Awards and Rankings

Ballard Spahr, Nine of Its Intellectual Property Lawyers Named to Managing IP's 2021 List of  IP Stars

June 29, 2021

Ballard Spahr’s intellectual property practice and nine of the firm’s IP attorneys are recognized for excellence in the 2021 edition of the annual IP Stars rankings by Managing IP.

Widely considered the most comprehensive IP legal guide, IP Stars bases its rankings on research by its analysts in London, New York, and Hong Kong, encompassing information from thousands of firms, practitioners, and clients through interviews, surveys, and independent research, including analysis of publicly available information, such as court and government agency data. Rankings reflect the strength of the firm’s or individual’s track record of client outcomes achieved, volume and sophistication of IP work, and market feedback.

IP Stars 2021 ranks Ballard Spahr as “Highly Recommended” in Georgia and “Recommended” in Pennsylvania, indicative of the overall strength of the firm’s IP practice in those jurisdictions.

Below are the nine Ballard Spahr IP lawyers recognized, along with the Ballard Spahr offices where they are based and their specific designation in IP Stars 2021. In addition to her rankings below, Susan A. Smith is recognized in the IP Stars’ “Top 250 Women in IP” list. This special designation is for senior female IP practitioners in private practice who have performed exceptionally for their clients and firms in the past year—and includes women from jurisdictions around the world.

  • Joseph P. Anderson III, Atlanta, Notable Practitioner
  • Robert R. Baron, Jr., Philadelphia, Patent Star
  • Margaret Bolce Brivanlou, New York, Patent Star
  • Hara K. Jacobs, Philadelphia, Trademark Star
  • Mitch A. Katz, Atlanta, Notable Practitioner
  • Lawrence K. Nodine, Atlanta, Trademark Star
  • Lynn E. Rzonca, Philadelphia, Patent Star and Trademark Star
  • Susan A. Smith, Washington, D.C., Patent Star and Trademark Star
  • Kenneth H. Sonnenfeld, New York, Patent Star

Managing Intellectual Property’s list of Rising Stars 2021 will be announced in September, recognizing up-and-coming IP practitioners below partner level who are expected to become prominent practitioners in the future.

Ballard Spahr’s Intellectual Property Department has more than 50 attorneys and professionals across the country. They apply their extensive legal experience and deep technical knowledge in fields from chemistry to bioinformatics to identify, secure, and protect innovations and brands across industries—nationally and globally.

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