Protecting a brand or invention in Reno? Get qualified IP counsel.
Top 10 IP & Trademark Lawyers in Reno
Northern Nevada's economy — gaming, hospitality, manufacturing, technology, biotech — runs on protected brands, patents, and trade secrets. The Reno IP lawyer you pick decides whether your application clears the USPTO cleanly, whether your trademark survives an opposition, and whether your patent portfolio actually keeps competitors out. These ten firms cover trademark prosecution, patent filing, copyright registration, IP litigation, and trade-secret protection for Reno businesses, inventors, and creators.
Updated April 05, 202613 min readEditorially independent
These 10 firms handle the IP work that Reno businesses, inventors, and creators actually need — trademark clearance and prosecution, patent filing, copyright registration, licensing, trade-secret protection, and IP litigation. We chose firms with peer-reviewed rankings, registered patent attorneys, and clear practice focus. None paid for placement.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers USA, and Avvo and Justia profiles, then narrowed to firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent directories with active Reno IP and trademark practices. We do not accept payment for placement and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Reno, NVLarge firmPractice focus: Patent litigation, trademark, IP transactions
Brownstein acquired Watson Rounds, a Reno-based IP litigation firm, expanding its IP group to more than 30 professionals. Watson Rounds founding partner Michael Rounds brought patent litigation expertise; partners Francis and Zorio brought trademark and complex IP experience. The team has extensive USPTO and TTAB experience.
Why they made the list: Major Western firm with a Reno-rooted IP litigation bench through the Watson Rounds acquisition. A fit when the matter is high-stakes patent or trademark litigation.
Robert C. Ryan, a partner at Holland & Hart, is a registered patent attorney with experience in patent, trade secret, trade identity, unfair competition, copyright, licensing, and antitrust law. He has held leading roles in numerous patent review and trademark opposition proceedings before the USPTO.
Why they made the list: Multi-state Western firm with a sustained Reno IP partner-level practice. A fit when the IP work pairs with broader corporate or licensing engagements.
Reno, NVLarge firmPractice focus: Trademark, copyright, IP transactions, licensing
McDonald Carano's IP and technology practice handles trademark prosecution, copyright registration, IP transactions, and licensing alongside the firm's corporate work. Best Law Firms Tier 1 in Nevada corporate practice.
Why they made the list: Established Reno-rooted firm with strong corporate and IP transactions depth. A fit when IP work sits inside a corporate, M&A, or licensing transaction.
50 W. Liberty St., Suite 510, Reno, NVLarge firmPractice focus: Patent, trademark, copyright, IP litigation
Snell & Wilmer is one of the largest U.S. firms and its Reno office covers IP transactions and litigation alongside corporate, securities, and technology work.
Why they made the list: Large multi-state firm with sustained Reno presence and full-service IP coverage. A fit when the matter spans IP prosecution, litigation, and corporate work.
Fee structure
Hourly
Free consultation
Initial call free
Typical client
Reno funded startups, mid-market, public companies
Reno, NVLarge firmPractice focus: IP litigation, patent, trademark, gaming IP
Lewis Roca has a Nevada presence with a national IP litigation practice (through its merger with Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons and the legacy patent expertise of its Phoenix and Denver attorneys). The Reno office handles IP litigation, prosecution support, and gaming-related IP matters.
Why they made the list: Multi-state firm with a sustained patent and trademark bench, plus gaming IP depth. A fit when IP matters touch gaming or hospitality.
Fennemore's Reno office handles IP transactions, trademark, and technology matters alongside business and litigation work. 135+ years of legal counsel across Western states.
Why they made the list: Multi-state Western firm with a Reno IP transactions bench. A fit when IP work pairs with business or succession planning.
Reno IP boutique practicing primarily in intellectual property and business law with patent specialization. ATIP helps companies develop, secure, and maximize the value of their intellectual property.
Why they made the list: Dedicated Reno IP boutique with patent prosecution depth. A fit for inventors and small companies that want focused IP attention.
Reno, NVBoutiquePractice focus: Trademark, copyright, patent, entertainment
Jahn & Associates has practiced intellectual property since 1996 and handles trademark, copyright, patent, and entertainment law matters throughout the United States. The firm also prosecutes trademark applications throughout the world.
Why they made the list: Established Reno IP boutique with international trademark experience. A fit when the trademark portfolio includes foreign filings.
Reno, NVBoutiquePractice focus: Trademark, patent, copyright, IP licensing
Reno boutique offering fast, personalized IP services in patents, copyrights, and trademarks alongside small-business legal work including entity selection, IP licensing, business sales, and contracts.
Why they made the list: Small-business-friendly Reno IP boutique. A fit for entrepreneurs filing first trademarks and copyrights.
Reno, NVMid-sizePractice focus: Trademark, copyright, patent, IP commercialization
Messner Reeves has offices in Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno) and provides services protecting copyrights, trademarks, patents, and general intellectual property for Nevada and out-of-state businesses.
Why they made the list: Mid-size Nevada firm with combined Reno and Las Vegas IP capability. A fit when matters span both Nevada metropolitan markets.
Tell us what you are dealing with in plain English. We will match you with two or three vetted IP and trademark firms in Reno that handle matters like yours. Free, confidential, no obligation.
The right firm depends on where in the IP lifecycle you actually are. If you are filing your first trademark, registering a copyright, or protecting a single invention, the boutique firms (ATIP Law, Jahn & Associates, Goodman Law Center) are usually a better fit on cost and responsiveness. Expect flat-fee pricing on trademark and copyright prosecution and direct attorney attention through filing.
If your matter is dispute-driven — a cease-and-desist letter, an opposition or cancellation at the TTAB, federal infringement litigation — the large firms (Brownstein, Holland & Hart, Snell & Wilmer, Lewis Roca) bring the litigation bench, the prosecution-history depth, and the expert relationships that contested matters require. Brownstein's acquired Watson Rounds team is specifically built for IP litigation.
If the IP work sits inside a transaction — an M&A diligence list, a licensing arrangement, a brand acquisition — firms with combined IP and corporate benches (McDonald Carano, Holland & Hart, Fennemore, Snell & Wilmer) handle the work most efficiently. You want IP counsel who can sit at the same table as corporate counsel during a close.
If gaming, hospitality, or regulated-industry IP is the focus, firms with Nevada vertical depth (Lewis Roca, Brownstein) typically handle matters more efficiently because they anticipate the regulatory overlay.
If budget is the binding constraint, ask each firm to quote flat-fee pricing for trademark and copyright work. Boutique firms typically publish flat-fee menus for the most common engagements.
What a IP and trademark lawyer typically costs in Reno
Hourly rates: $275–$700 in Reno. National multi-state firms cluster at the high end; Reno boutiques cluster lower. Patent partners typically bill higher than trademark partners.
Flat-fee trademark application (single class): $700–$1,500 including clearance search, USPTO filing, and first office action response. USPTO filing fees ($350 or $550 per class) are separate.
Comprehensive trademark clearance search: $400–$1,500. Includes federal, state, common-law, and (optionally) international screening.
Copyright registration: $250–$600 in attorney fees plus the $45–$125 USPTO Copyright Office filing fee.
Patent application (utility): $7,000–$20,000 for a non-provisional utility patent application, depending on complexity. Provisional applications run $2,000–$5,000. Prosecution through issuance typically adds $3,000–$8,000 more.
Patent application (design): $1,500–$4,000 for a design patent.
Office action response: $500–$2,500 per substantive office action.
TTAB opposition or cancellation: $15,000–$50,000+ through trial. Most TTAB matters settle.
Federal infringement litigation (District of Nevada, Reno): $100,000–$500,000+ through trial. Most disputes resolve in mediation or at summary judgment.
Licensing agreement drafting: $2,500–$15,000 depending on complexity. Cross-licensing and multi-party arrangements run higher.
Red flags to watch for when picking a IP and trademark lawyer in Reno
Reno has dozens of attorneys listing IP and trademark on their websites. Most are competent. A few are problematic. Watch for these patterns.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result — a settlement amount, a registration, a verdict. If a firm guarantees one, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior name at intake, then never speak to that person again. Your file gets handed to an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney and what the supervision structure looks like.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms send you the engagement letter, give you time to read it, and let you take it home. Same-day "you have to retain us today" tactics are almost always a sign of a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to peer rankings, bar specialization, published case results, or named clients. "We have helped thousands" is marketing copy. Specific results are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Reno lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is included, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you terminate the relationship.
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 written list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and an email.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a real number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee and what does it cover? Get the answer in writing before you sign.
What costs am I responsible for outside the legal fee? Filing fees, expert witnesses, third-party services, courier, transcription.
What is a realistic range of outcomes for a situation like mine? A good lawyer will give you a range with assumptions.
How long will it take? Honest estimate with the assumptions stated.
Who else might be involved? Co-counsel? Experts? Local counsel? Larger matters routinely involve outside specialists.
How and how often will I hear from you? Email-only? Weekly calls? Set the expectation up front.
What happens if I want to change lawyers later? The rules allow it; the fee is sorted between firms.
What is the worst case for me here? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling, not advising.
What is specific about a IP and trademark matter in Reno
U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, Reno seat. Reno-area federal IP cases (patent, copyright, federal trademark) are filed in the Reno seat of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. The court has a developed patent and IP docket.
Nevada trademark register. Nevada maintains a state trademark register administered by the Nevada Secretary of State under NRS chapter 600. State registration gives statewide priority but no nationwide rights. Most businesses with national or online sales should file federally.
Nevada Uniform Trade Secrets Act. NRS chapter 600A. Defines trade secrets, sets misappropriation rules, and authorizes injunctions and damages. Courts focus on whether the owner took "reasonable" steps to keep the information secret. Documentation of those steps before a dispute is critical.
Nevada gaming-related IP. Trademarks and brand assets in the gaming industry interact with Nevada Gaming Control Board licensure. Trademarks for gaming devices, content, or operator brands may face additional regulatory review during transactions.
Tesla, Panasonic, and Northern Nevada manufacturing. Reno's manufacturing economy generates patent and trade-secret activity around battery technology, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. IP counsel familiar with the local supply chain and confidentiality practices is valuable for businesses in this ecosystem.
Restrictive covenants and IP. Nevada's non-compete statute (NRS 613.195) limits the scope of post-employment restrictions. IP-protective non-disclosure and non-solicitation agreements should be drafted under the same precision standard to avoid invalidating the protection.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Reno lawyer to file a trademark with the USPTO?
U.S. applicants are not required to use an attorney for USPTO filings, but foreign-domiciled applicants are. Even for U.S. filers, an attorney materially reduces refusal rates by running clearance searches, picking the right international class, and writing the goods-and-services description.
How much does a trademark application cost in Reno?
USPTO filing fees are $350 per class for TEAS Plus and $550 per class for the standard form. Reno attorney flat fees for a single-class application typically run $700–$1,500. Multi-class applications scale linearly.
Should I file a Nevada state trademark or a federal trademark?
If you only sell in Nevada and have a local brand, the Nevada Secretary of State register under NRS chapter 600 may be enough. If you sell nationally or online, file federally. State and federal registrations can coexist.
What is the Nevada Uniform Trade Secrets Act?
NRS chapter 600A defines trade secrets, sets misappropriation rules, and authorizes injunctions and damages. Customer lists, formulas, and software code can qualify if you took reasonable steps to keep them secret. Litigation turns on whether the protection measures were reasonable.
How long does a federal trademark registration take?
Approximately 12–18 months from filing to registration in 2026, assuming no office actions. Substantive refusals add 6–12 months. The USPTO publishes current pendency on its dashboard.
What is the difference between TM and the registered (R) symbol?
TM indicates you are claiming common-law rights in a mark for goods (SM for services). You can use either at any time without registration. The R-in-circle symbol may only be used after federal registration issues.
Do I need a patent attorney or a patent agent?
Either can prosecute a patent at the USPTO. Only a patent attorney can litigate infringement or handle related contracts. Most Reno IP firms employ both. For inventors who only need filing, an agent is often cheaper. For inventors who will license or enforce, an attorney is the safer choice.
How do I protect a gaming-related trademark or brand?
Treat it like any other federal trademark for prosecution purposes, but coordinate with Nevada Gaming Control Board licensure if the mark is for a gaming device, content, or operator brand. Some marks may trigger additional regulatory review during transactions.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one the same opening question: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years, and what were the outcomes? The way they answer tells you almost everything. — The LawFirmSquare team
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