademarks and brand management, IP litigation
Iowa's largest law firm (founded 1918) with roughly ten registered patent attorneys holding scientific and engineering degrees, including IP litigator Jeff Harty and former USPTO administrative judge Stuart Levy.
Practice focus: Patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, licensing, IP litigation
A dedicated IP boutique of more than 60 years staffed by registered patent attorneys, including owner and patent attorney Joshua J. Conley, admitted before the USPTO and the Eighth Circuit.
Practice focus: Patent prosecution, trademark, copyright, internet law, IP litigation
Brett J. Trout is a USPTO-registered patent attorney practicing since 1992 with a Martindale AV rating, a chemistry degree from Grinnell College, and a J.D. with distinction from the University of Iowa.
Practice focus: Patent and trademark prosecution, copyright, IP litigation
Shareholder and IP head Brian J. Laurenzo is a USPTO-registered patent attorney named Des Moines Lawyer of the Year for Trademark Law by Best Lawyers and recognized by Super Lawyers.
Practice focus: Utility and design patents, trademarks, copyright, IP protection
An IP boutique whose registered patent attorney Kyle S. Coleman holds bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering and prosecutes domestic and international patents.
Practice focus: Patent prosecution, trademark and copyright, IP licensing and litigation
Established in 1951, BrownWinick's IP group includes registered patent attorneys and trademark attorney Christopher A. Proskey, who has surpassed 1,000 federal trademark filings.
Practice focus: Patent, trademark, and copyright law, IP counseling
Founded in 1929 and now part of global firm Dentons, the firm offers copyright, patent, and trademark services with attorneys rated by Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, and Super Lawyers.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted IP attorneys in Des Moines. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →Match the lawyer to the asset. Patents require a USPTO-registered patent attorney, usually with a technical or engineering background; trademarks and copyrights are a different discipline; and trade-secret and licensing work is different again. Ask which of these the firm handles directly and whether your specific need is squarely in their wheelhouse.
Think about protection versus enforcement. Filing a trademark or patent is one job; suing an infringer or defending a claim is another. The strongest Des Moines IP firms do both and tell you up front whether your matter is a filing, a dispute, or both — and who would handle each.
The firms above are a starting point, not a verdict. The right lawyer for you depends on your facts, your budget, and how you want to be treated. Use these five signals to compare them.
The right kind of IP focus. IP is several specialties. You want a lawyer whose focus matches your asset — a registered patent attorney for inventions, an experienced trademark practitioner for brands — not a generalist who dabbles.
Search and clearance discipline. Strong protection starts with a proper search so you do not build a brand or file an application that collides with someone else's rights. Ask how the firm clears a mark or assesses patentability before filing.
An enforcement plan. Rights are only as good as your willingness and ability to enforce them. Ask how the firm handles infringement — cease-and-desist letters, USPTO proceedings, and litigation — and what that path costs.
Fees in writing, in plain English. IP work mixes flat fees for filings with hourly billing for prosecution and litigation. You should leave knowing exactly what a filing covers and what enforcement could cost.
Credentials you can verify. Look for USPTO registration for patent work, relevant technical degrees, and peer recognition such as Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, or AV Preeminent. These are concrete and easy to check.
Most Des Moines IP work starts with protection: clearing and registering a trademark, preparing and filing a patent application, or securing copyrights and locking down trade secrets through agreements. Filings run through federal systems — the USPTO for trademarks and patents, the Copyright Office for copyrights — on strict timelines, so getting the application right the first time matters.
Enforcement is the other half. When someone infringes — or accuses you of infringing — the path runs from a demand or cease-and-desist letter, through USPTO proceedings or negotiation, to litigation in federal court if it cannot be resolved. Most disputes settle, but a credible willingness to litigate is what gives your rights teeth. A good IP attorney maps both the protection and the enforcement strategy from the start.
In Des Moines, IP filings are often flat-fee — a trademark application commonly runs several hundred to a couple thousand dollars plus government fees, while a patent application is a larger investment, frequently several thousand dollars and up depending on complexity and the technology.
Prosecution (the back-and-forth with the USPTO) and enforcement litigation are typically billed hourly, often around $300 to $600 an hour, with disputes running well into five figures if they are contested. Getting protection right at the outset is far cheaper than fixing a defective registration or losing rights to an infringer. A good attorney tells you which level of protection your situation justifies.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees how your matter will end before reviewing your file, walk away.
The disappearing senior lawyer. You meet a name partner at intake, then never speak to them again while a junior runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
No verifiable track record. “We have handled thousands of cases” is marketing. Real evidence is named results, peer recognition such as Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers, and a clean record with the state bar.
Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable firm gives you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill, not a careful practice.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about the cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate firm puts the fee, what it covers, and what triggers extra charges in writing.
Most firms on this list offer a free consultation. Use it, take notes, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Federal rights, local counsel. Trademarks, patents, and copyrights are governed by federal law, but a Des Moines attorney gives you accessible, in-market counsel who can coordinate filings and represent you in disputes.
Specialist bench is limited. Registered patent attorneys and seasoned trademark practitioners are not on every corner. Des Moines-area businesses benefit from firms with verifiable IP focus and USPTO credentials.
Deadlines are unforgiving. IP rights turn on dates — filing windows, response deadlines, and renewal periods. Missing one can cost you the rights entirely, so a lawyer who tracks the calendar is essential.
Document what you created and when. Keep records of your brand use, invention development, or creative work with dates. Priority in IP often turns on who was first and what they can prove.
Do not disclose publicly before you file. Public disclosure can jeopardize patent rights and weaken your position. Talk to a lawyer about timing before you launch, pitch, or publish.
Gather any agreements and prior filings. Pull contractor agreements, NDAs, and any existing registrations into one place. They affect who owns the IP and what is already protected.
Book two consultations. Most firms above offer an initial meeting. Talk to at least two before you commit, and choose the attorney whose focus matches your asset and who is candid about cost and strategy.
Tell us what is going on. We'll match you with vetted Des Moines firms from the list above. Most respond within one business day.
A trademark protects brand identifiers like names and logos; a patent protects inventions; a copyright protects original creative works. Many businesses need more than one, and a lawyer helps you identify which apply.
For patent work, yes — only USPTO-registered patent attorneys or agents can prosecute patents, and they usually have technical backgrounds. Trademarks and copyrights do not require that registration.
Yes. A clearance search reduces the risk of building a brand that infringes an existing mark or filing an application that gets refused. It is one of the most valuable early steps a lawyer takes.
Trademark applications commonly run several hundred to a couple thousand dollars plus government fees; patents are larger, frequently several thousand dollars and up. Prosecution and litigation are billed hourly, often around $300 to $600 an hour.
Trademarks often take many months to register; patents commonly take a few years. Timelines depend on the office's workload and any objections, which a lawyer helps you anticipate and respond to.
Document the infringement and talk to a lawyer before acting. Options range from a cease-and-desist letter to USPTO proceedings or federal litigation, depending on the rights and the stakes.
Ideas alone generally are not protectable, but their expression, inventions, and brand identifiers can be. A lawyer helps you turn what you have into protectable rights through the right filings and agreements.
It depends on the agreements in place. Without the right assignment or work-for-hire language, ownership can end up with the creator rather than your business. Get these agreements reviewed early.
Rights can weaken if you ignore infringement, especially for trademarks. A lawyer advises when and how to act so you do not undermine the protection you paid for.
Compare focus that matches your asset, USPTO credentials for patent work, a clear search and enforcement plan, and transparent fees. Meet at least two and choose the attorney who is specific about your situation rather than promising a guaranteed result.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the listings, check the bar record, and call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one how many matters like yours they have handled in Des Moines in the last three years. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team