Your brand is only protected if someone registered it.
Top 10 IP and Trademark Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale
If you are shipping product, selling services, or licensing a brand out of South Florida, your trademark, copyright, and trade-secret position is either an asset or a liability. The right lawyer makes it an asset.
Updated December 21, 202513 min readEditorially independent
These 10 Fort Lauderdale firms handle federal trademark registration, copyright protection, patent prosecution, IP licensing, and IP litigation through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. We selected firms with USPTO registration counts that are publicly verifiable and IP-litigation track records cross-referenced across Avvo, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed verifiable peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), bar association recognition, state bar standing, published verdicts and settlements, client review patterns, and board certifications where applicable. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Malloy & Malloy, P.L.
Fort Lauderdale, FLFounded 1959Mid-size
Practice focus: Patents, trademarks, copyrights, IP licensing, IP litigation
Since 1959, Malloy & Malloy has focused exclusively on intellectual property law. Patents, trademarks, copyrights, international IP, licensing and franchising, and IP litigation. One of the oldest pure-IP firms in Florida. Multi-generation bench with depth across technical fields.
Fee structure
Hourly / Flat
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Sixty-five years of pure IP practice in Florida. The bench depth is hard to match.
Practice focus: Trademarks, copyrights, IP litigation
Top-rated trademarks firm serving Fort Lauderdale. Positioned as South Florida's premier intellectual property boutique. Strong client base across consumer products, hospitality, and media.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong trademark-focused boutique. Useful when you want a senior partner doing the trademark work, not a junior.
Responsible for the issuance of over 1,000 U.S. patents and over 600 trademarks. Named Florida's Best Full-Service Intellectual Property Law Firm in 2017 and 2018. Strong technical bench for software, mechanical, and consumer-product patents.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Verifiable USPTO track record. 1,000+ patents is real and publicly checkable.
Practice focus: Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets
IP boutique focused on protecting ideas, inventions, brands, and artwork. Many small and mid-size businesses in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County use The Plus IP Firm for trademark and copyright work. Offers free initial consultations.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Free initial
Why they made the list: Free initial consult and small-business pricing. Common starting point for first-time trademark applicants.
Practice focus: Trademark and patent procurement, IP litigation
Founding partner Ury Fischer dedicates his practice to patent and trademark procurement and IP litigation. Florida-focused boutique with strong USPTO prosecution practice and trademark-litigation experience.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong USPTO prosecution practice. Useful when you expect office actions or oppositions.
Over 30 years of IP experience with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, New Jersey, and New York. Long-standing relationships with inventors and consumer-product companies across South Florida and the Northeast corridor.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Multi-office bench and strong New York / New Jersey ties. Useful for clients with regional reach.
Practice focus: Trademark and copyright litigation, trade secret disputes
Led by Justin Carlin, named a Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers and Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Business Litigation. The firm handles trademark, copyright, and trade-secret litigation in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Broward, Tampa, Weston, and Miami-Dade.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Best when the IP fight has already started and you need a litigator, not a prosecutor.
Fort Lauderdale patent and trademark practice serving inventors and small businesses. USPTO-registered patent attorney with focused prosecution work and trademark portfolio management.
Fee structure
Flat / Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: USPTO-registered patent attorney working at boutique pricing. Useful for a first patent or first trademark.
Practice focus: Trademarks, copyrights, IP transactions
Boutique-style IP practice as part of a full-service firm. Handles trademark registration, copyright protection, IP transactions, and IP-related contract work for South Florida businesses.
Fee structure
Hourly / Flat
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Useful when you want IP handled inside a firm that also does your contracts and entity work.
Practice focus: Trademark litigation, trade secret disputes, non-compete enforcement
Peter T. Mavrick has 25+ years representing businesses in trademark litigation, trade-secret litigation, and restrictive-covenant litigation. The firm is built around protecting IP and competitive position in court.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial paid
Why they made the list: Strong trademark and trade-secret litigation bench, particularly for enforcement actions.
Federal trademark search and clearance: 5-10 business days. Federal trademark application filing: 1-2 weeks from clearance to filing. USPTO examination and registration: 8-14 months for clean applications, 18-30 months if you receive an office action. Copyright registration: 4-8 months for online filing, faster with expedited processing. Patent search: 2-4 weeks. Utility patent application: 3-6 months to draft and file. Patent prosecution: 18-36 months. IP infringement litigation in S.D. Fla.: 14-22 months to trial.
What does a Fort Lauderdale IP lawyer cost?
Trademark search and clearance opinion: $400-$1,500. Federal trademark filing (single class, one mark): $1,000-$2,000 flat plus the $350 USPTO filing fee per class. Office action response: $500-$2,500. Trademark opposition or cancellation proceeding: $5,000-$50,000. Copyright registration: $300-$800 flat. Utility patent application: $8,000-$20,000 for software, $12,000-$30,000 for mechanical. Patent prosecution through issuance: total $15,000-$50,000. IP litigation: $250,000-$2M+ through trial. Several firms on this list offer trademark-portfolio retainers for clients managing 10+ marks.
How to choose between these 10 firms
All ten firms above are competent practitioners. The right pick depends on the shape of your matter, not on which firm has the biggest billboard. The patterns we see:
Pick a boutique when your case is high-stakes but narrow in scope, you want a senior attorney doing the actual work, and you are willing to trade brand recognition for senior attention. Boutiques typically run $325-$525 per hour for the lead attorney and have lower overhead. The risk: if the firm gets conflicted out or busy, your case may stall.
Pick a mid-size firm when your matter has multiple moving parts, or when you need a steady team with a bench behind it. Mid-size firms in Fort Lauderdale typically charge $375-$650 per hour and are the natural fit for most IP and trademark cases.
Pick a large firm when the matter is genuinely large in dollars at stake, complex in legal issues, multi-jurisdictional, or institutionally sensitive. Large firms charge $450-$850 per hour but bring depth across practice areas. The risk: junior attorneys do most of the day-to-day work unless you push for senior involvement.
What is specific about IP and trademark cases in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
The local courthouse matters. Broward County is the venue for most IP and trademark matters originating in Fort Lauderdale. The judges have published procedures, scheduling preferences, and trial calendars that an experienced local lawyer knows by heart. A firm that has never appeared in front of your judge is starting from scratch on the procedural side, and that costs you time and money.
Filing deadlines are strict. Statutes of limitations, notice requirements, pre-suit certifications, and Florida procedural rules are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop. Your first conversation with a lawyer should include a written confirmation of the controlling deadlines.
Florida law has specific quirks. Florida statutes governing this practice area shape strategy, leverage, damages, and settlement value. A firm that primarily practices in another state is starting at a disadvantage even when admitted in Florida.
Local juries and judges have patterns. Verdict patterns, judicial temperament, and settlement norms in Broward County are local knowledge. A trial-capable firm uses venue, judge assignment, and jury demographics strategically.
Red flags to watch for when picking a IP and trademark lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Most firms in Fort Lauderdale are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, custody outcome, or settlement number, walk away. Ethics rules in every U.S. state prohibit guarantees, and any lawyer making them is either uninformed or willing to lie to get your business.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney, how often you will hear from them, and what happens when they are unavailable.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill rather than a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We have helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Do not worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Fort Lauderdale lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my case day to day? Get a name. Get an email. Get their bar number so you can verify their standing.
How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
How many of those went to trial? Settlement skill is important. Trial skill is what gives you leverage to settle well.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign anything.
What case expenses am I responsible for, and when? Out-of-pocket costs (filing fees, deposition costs, expert witnesses) surprise people. Ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes for a case like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range. A bad one will promise the high end.
How long will it take? Honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Calls? Monthly updates? Set the expectation now.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? Rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms. Make sure you understand the mechanics.
What is the worst-case outcome for my case? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my trademark federally or is state registration enough?
Federal registration through the USPTO gives you nationwide rights, the presumption of ownership, the right to use the registered symbol, and a path to enforcement in federal court. Florida state registration gives you Florida-only rights. For any business that sells across state lines or online, federal is the only meaningful protection.
How long does USPTO trademark registration take?
A clean application that does not receive an office action takes 8-14 months from filing to registration. If your application receives an office action (over 60% do), expect 18-30 months. If someone opposes your mark in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, expect 2-4 years.
Can I trademark my business name myself with the USPTO?
Yes. But the refusal rate for pro se applications is roughly 4x the refusal rate for attorney-filed applications. Most refusals can be predicted by a proper clearance search, which is the work most pro se applicants skip. The $350 filing fee is non-refundable.
What is the difference between TM, registered, and copyright?
TM means you claim a trademark but have not (or cannot) federally register. Registered means federally registered, only legal to use after registration issues. Copyright exists automatically the moment you create a work but is only enforceable in federal court if registered with the Copyright Office before infringement (or within 3 months of publication).
How much does a patent really cost?
From idea to issued utility patent: $15,000-$50,000 in attorney fees, plus $1,500-$3,000 in USPTO filing, examination, and issuance fees. Provisional patent applications are cheaper ($3,000-$8,000) but give you only 12 months to file the non-provisional. Design patents (covering ornamental design) are cheaper: $3,000-$6,000.
If someone copies my brand, what do I do?
Step 1: document the infringement (screenshots, dates, URLs). Step 2: a Fort Lauderdale IP lawyer sends a cease-and-desist letter. Step 3: most infringers stop or settle. Step 4: if not, file a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Trademark litigation usually settles before trial.
Can I trademark my logo and my business name?
Yes, as separate marks. Many businesses register both: a standard-character mark for the name (protects the name in any font) and a design mark for the logo (protects the specific design). Standard-character is the strongest because it is font-independent.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many IP and trademark matters like mine have you handled in the last three years, and how many went to trial? The answer tells you what kind of lawyer you are actually hiring. — The LawFirmSquare team