R. Parrish Freeman
Registered Patent Attorney Shareholder

R. Parrish Freeman
Registered Patent Attorney Shareholder
Parrish is an experienced litigator whose practice is focused primarily on patent, trademark, and other intellectual property and complex commercial matters. He is continually listed in Best Lawyers in America© lists for Litigation – Patent; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Patent Law; and Trademark Law.
Parrish grew up in Tennessee, attended college and law school in North Carolina, then moved to the mountains of Utah where he has been handling patent and other intellectual property disputes since 1998. Whether it’s dealing with allegations of infringement, coordinating a large-scale enforcement effort, or negotiating a license, Parrish is adept at helping his clients navigate the complex intellectual property issues they encounter daily. Parrish has litigated patent cases across a wide spectrum of technologies, from very complicated chemical, electrical, and software matters to relatively simple mechanical cases. And while his undergraduate degree is in chemistry, it is his proven ability to assimilate any technology, along with a nuanced understanding of patent law that only years of experience can bring, that makes him a valued senior member of the Maschoff Brennan litigation practice group.
As a registered patent attorney, Parrish is also equipped to prosecute matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), although he has focused his practice over the years on enforcing and defending intellectual property rights rather than procuring them. In recent years, however, Parrish’s practice has grown to include certain USPTO proceedings such as inter partes review (IPR) and the other post-issuance patentability challenge proceedings (CBM and PGR) created by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011. Parrish’s understanding of the interplay between these new administrative proceedings and traditional infringement litigation has given his clients a real advantage over their adversaries.
Parrish has also handled a number of trademark enforcement matters over the years, with an emphasis on helping trademark rights holders protect their brands on the Internet and in domain name disputes. In many cases, Parrish has helped his clients save considerable time and money by reaching their enforcement goals through UDRP proceedings rather than through conventional litigation. More recently, Parrish has brought added value to his trademark clients by closely following the development of the new generic top-level domains (New gTLDs) and advising with regard to URS, TMCH, and the variety of other rights protection mechanisms trademark owners have at their disposal in this new and expanding space. To read Parrish’s cover article on this subject in the ABA IP Section’s Landslide® Magazine, click here.
Parrish often writes and lectures in the areas of Internet trademark enforcement and electronic discovery in patent cases. He currently volunteers his time as the chair of the American Bar Association Intellectual Property Section’s Committee 601 (Trial and Appellate Rules Committee), and as a subcommittee co-chair for the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Trademark Internet Committee.
Away from work, Parrish enjoys serving as a USA Swimming Official at swim meets around the country, mountain biking, and Nordic skiing.
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Education
- J.D., Campbell University School of Law
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chemistry
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Practice Focus
- Patent Litigation
- Trademark Litigation
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Inter Partes Review Proceedings
- Internet Domain Name Disputes
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Technical Experience
- Medical Devices
- Pharmaceuticals
- Computer Hardware and Software
- Telecommunication Hardware and Software
- Heavy Machinery
- Home Electronics
- Biodegradable Plastics and Cleaners
- Chemical Compositions and Processes
- Blow-Molded Plastics
- Sports Equipment
- Synthetic Fuels
- Health and Fitness Equipment
- Nutritional Supplements
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Professional Admissions & Associations
- Utah State Bar
- Tennessee State Bar
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
- American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section
- Chair, Trial and Appellate Rules Committee
- Member, CLE Board 2018 – 2020
- Member, Patent Litigation Committee
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Vice Chair, Trademark Internet Committee
- Member, David K. Winder Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
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Publications, Speaking Engagements & Presentations
Publications
- “Hey, that’s my idea!” Why protecting your ideas requires more than being first, The Enterprise (October 13, 2020)
- Landslide Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 6, July / August 2014, “Surviving the Coming Flood of New Generic Top-Level Domains – How to Keep Your Property Safe and Dry”
- Attorney at Law Magazine, March 2014, “Taming the Cost of Patent Litigation: E-Discovery Cost Control”
- Utah Business Journal, August 2012, “Change in Domain – How New Generic Top-Level Domains Will Change the Internet”
- Lexology Blog Post 4/6/2012 – “Reining in Litigation Expense – Chief Judge Rader Speaks Out on E-Discovery and Other Issues”
- Lexology Blog Post 10/5/2011 – “Are Your Trademarks Protected From Becoming .xxx Domain Names? They May Not Be Unless You Act Before October 28”
Presentations
- Presentation to Nevada State Bar Intellectual Property Section – Recent Developments in Federal Circuit Law of Indefiniteness – 10/23/2015
- Panel Discussion for Licensing Executives Society on State and Federal Anti-Troll Legislation – 5/16/2014
- CLE Presentation sponsored by Utah State University on Inter Partes Review and Covered Business Method Review Proceedings – 4/10/2014
- CLE Presentation on Inter Partes Review and Covered Business Method Review Proceedings – 3/27/2014
- CLE Presentation to Utah State Bar on State Demand Letter Legislation – 3/25/2014
- CLE Presentation to Utah State Bar Spring Meeting on New Generic Top-Level Domains – 3/14/2014
- CLE Presentation on Inter Partes Review and Covered Business Method Review Proceedings – 2/21/2014
- CLE Presentation on Inter Partes Review and Covered Business Method Review Proceedings – 12/11/2013
- CLE Presentation on Trademark Clearinghouse and New gTLDs – 3/22/2013
- CLE Presentation to American Intellectual Property Law Association on Electronic Discovery in Patent Cases – 9/5/2012
- Moderator for Roundtable Discussion featuring Chief Judge Randall R. Rader to ABA IP Section 27th Annual Conference regarding Federal Circuit Advisory Council’s Model Order on E-Discovery in Patent Litigation – 3/28/2012
- CLE Presentation to Tennessee Intellectual Property Law Association on Internet Domain Name Disputes – 4/22/2011
- CLE Presentation to Tennessee Bar Association on Recent Federal Circuit Cases – 7/25/2010
- CLE Presentation on Electronic Discovery – 10/5/2007
- CLE Presentation on Internet Domain Name Disputes – 4/21/2006
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Awards & Recognition
- Named as Lawyer of the Year 2021 in Trademark Law by Best Lawyers in America©
- Best Lawyers in America© 2023: Litigation – Patent; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Patent Law; and Trademark Law
- Best Lawyers in America© 2022: Litigation – Patent; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Patent Law; and Trademark Law
- Best Lawyers in America© 2020: Litigation – Intellectual Property; Litigation – Patent; Patent Law
- Best Lawyers in America© 2018: Litigation – Patent; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Patent Law; and Trademark Law
- Best Lawyers in America© 2017: Litigation – Patent; Litigation – Intellectual Property; and Trademark Law
- Best Lawyers in America© 2016: Litigation – Patent; Litigation – Intellectual Property; and Trademark Law
- Best Lawyers in America© 2015: Litigation – Patent and Litigation – Intellectual Property
News and Articles
- Best Lawyers in America® and U.S. News & World Report Recognizes 19 Maschoff Brennan Attorneys in 2024 Rankings
- Maschoff Brennan Attorneys Once Again Recognized by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report
- How to Leverage Your Trade Dress
- Record Number of Maschoff Brennan Lawyers Named to The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Guide
- “Hey, that’s my idea!” Why protecting your ideas requires more than being first.
- Fed. Circ. Affirms Foundation Patents Weren’t Infringed
- Maschoff Brennan Secures Win for Client Craft Smith in Noteworthy 10th Circuit Decision
- 15 Maschoff Brennan Attorneys Named Among ‘Best Lawyers in America’ R. Parrish Freeman Named Lawyer of The Year
- U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers Recognize Twelve Maschoff Brennan Attorneys in 2020 “Best Lawyers” List
- Freeman to Moderate Panel at IP West Conference