News

A proud supporter of AUTM and its programming for technology transfer professionals, McCoy Russell will be attending AUTM’s Western Region Meeting next month in Phoenix, Arizona. Partner Justin Wagner takes an active role with AUTM’s Western Region Meeting Planning Committee to help make the regional meeting engaging, fulfilling, and entertaining for all the attendees.

The upcoming AUTM Western Region Meeting in Phoenix will be the premier technology transfer conference of the year in the region. Attending offers a unique opportunity for academic and industry professionals to come together and learn and network. Justin looks forward to expanding insights, forging new connections, and strengthening existing relationships.

McCoy Russell celebrates Partner Justin Wagner’s inclusion in the 25^th edition of Best Lawyers. Justin is recognized for his practice in Patent Law.

Justin represents and supports clients in the development of their intellectual property portfolios. He works closely with clients to conduct thorough patentability evaluations and to secure meaningful patent protection. Justin’s practice encompasses a broad range of electromechanical and biomedical technologies, with a particular emphasis on medical devices and software innovations, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Serving as President of the Oregon Patent Law Association (OPLA) for 2024, Justin is committed to advancing thought leadership and fostering the local patent community. He organizes Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions and networking opportunities. A key achievement under his leadership was the successful hosting of the OPLA Patent Law Conference at Salishan Coastal Lodge, which featured distinguished speakers and panels addressing current trends and updates in patent law.

Furthermore, Justin plays an instrumental role in strengthening collaborations between Academic Technology Transfer Offices and the US Patent and Trademark Office through his active engagement with the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).

McCoy Russell congratulates Justin on his recognition in Best Lawyers.

McCoy Russell, a certified woman-owned small business, has been recognized as one of the region’s fastest growing private companies in 2024 by the Portland Business Journal.

As a specialized intellectual property law firm, McCoy Russell continues to be devoted to developing and implementing creative and winning intellectual property strategies. The firm applies pioneering solutions and structures to maximize the potential of the highly-skilled staff to the benefit of its clients.

Developing in-house solutions via Ironcrow AI to streamline McCoy Russell’s practice, senior attorneys work in concert with a unique combination of technology-focused and prosecution-focused teams to generate high-quality patent and trademark solutions. The firm continues to hone a team-based prosecution strategy and looks forward being a leader in IP technological advancements as to patent and trademark application processes.

McCoy Russell attorneys continue to be recognized by Super Lawyers for intellectual property law in Oregon.

Founding Partners, Anna McCoy and John Russell, have again been recognized for their expertise in intellectual property law. The partners continue to integrate a wide variety of strategies to generate high-quality patent and trademark solutions.

With experience working with clients from start-ups to iconic brands, McCoy Russell promotes a client-centric approach providing personalized and strategic guidance to protect and maximize the value of the clients’ intellectual property assets.

McCoy Russell LLP, serves their clients through various growth stages of their IP portfolio taking a holistic point of view of the clients’ IP protection. In developing the clients’ IP portfolios, the trajectory of the clients’ businesses help inform a customized strategy.  The clients’ IP portfolio is developed to support where their business is currently at, as well as the growth or expansion direction of their business.

The firm’s inclusion into Super Lawyers reaffirms the commitment to delivering top-tier legal services and innovative solutions to clients’ IP challenges. Congratulations again to Anna McCoy and John Russell for their well-deserved recognition in Super Lawyers.

The McCoy Russell Band, Power of Attorney, is working hard in preparation for Battle of the Lawyer Bands. This fundraising event is in support of the Multnomah Bar Foundation’s CourtCare, CourtSupport and CourtConnect programs.

The McCoy Russell Band looks forward to taking the stage along with autoRepublic, Buu Vega, Habeas Corpse, Suitcase Ranchers, and The Soul Searchers in this charitable event and contribute to a cause that makes a significant impact on access to justice for those in need.

So mark your calendars Thursday August 15 from 7-9pm, gather your friends and family, and join us at the “Battle of the Lawyer Bands 2024.”

McCoy Russell is pleased to be presenting at the 2024 National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) Annual Convention in September. This event provides a wide variety of Continuing Legal Education sessions, including meetings & workshops, and networking with fellow paralegals & industry professionals from across the country.

Presenting on “Brand Clearance and Filing and Online Enforcement of Branding”, McCoy Russell Partner Anna McCoy will provide insights into navigating the complexities of brand clearance decisions and the filing process and will highlight risks and strategies to limit risk exposure with adoption of short-term branding and advertising.  She will also outline ways to develop a strategy for protection of longer-term product name adoption. Additionally, she will explore the pivotal role of trademark registrations in online brand enforcement, encompassing third-party marketplaces and social networking platforms. McCoy Russell aims to equip attendees with actionable tactics to bolster brand protection in an increasingly digital landscape.

McCoy Russell previously covered the Final Rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that invalidates non-compete clauses in standard employment agreements across the United States. The new regulation, detailed in 16 C.F.R. § 910, mandates that employers notify both current and former employees that existing non-compete agreements are now void.

In response to this rule, Ryan, LLC, a tax software and services company, along with several associations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, challenged the FTC’s authority to issue such a rule. On July 3, 2024, the Northern District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction against the FTC, citing that the FTC lacks substantive rulemaking authority concerning unfair methods of competition. The preliminary injunction prevents the FTC from enforcing its rule against the plaintiffs in this particular case. The court’s injunction does not necessarily extend to everyone, limiting its scope to the named plaintiffs only.

Considering the limited scope of the injunction, other companies are still obligated to comply with the FTC’s rule by September 4, 2024. This means employers should prepare to notify their employees and adjust their practices in accordance with the new regulation, or consider their own challenge.

McCoy Russell continues to monitor the ongoing legal battles to help inform clients that may need to navigate these changes carefully. The firm will continue to post about the latest court decisions when updates are available.

Recently, Chambers launched their 2024 USA Legal Guide that highlights top lawyers and firms. Among those recognized in Oregon for Intellectual Property is McCoy Russell partner Anna McCoy.

Chambers research methodology applies to US law firms of all sizes, from boutique to global, looking at the team size, key partners, client information and feedback, notable achievements in the past year, industry expertise, and areas of growth.

While maintaining an active patent practice, Anna leads McCoy Russell’s Trademark and Branding practice. She specializes in protecting well-known marks, trade dress, and product configuration, and manages global portfolios. Anna collaborates with clients to develop branding strategies, offering trademark searches, filings, IP audits, and enforcement actions in over 130 countries.

Since 2016, Anna has been active with the International Trademark Association, contributing to events and committees on Well-known Marks, International Design Enforcement, and the Internet. Her involvement fosters exposure to diverse worldwide perspectives.

As Managing Partner, Anna influences McCoy Russell’s trademark and patent prosecution practices, driving the firm’s growth and development.

Recently, Chambers launched their 2024 USA Legal Guide that highlights top lawyers and firms. Among those recognized in Oregon for Intellectual Property is Justin Wagner.

Chambers research methodology applies to US law firms of all sizes, from boutique to global, looking at the team size, key partners, client information and feedback, notable achievements in the past year, industry expertise, and areas of growth.

Justin continues to represent and support clients in developing their intellectual property portfolios. Justin works closely with clients to determine and address patentability evaluations as well as procuring meaningful patent coverage. Justin focuses on a variety of electromechanical and biomedical arts, particularly medical devices and software inventions including AI and machine learning.

Serving as Oregon Patent Law Association (OPLA)’s President for 2024, Justin supports thought leadership and developing the local patent community by coordinating CLE and networking opportunities. Most notably the OPLA Board hosted its Patent Law Conference at Salishan Coastal Lodge lining up several speakers and a panel centering Patent Law trends, updates, and discussions. Further, Justin takes an active role in deepening relationships between Academic Technology Transfer Offices and the US Patent and Trademark system through his work with AUTM.