Ross Q. Panko

Partner

Ross is a trademark and copyright partner who advises on and litigates matters in the food and beverage, consumer products, and fashion industries, and has particular expertise in the protection, enforcement, and defense of non-traditional trademarks.

Ross Panko Portrait

Client Work

Ross is both a trusted advisor and an accomplished litigator.  He regularly counsels multinational companies on strategies for protecting and enforcing their trademarks and copyrights in the United States and around the world.  This includes providing guidance on the clearance and prosecution of trademarks and trade dress, negotiating licenses and other IP contracts, and counseling clients on the use and enforcement of trademarks and copyrighted content on social media and other online platforms.  

Ross is also an experienced trademark and copyright litigator, and represents clients in high-stakes litigation in federal and state courts, the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and other venues. He has particular expertise in the enforcement and defense of non-traditional trademarks, including color marks and product configurations. On the copyright side, Ross has successfully represented clients in disputes over apparel designs, photographs, printed publications, and computer source code, among many others.  

Ross recently served as an expert witness on copyright law, transactions, and litigation in an arbitration in the charter school industry.

Previous Work

Ross served as an intern for the Honorable Paul L. Friedman of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Professional Activities

Ross is a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), and currently serves on the Publications Committee (Ideas & Innovations Subcommittee). Ross is also a member of Marques (the European Association of Trademark Owners), and currently serves on the Anti-Counterfeiting & Parallel Trade Committee. 

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

  • “Jack Daniel’s ruling raises survey reliance question,” Managing IP, January 2025
  • “One-year hangover: Counsel still scratching heads in Jack Daniel’s aftermath,” Managing IP, June 2024
  • “Jack Daniel’s hangover and AI-wars: US trademark and copyright trends for 2024,” Managing IP, January 2024
  • Accordion Toggle

Presentations

  • “Overview of TTAB Practice and Procedure,” September 2022 (Webinar)
  • “Overview of Copyright Law and Risk Management in Investment Advisory Publications,” September 2022 (Webinar)
  • “Copyright Considerations in Equity Research,” January 2021 (Webinar)
  • Accordion Toggle

Recognitions

Ross is recognized as one of the leading trademark and copyright lawyers in the United States by The Legal 500 (2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024).

  • Bar & Court Admissions
    • District of Columbia Bar
    • Maryland Bar
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • US District Court, District of Maryland
    • US District Court, District of Colorado
    • US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
    • US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • Education
    University of Maryland School of Law, JD, Order of the Coif, 2004
    Hamline University, BA, cum laude, 1997