JAMES HASTINGS

James Hastings is an attorney with the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Practice Group of Rothwell Figg.  He is a certified mediator of the INTA Panel of Mediators, an international roster of select professionals with expertise in trademark dispute resolution.

James is the publisher of Trademark Opposition Lawyer, an online advisory dedicated to helping brand owners understand important issues that arise in proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  His commentary has been featured on Corporate Counsel, Law.com, LegalZoom, and other digital publications.

He devotes his practice to trademark opposition and trademark cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  Over the course of his career, he has represented the interests of numerous national and international brand owners in trademark litigation matters in both the U.S. District Courts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Prior to his current affiliation with Rothwell Figg, James was in-house counsel to a New England-based catalog retailer, where he was responsible for developing trademark portfolio acquisition, protection, and licensing strategies.  Earlier in his career, he was a partner and associate at intellectual property law firms in New York, where he was engaged in trademark portfolio and intellectual property protection work on behalf of well-known fashion and personal care brands.

James is a member of the New York and Connecticut bars.  He has lectured at University MBA programs and legal education conferences on the issues of trademark protection and e-commerce law.

Past and Present Membership

  • International Trademark Association
  • Association Corporate Counsel
  • National E-tailing and Mail Order Organization of America

JESS COLLEN

Jess Collen is the founder and managing partner of Collen IP, now merged with Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C.

He is a well-published author and lecturer on U.S. trademark law, and is a regular contributor to Forbes’s online publication as well as a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Trademark Association.  He has been the leader of Collen IP’s active Trademark Opposition practice for over 20 years and has represented clients in U.S. District Courts and federal Courts of Appeal across the United States in industries as diverse as watchmaking, consumer electronics, high fashion, fashion eyewear, food, entertainment, software, and other industrial and consumer fields. He has won numerous awards and honors and has been named a SUPER LAWYERS® for the Metropolitan New York area for the past three consecutive years.

He has also been appointed to the United States Department of Commerce District Export Council for the New York City Region, where he has served for many years in to encourage private export trade.  He is admitted to practice in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Utah, and the District of Columbia, and to various Federal and Appeals courts across the county.

Membership

  • International Trademark Association (Former Member, Board of Directors)
  • U.S. Department of Commerce, District Export Council, NY Region

Mr. Collen is also a co-founder of Life Project for Africa, Inc., based in New York, supporting the building of hospitals, education, orphan relief and fresh water drilling in impoverished and underserved regions of Tanzania. He currently serves on the Board and as Executive Director.