Pirkey Barber PLLC

17 Best Lawyers awards

Pirkey Barber PLLC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Trademark Law Litigation - Intellectual Property
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Austin.

Biography

Bill Barber has devoted his legal career to the field of trademark law, focusing primarily on trademark litigation and policing, handling cases in federal courts across the U.S. and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Experienced in all aspects of litigation, including jury and bench trials as well as appeals, Bill also handles domain name disputes through ICANN’s domain name dispute resolution policies. He regularly assists clients with a wide range of trademark needs, including trademark policing strategies and programs, trademark clearance, and trademark prosecution.

Bill served as vice chair of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Public Advisory Committee, has testified before Congress regarding reforms to the federal trademark dilution statute, and is a frequent author and speaker on various trademark and unfair competition topics. He is a past president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and a past chair of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section.

Bill has received a number of professional awards in his career, including Best Lawyers’ Austin Lawyer of the Year for Trademark Law (2012, 2015, 2017) and Intellectual Property Litigation (2013, 2016). Appearing in WTR 1000 since the inaugural edition, the publication awarded Mr. Barber Gold status nationally in both the “Prosecution and Strategy” and “Enforcement and Litigation” categories, and heralded him as a “legend in the field.” He has also been recognized in Chambers USA/Global, Expert Guides Trademark, Texas Super Lawyers, Trademark Law Experts, and Who’s Who Legal: Texas/Trademarks.

Bill received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin in 1984. He earned a J.D. with high honors from The University of Texas School of Law in 1987.

Last but not least, Bill is a devoted husband and father. Bill and his wife Melinda have three daughters, Robyn, Elyse, and Melynn.

Pirkey Barber PLLC

17 Best Lawyers awards

Pirkey Barber PLLC logo

Overview

  • The University of Texas, J.D., graduated 1987
  • The University of Texas, graduated 1987
  • The University of Texas, graduated 1984

  • Texas, State Bar of Texas

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) (2013 – 2019) - Vice Chair (2015-2019)
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association - Fellows (2013-2017), President (2011-2012), Executive Committee (2008-2012), Education Foundation, Board of Trustees (2008-2010), Secretary (2006-2008), Board of Directors (2003-2006)
  • The Honorable Lee Yeakel IP Inn of Court - Master of the Bench
  • Austin Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
  • State Bar of Texas - Intellectual Property Law Section, Chair (2003 – 2004); Council (1999 – 2005)
  • Texas Bar Foundation - Life Fellow
  • Austin Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • American Bar Association - Intellectual Property Law Section
  • Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal - Editor (1995 – 2004)
  • The Trademark Reporter - Editorial Board Member (1995 – 2010)
  • The University of Texas School of Law - Adjunct Professor (1999-2010)
  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) (2013 – 2019) - Vice Chair (2015-2019)
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association - Fellows (2013-2017), President (2011-2012), Executive Committee (2008-2012), Education Foundation, Board of Trustees (2008-2010), Secretary (2006-2008), Board of Directors (2003-2006)
  • The Honorable Lee Yeakel IP Inn of Court - Master of the Bench
  • Austin Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
  • State Bar of Texas - Intellectual Property Law Section, Chair (2003 – 2004); Council (1999 – 2005)
  • Texas Bar Foundation - Life Fellow
  • Austin Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • American Bar Association - Intellectual Property Law Section
  • Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal - Editor (1995 – 2004)
  • The Trademark Reporter - Editorial Board Member (1995 – 2010)
  • The University of Texas School of Law - Adjunct Professor (1999-2010)
  • The University of Texas, J.D., graduated 1987
  • The University of Texas, graduated 1987
  • The University of Texas, graduated 1984

Client Testimonials

William Barber provides excellent analysis and advice on how to handle the varied issues that arise from our vast trademark portfolio.

Bill Barber is perhaps the most experienced and polished trademark attorney we have ever had the pleasure to hire. His calm and confident demeanor brings a steadying presence to even the most difficult discussions.

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Trademark Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Trademark Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Litigation - Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Trademark Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Litigation - Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Trademark Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Trademark Law, Austin (2026)
  • Trademark Law, Austin (2017)
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property, Austin (2016)
  • Trademark Law, Austin (2015)
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property, Austin (2013)
  • Trademark Law, Austin (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Trademark Law
Special Focus:
  • Internet
  • Litigation
  • Trademark
Awards:
  • Trademark Law Experts, International Legal Media Group (2014, 2016)
  • WTR 1000 The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, World Trademark Review (2011-2017)
  • “Lawyer of the Year” for Intellectual Property Litigation in Austin, Best Lawyers® by Woodward/White, Inc. (2013, 2016)
  • “Lawyer of the Year” for Trademark Law in Austin, Best Lawyers® by Woodward/White, Inc. (2012, 2015, 2017)
  • State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Law Section Chair Award
  • Guide to the World’s Leading Trade Mark Law Practitioners, Euromoney Legal Media Group (2004-2014)
  • Chambers and Partners USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers, Trademark and Copyright Texas (2006-2016)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White, Inc. (2008-2017)
  • Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Trademark Lawyers, Law Business Research Ltd. (2005-2016)
  • Texas Super Lawyers® list, a Thomson Reuters service (2007-2017)
  • Trade Mark Expert Guide, Legal Media Group (2004-2014)

Case History

Cases
  • Texas Pig Stands, Inc. v. Hard Rock Cafe Int'l, Inc., 951 F.2d 684 (5th Cir. 1992)
Jury verdict of trademark infringement affirmed; case involved complex issues regarding genericness, incontestability, and res judicata.
  • Kellogg Co. v. Exxon Corp., 50 USPQ2d 1499 (W.D. Tenn. 1998), rev'd and remanded, 209 F.3d 562 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 121 S.Ct. 340 (2000), on remand, 192 F. Supp. 2d 790 (W.D. Tenn. 2001)
Complex issues regarding laches, abandonment, and dilution.
  • CJC Holdings, Inc. d/b/a ArtCarved v. Wright & Lato, 979 F.2d 60 (5th Cir. 1992)
Standards for awarding reasonable attorney fees under the Lanham Act.
  • Westchester Media Co. v. PRL USA Holdings, Inc., 214 F.3d 658 (5th Cir. 2000)
Involved clash of trademark rights v. First Amendment interests in magazine title.
  • Frito-Lay North America, Inc. v. Princeton Vanguard, LLC.
The TTAB issued two precedential decisions in this case. In the first, 100 USPQ2d 1904 (TTAB 2011), the Board held that parties may treat discovery in TTAB proceedings differently than in other types of trademark litigation and that the burden and expense of e-discovery weighs heavily against requiring production in most TTAB cases. In the second precedential decision, 109 USPQ2d 1949 (TTAB 2014), the Board held that the term PRETZEL CRISPS is generic for pretzel crackers, giving controlling weight to dictionary definitions, use by the public including the media and third-parties in the food industry, and use by the defendant itself.

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