Doug (Chip) Rettew is frequently touted as one of the nation’s top trademark lawyers. He has established himself as a trademark practitioner who not only knows how to litigate, but how to efficiently and effectively try the cases that go the distance—before both judges and juries alike. Doug litigates cases involving a broad range of issues, including trademarks, false advertising, publicity rights, unfair competition, trade dress, design patents, and domain names.
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, Fourth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits. He also litigates before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Doug has significant experience in obtaining (and defeating) temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, including those involving counterfeiting and ex parte seizures. He previously served as leader of the firm’s trademark, copyright, and advertising group and on the firm’s compensation committee, and is currently on the firm’s management committee.
Doug has been recognized in World Trademark Review WTR 1000 as “[o]ne of the best litigators in the country with an unbelievable success rate.” He has also been recognized as a WIPR Leader for trademarks in the U.S. by World IP Review; ranked among top U.S. trademark lawyers in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Trademark Law Practitioners since 2016; recognized as a Star Lawyer by Acritas Stars™; and recognized by International Law Office (ILO) and Lexology’s Client Choice Awards for excellent client service in the area of trademarks.
Representative Experience:
- 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.
- Prevailed in a bench trial for Under Armour, securing a consent judgment acknowledging fame of UNDER ARMOUR, ARMOUR, and other ARMOUR-formative marks and a permanent injunction against use of ASS ARMOR on snowboarding shorts.
Updated Aug 2022
