Douglas Rettew

Douglas (Chip) Rettew is frequently touted as one of the nation’s top trademark lawyers, having established himself as a litigator who knows how to efficiently and effectively try the cases that go the distance—before judges and juries alike.

Doug has first-chair jury and bench trial and appellate experience and has argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal, Second, Fourth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits. He also litigates before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Doug has significant experience in obtaining (and defeating) temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, including those involving counterfeiting and ex parte seizures. He has testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property; was an adjunct professor at GW Law School; served on the firm’s compensation committee, management committee, and as leader of the trademark, copyright, and advertising group.

Doug has been recognized by multiple industry organizations and award programs for his excellence in intellectual property litigation. He was named Litigator of the Year for the DC Metro area in 2023 and praised for his exceptional success rate, strategic leadership in high-profile brand disputes, and unmatched trial skills. Clients describe him as a trusted advocate, noting, “When it’s time to go into battle, we want him on our side."

Updated Dec 2025

• Represented Under Armour in litigation against Armorina, Inc. over its unauthorized use of its ARMORINA name and mark for women’s athleisure apparel and accessories. After a four-day trial in the District of Maryland, a jury ruled in Under Armour’s favor on all counts, finding that Under Armour’s UNDER ARMOUR mark is famous and Armorina’s use of ARMORINA constitutes trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark dilution.
  
  
• After a full trial before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, obtained a ruling that the parties’ VAGISIL and VAGISAN marks conflict and that “VAGISIL is a famous mark that has attained substantial commercial strength.” Argued before the Fourth Circuit, who affirmed the ruling.
  
  
• Secured a victory on summary judgment for Dean Guitars and the Estate of Dimebag Darrell Abbott in a hotly contested copyright infringement and unfair competition case of first impression, with multiple Lanham Act, invasion-of-privacy, and state-law claims. The case involved one of the world’s most popular heavy metal guitarists, Darrell Abbott of the band Pantera, and a lightning bolt graphic on his “Dean from Hell” guitar, which for decades has been an inseparable part of Abbott’s persona and likeness. Argued before the Eleventh Circuit, who affirmed the ruling.

• Appellate 
• Intellectual Property 

• Consumer goods and services 
• Food and beverage 
• Media
• Other

• J.D. - George Washington University Law School (1995)
• B.A., Political Science - University of Michigan (1992)

• International Trademark Association (Publication Committee, 2014-2015)
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association

• District of Columbia (1997)
• Maryland (1995)
• New Jersey (1995)
• U.S. District Court, D. Colorado (1999)
• U.S. District Court, D. Maryland (2012)
• U.S. District Court, W.D. Michigan (2004)
• U.S. District Court, E.D. Wisconsin (2006)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit (2002)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (2023)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (2002)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (2006)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (2003)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2008)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit (1998)