United States - Washington

Home to some of the world’s best-recognised brands, Seattle is arguably the most important US technological centre after Silicon Valley. Microsoft, Amazon and Nintendo are just some of the companies headquartered there; this concentration of industry has fuelled a thriving IP market. Although trademarks were originally the preserve of boutiques and specialist agencies, the internet boom of the 1990s saw numerous corporate law firms set up dedicated IP practices. The continuing success of e-commerce and other online business, together with the expansion of other Seattle-based companies, has enabled the original IP boutiques to remain strong contenders. Today’s market can be broadly characterised as a combination of major commercial law firms, medium-sized firms and specialist boutiques, all offering comprehensive expertise in both contentious and non-contentious trademark matters.