Margaret McGann is a shareholder with more than 20 years of experience in trademark law and applying it to brand development, maintenance and enforcement. With a strong team of experienced paralegals and associates, she can efficiently serve both your simple and complex trademark needs and help you ascertain what those needs are. 

Capabilities

Biography

Margaret Niver McGann is a shareholder of Parsons Behle & Latimer and focuses her practice on trademark law and its application to brand development, maintenance and enforcement. 

Ms. McGann assists her clients in developing and managing trademark portfolios both locally, nationally and internationally. She has more than 20 years of experience counseling clients over both the short and long term on domestic and international brand name clearance, registration, use and protection strategies. She has extensive experience filing and prosecuting domestic trademark applications, and, in partnership with foreign associates, trademarks across the globe. 

Ms. McGann assists clients in providing brand management and trademark education and training for all levels of employees. She helps clients identify or develop resources that allow them to manage trademark portfolios internally or to reduce costs associated with trademark management. Ms. McGann has worked as a member of client teams to assist in specific events such as the launch of a brand or an expansion to worldwide protection and use; or to assist in building or redesigning internal trademark systems and procedures. She can also provide support in the assessment and management of newly-acquired portfolios or potential portfolios.   

Ms. McGann has experience in bringing and defending all types of trademark disputes, including infringement litigation as well as opposition and cancellation proceedings at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; in licensing disputes; and in a wide array of internet-related intellectual property disputes.

Ms. McGann has represented and counseled both local and national clients including Micron Technology, Inc., J.R. Simplot Company, ClearOne Communications, Dented Brick Distillery, Beans & Brews, Women Moving Millions, Inc. and Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC).

Ms. McGann is based in Seattle, Wash. and is frequently in the Boise, Ida. and Salt Lake City offices.  

Experience

Rebranding Strategy and Prosecution of Trademark Applications

Successfully appealed the USPTO’s refusal to register client's trademark. Secured opinion from TTAB supporting client.   

Filing and Prosecution of Trademark Applications and Brand Protection Strategy

Represented major coffee shop client through growth from one to more than 65 shops.  

False Advertising and Trade Secret Litigation

Represented client in false advertising and trade secret misappropriation lawsuit that resulted in a favorable verdict on both claims as well as findings of willful infringement. 

Accomplishments

Academic

The University of Texas School of Law

(J.D. 1992, with honors)
Chancellor, Keeper of the Peregrinus
Member, Order of the Coif
Member, Order of the Barristers

University of Virginia (B.A., 1988)

Professional

Recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Intellectual Property Litigation

IP Star, Managing Intellectual Property Magazine

Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell

Prior to move to Seattle, consistently recognized by Utah Legal Elite

Served as a law clerk to Justice Nathan Hecht of the Supreme Court of Texas from 1992 - 1993

Associations

Professional

International Trademark Association
Member
(1999 - Present)

AIPLA Member
(2000 - Present)

Women Tech Council
Member
(2007 - Present)
Advisory Board
(2007 - 2011)

Idaho Women Lawyers

IP Sections of Idaho, Utah, Texas and Washington State Bars

Community

Backback Brigade

Utah Chapter ARCS Foundation
Board of Directors
(2009 - Present)
Past President
(2013 - 2014)

Seattle Chapter ARCS Foundation
Board of Directors
(2017 - Present)
President
(2021 - 2023)

ARCS Foundation National Board
(2014 - Present)

Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School
Board of Trustees
(2007 - 2013)

Insights

Articles

Presentations

Credentials

Licensed

Utah
Texas
Washington
Idaho

Education

The University of Texas School of Law