John C.Heinbockel

John's practice concentrates on domestic and international trademark prosecution, portfolio management, clearance, and enforcement. Prior to joining the firm, John worked at boutique intellectual property firms where he advised clients on trademark, copyright, and domain name issues, as well as represented clients in trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings around the world.

From consumer products to industrial chemicals, John has overseen global trademark portfolios in a wide range of industries. His experience has included a deep focus on trademark prosecution. He understand the nuances of IP offices around the world and how they consider certain matters—which is not always the same as how things play out in the marketplace.

John uses some of Seyfarth's in-house tools to streamline his services, including reporting potential conflicts arising from new trademark registrations around the world. He always compares the risks associated with registration, versus the risks of actual use. Sometimes, just because he can't register a trademark does not mean his client cannot use it. If a new idea or brand is really important to a client, John loves trying to brainstorm workarounds. He also enjoys developing defensive strategies to stake out space overseas by taking advantage of the different trademark laws of different countries.

At Seyfarth, John appreciates the energy and enthusiasm that his colleagues bring to his work. Intellectual property attorneys are usually fun, creative people, and his team at the firm combines attorneys with diverse backgrounds and interests.