Vanessa A. Ignacio

See more section

An early advocate for the protection of brand rights in domain names and online platforms, Vanessa has an undefeated record in combatting online trademark infringement, cybersquatting, and phishing attacks in domain name dispute proceedings for such iconic brands as Claritin, Aleve, Dr. Scholl’s, Alka-Seltzer, Arm & Hammer, Coppertone, and Catalent, to name a few. She advises clients on trademark, impersonation, copyright and other issues within innovative technologies like Blockchain. She is called upon by clients as diverse as Phibro Animal Health, Church & Dwight, Yext, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to protect their brands and product trade dress. Her clients trust her deep understanding of their businesses and rely on her ability to accurately assess risks in trademark selection in ways that align with their business goals.

Vanessa manages the national and global trademark portfolios–from brand selection to clearance and registration to licensing, maintenance, and enforcement–of clients spanning industries as diverse as life sciences and pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods, animal health, financial services, apparel, footwear, cosmetics, and software and technology. She has specialized knowledge related to clearing global pharmaceutical names, including counseling on regulatory approval of pharmaceutical brands. Vanessa advises on IP transactional issues in the context of trademark portfolio audits, securitization of IP assets, and due diligence matters. She also has specific experience in getting her clients’ brands cleared for use in online resale platforms in China and addressing peculiar trademark registration issues in that jurisdiction. Highly experienced in enforcing and defending intellectual property in oppositions, cancellations, and appeals before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Vanessa has litigated and negotiated matters involving trademark infringement, trade dress, copyright infringement matters, and false advertising disputes, and she has an impeccable record of success in appealing refusals to register trademarks in the USPTO and agencies worldwide.  

Prior to her legal career, Vanessa worked in Artist &Repertoire at several prominent music companies, including Polygram and Capitol Records. This background enhances her experience addressing copyright protection, securitization, licensing, and enforcement. She draws on her prior experience to counsel clients on a range of entertainment law agreements, including production, distribution, and music publishing contracts. 

In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys her eclectic music collection, watching hockey (“Let’s Go Rangers!”), and volunteering as a member of Impact 100 Garden State, a women-led philanthropic organization providing high-impact community grants.