Lynn E. Rzonca

Litigation, Intellectual Property, Copyrights, Intellectual Property Litigation, Patents, Trademarks

Lynn E. Rzonca is a partner in the Litigation Department and Intellectual Property Department. Ms. Rzonca is a registered patent attorney who focuses her practice on litigating patent, trademark, and trade secret cases, and counseling clients on how to best protect and increase the value of their intellectual property. On any given day, she may be clearing a trademark for use, convincing the Trademark Office as to why a mark is registerable, responding to a threat of patent infringement, or assisting a company to ensure it is taking proper steps to protect its trade secret.

Ms. Rzonca has litigated a wide range of intellectual property issues, including patent, trademark, trade secret, false advertising, and copyright. She has also prosecuted many trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and handled cases before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Ms. Rzonca frequently assists clients with the launch of new brands and advertising campaigns.

Ms. Rzonca is a co-leader of Ballard Women, a group of diverse Ballard Spahr attorneys whose aim is to help women attorneys build professional networks, create business opportunities, and grow as legal counselors and business and civic leaders.

Judicial Clerkships

Hon. Anthony J. Scirica, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession named Ms. Rzonca recipient of the 2010 Lynette Norton Award, in recognition of her litigation skills and mentoring and encouragement of female lawyers.

In 2009, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell named Ms. Rzonca one of Pennsylvania's "Best 50 Women in Business." The award, in its 14th year, is given jointly by the Business Journals of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development. Philadelphia magazine also recognized Ms. Rzonca for her mentoring work in its "Best of Philly" 2009 edition.

In December 2009, the Philadelphia Business Journal and the National Association of Women Business Owners named Ms. Rzonca a Woman of Distinction, an award given to women who are leaders in their professions and communities.

Since 2009, Ms. Rzonca has been Co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession Mentoring Task Force, which coordinates the commission's "LINK" mentoring program matching young female bar members with experienced female lawyers.

Other honors include:

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, intellectual property law, 2006-2011

The Best Lawyers in America, intellectual property litigation, copyright law, patent law, trademark law, and patent litigation, 2008-2012

AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Board Memberships

Juvenile Law Center, Board of Directors (2006-present)

Pennsylvania SPCA, Board of Directors (2007-present)

Children's Justice Clinic at Rutgers School of Law, Advisory Board

Speaking Engagements

Guest Lecturer, "Trademarks," Law in the Arts, Drexel University Graduate School, Winter 2011

"To Friend, Blog, Tweet, or Tube: Social Media and Intellectual Property," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, November 5, 2009

"Communicating as an Effective Leader," 2008 Fall Retreat & Leadership Forum, PBA Commission on Women in the Profession, Hershey, Pennsylvania, November 2008

"Managing Partner Panel–How Can Women Succeed in Law Firm Culture?" Women in the Legal Profession Summit: Rainmaking, Negotiating and Collaborative Development, BVR Legal/Mealey's Conferences, Philadelphia, September 2008

"IP and the Internet: The Story of GROW AND GO, the Fictional Drink of the Summer Games," Ballard Spahr CLE Program, Philadelphia, June 2008

"Is That a Trademark I Smell? The New Boundaries of Non-Traditional Trademarks," 12th Annual Business Lawyers Institute, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, October 2006

"We've Been Sued–Now What? Calculating and Proving Patent Damages," Law Seminars International, Philadelphia, October 2006

Guest Lecturer, Trial Advocacy, Villanova University Law School, Villanova, Pennsylvania, October 2005

"Maximizing Value in M&A Transactions with an Emphasis on Intellectual Property," Joint National Conference, American Society of Women Accountants and American Woman's Society of CPAs, Philadelphia, September 2005

"Assisting in Trademark Infringement Cases," Intellectual Property Litigation for Paralegals, Atlantic City, June 2005

Community Activities

Narberth (Pennsylvania) Planning Commission, 2000-2008

Northwestern University School of Law (J.D. 1991)
Member, International Journal of Law and Business; Member, National Moot Court Team; Teaching Assistant

Loyola University Chicago (M.A. 1986)

Loyola University Chicago (B.S., biology, 1984, with honors)

Illinois

Pennsylvania

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office