Ron Coleman

Ron Coleman

Counsel

Superlawyers Rising Stars: 2012 – 2023

Ron Coleman is a Counsel at the Dhillon Law Group and resident in its New York Metro office. Ron is a commercial litigator with extensive first-seat trial and appellate experience who focuses on torts of competition such as trademark infringement, unfair competition and consumer law.

Besides his trademark work Ron is also known for his Internet-related and First Amendment advocacy, regarding both religious and free speech rights, including his representation of Simon Tam and “The Slants” in the watershed free speech case, Matal v. Tam, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the prohibition against registration of “disparaging” trademarks was unconstitutional.

Having recently semi-retired his popular “Likelihood of Confusion” blog on trademark law, Ron is a popular influencer on Twitter with over 200,000 followers (@roncoleman) and hosts the ColemanNation video podcast which focuses on free expression, cancel culture and law. He attended Princeton University and Northwestern University School of Law.

Contact Information

An alumnus of a number of major commercial firms in New York and New Jersey, the states in which he is admitted, Ron maintains a leading-edge media practice representing political and new media figures in defamation and intellectual property claims, challenges to social media “cancel culture” or “deplatforming” cases as well as traditional intellectual property litigation on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts throughout the country.

Ron has been perennially listed in the World Trademark Review’s “WTR 1000 Top Practitioners” guide for his trademark litigation work in New York and the World Intellectual Property’s Review’s “WIPR Leaders” directory, as well as Super Lawyers; he is AV rated in Martindale Hubbell.

He received the American Bar Association IP Section’s 2018 Mark T. Banner Award for Impact on IP Law for his work on Matal v. Tam, and his blog, Likelihood of Confusion, is one of the longest-running and most widely read intellectual property blogs on the Internet.

Ron is very active on social media, notably Twitter, and has published, written and presented extensively on IP, social media and free speech issues around the country. He is a member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association, the Federalist Society and the state bar associations of New York and New Jersey.

Ron has successfully represented clients of every size in state and federal courts, arbitrations and mediations in a variety of litigation matters, including contract disputes, distributorship litigation, trademark and unfair competition cases, business tort claims, toxic tort and insurance coverage litigation, discrimination and wrongful discharge cases, copyright infringement claims, and cases involving trade secrets, restrictive covenants and real estate.

His litigation experience runs from pretrial investigation and early dispute resolution through every aspect of bench and jury trials as well as appeals.

Ron received his AB from Princeton University and graduated from Northwestern University School of Law.

  • Partner Dhillon Law Group 2020 – Present
  • Partner Mandelbaum Salsburg PC 2017 – 2020
  • Partner Archer Law 2015 – 2017
  • Partner Goetz Fitzpatrick LLP 2008 – 2015
  • Partner Hoffman Polland & Furman, PLLC 2007 – 2008
  • Partner Bragar Wexler & Eagel, PC 2006 – 2007
  • Partner Coleman Law Firm, a Professional Corporation 2003 – 2006
  • Partner Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty, LLP 2000 – 2003
  • Associate Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, LLP 1996 – 2000
  • Associate Lowenstein, Sandler, Kohl, Fisher & Boylan, a Professional Corporation 1992 – 1994
  • Associate Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler 1990 – 1992
  • Northwestern University School of Law JD – Juris Doctor 1988
  • Princeton University AB 1985
  • United States Court of Appeal
    • 2nd Circuit
    • 3rd Circuit
    • 4th Circuit
    • 5th Circuit
    • 6th Circuit
    • 9th Circuit
    • 11th Circuit
  • United States District Court
    • Southern District of New York
    • Eastern District of New York
    • Northern District of New York
    • Western District of New York
    • District of New Jersey
    • Eastern District of Wisconsin
    • District of Columbia
Coleman NationPodcast2022
Likelihood of Confusion blogWeblog2020
HeinOnlineFashion Dos: Acknowledging Social Media Evidence as Relevant to Proving Secondary Meaning2016
Media Law Resource Center – Media Law LetterSlants, Redskins and other “Disparaging” Trademarks2015
Intellectual Property Owners Education FoundationThe Policy and Constitutional Challenges to Contemporary Application of Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act2015
New York State Bar Association JournalBloggers, Journalists, Reporting and Privilege2013
In the Arena: A Sports Law HandbookHow Trademark Protection Intersects with the Athlete’s Right of Publicity2013
American Intellectual Property Law Association(A Short History of) The Misuse of Trademarks to Control Free Expression2013
Federalist SocietyTrademark, Copyright, and the Internet: Time to Return Balance to Civil Litigation2010
Copyright and New Media Law NewsletterCopyright Rules of the Road for Bloggers2009
NJ Law JournalHands off Blogs: Mandatory disclosure of payment to bloggers runs counter to free expression2007
Advertising Compliance ServicePrudential Standing: Who is “any person” under the Lanham Act?2006
NJSBA Business Law Symposium (ICLE)Managing Risk: Litigation Prophylaxis in High-Tech Agreements2003
Journal of Internet LawDe Minimis Confusion on the Internet: Compounding the Error of Initial Interest2003
Record of the Association of the Bar of the City of New YorkOnline Auction Sites and Trademark Infringement Liability2003
Mondaq.comDepositions and Wrongful Profits in Infringement Cases: Cornering Your Prey with Rule 30(b)(6)2002
Mealey’s Cyber Tech LitigationHacker with a White Hat2001
CorporateIntelligence.comNew York’s Declaratory Judgment Insurance Trap2001
Corporateintelligence.comCourts Run Hot and Cold on Liquidated Damages2000
CorporateIntelligence.comThe Common Interest Privilege’s Evolving Nomenclature and Jurisprudence2000
The ABA Legal Guide for Small BusinessPrimary author, trade paperback2000
Business and Commercial Litigation in the Federal Courts (West)Chapter 6, “Responses to Complaints” (with Clyde A. Szuch)1998
The ABA Guide to Consumer LawTrade paperback1998
National Law Journal IP ExpressContracting on the Internet1997
National Law JournalCourt Nixes Fees for Fact Witnesses1997
Mealey’s Litigation ReportNew York’s Choice of Law Doctrine in Coverage Cases1997
ABA Journal 1995
ABA JournalCopycats on the Superhighway1995
Freedom FestWhen the Government Assaults the First Amendment2022
New Jersey State Bar AssociationPrior Restraint/Content Moderation: Where are we Today?2022
New York Young Republican ClubJuly Speaker Series2021
Asociacion Ecuatoriana de Propiedad IntelectualDerecho Constitutucional y Propiedad Intelectual: Complementos y Conflictos2021
Contra Costa GOPAnnual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner2020
Practical legal ethics in the modern media environmentEthics in the Media2019
One-Day Patent CLE SeminarNew York’s New Social Media Guidelines2019
NYIPLA President’s ForumOnline Platform Liability2019
Hot Topics in Intellectual PropertyGenericness Ab Initio and Trademark Registration2019
CIPLA MeetingDisparaging, Immoral and Scandalous Trademarks and the First Amendment2019
NYIPLA Annual MeetingPredictability and the Standard of Review in IP Cases2018
PBI’s 11th Annual Intellectual Property InstituteKeynote Speech – Trademark law developments2017
Panel Discussion about Trademarks as Speech and PropertyTrademarks as Speech and Property in a World of Brands2017
McCarthy Symposium on Trademark Law and Its Challenges 2017Trademark Disparagement and the First Amendment2017
Internet Law Symposium: Controversies & Issues in Internet LawFree Speech and the Internet: Balancing Protections2017
INTA Annual Meeting – Barcelona, SpainWhat’s the Use? Exploring Recent Challenges and Changes to Common Law Unfair Competition and Trademark Use Requirements in the U.S. and Canada2017
Fashion Law Seminar – FBA, New York CityLitigating a Brand: The Dual Perspective of In-House and Outside Counsel2017
Los Angeles Copyright SocietyRegistering Offense: Disparaging Trademarks, The First Amendment, and In Re Simon Shiao Tam2016
Intellectual Property Law Section Annual MeetingOn the (Un)Constitutionality of Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act2016
All-Ohio Annual Institute on Intellectual PropertySection 2(a) of the Lanham Act: Trademark’s Law of Unintended Consequences2016
Advanced Trademark Law SeminarMastering Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act: Strategies for Overcoming Deceptiveness, False Suggestion, Scandalous, and Disparaging Refusals2016
WebinarDeposing Rule 30(b)(6) Corporate Witnesses2015
MLRC Forum“Hate Speech, Threats, and Terror: In the News and On Your Site”2015
GIBSON DUNNFederal Registration of Disparaging, Immoral and Scandalous Trademarks2019
Trademark Talk: Hot Topics and Recent Developments in Trademark LawTrademark Year in Review: Notable Decisions2014
Green Paper RoundtableStatutory Damages in Copyright2016
CIPLA March MeetingThe SLANTS Appeal and Examining Attorney Independent Research2014
Annual Federal Circuit SymposiumAddressing the Efficacy of Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act2014
AIPLA Annual MeetingTrademarks, Goodwill and Free Speech2013
Annual MeetingRighthaven and Mass Copyright Infringement Campaigns2011
Table Talk (Facilitator)Policing Trademarks on the Internet and the Web 2.02010
Annual Spring MeetingKeying Up Keywords: The Role of IP in Keyword Searching2010
Advanced Trademark LawA Focus on Initial Interest Confusion, Post-Sale Confusion and Related Strategies2010
Legal Aspects of BloggingLegal Aspects of Blogging2008
Halacha Conference of Agudath IsraelJewish law issues in legal practice2007
Advanced Internet Strategies for the New Jersey Legal ProfessionalLegal research on the Internet for non-lawyers2006
Seminar on Advanced Trademark Law (ABCNY)Advanced trademark law2005
Table Talk (Facilitator)Issues in Trademark Dilution2004
Electronic Data Management and Discovery I ssues: Where is the Tipping Point? (Del. Bar Assoc.)Electronic discovery2003
Annual Business Law Institute (NJSBA)Managing Risks and Costs of Acquiring IT Solutions2003
Faith Under Democracy (Fed. Soc.)Constitutional law – First Amendment2002
Branding Strategies and IssuesIP issues in branding2002
Attacking Counterfeiting in the 21st Century (NYIPA)Trademark counterfeiting2002
Annual Meeting (IACC)Legislation / lobbying report to members2002
2001 Wireless Conference (Conf. Bd.)Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Where Wireless is Ubiquitous2001
Trademarks in Cyberspace (INTA)Trademark rights vs. free speech2000

 

  • Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council – Independent Activism Award 2021
  • Tomech Torah Award – Novominsk Yeshiva 2021
  • John Marshall Harlan II Award – New York Young Republican Club 2020
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2020
  • WTR 1000, “World’s Leading Trademark Professionals” World Trademark Review 2019
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2019
  • Top Attorney – Internet Law SJ Magazine 2018
  • Global Intellectual Property Leader World IP Review 2018
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2018
  • WTR 1000, “World’s Leading Trademark Professionals” World Trademark Review 2018
  • Mark T. Banner Award for Impact on IP Law American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section 2018
  • Global Intellectual Property Leader World IP Review 2017
  • WTR 1000, “World’s Leading Trademark Professionals” World Trademark Review 2017
  • Top Attorney – Internet Law South Jersey Magazine 2017
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2017
  • Distinguished Leaders Award New Jersey Law Journal 2017
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2016
  • Top Attorney – Internet Law South Jersey Magazine 2016
  • The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals (WTR 1000) World Trademark Review 2016
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2015
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2014
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2013
  • Super Lawyer – Intellectual Property Litigation, New York City Super Lawyers 2012
  • Who’s Who in America Marquis Who’s Who 2006
  • Rated “AV’ Martindale-Hubbell 1999
  • Who’s Who in American Law Marquis Who’s Who 1998

★★★★★
Wonderful to work with

I’ve been working with Ron for a well-known case for many years now and found him to be exceptionally perceptive, intuitive, and sharp in helping determine the legal course to take. He knows what he’s talking about, and he has a sense of humor as well. My case has been ongoing for over six years – but it was Ron’s ingenuity to tackle things from a different slant that allowed us to move forward and overcome many traditional barriers in place. He has worked tirelessly, been extremely responsive to my many questions, and has presented a case that has been scrutinized (though oft-misunderstood) by millions now. Throughout this process, he’s helped protect me from myself – from acting too rash, and helping preserve and protect my brand.

– Simon

★★★★★
Ron Sets The Bar For IP Attorneys

If you want your opponent’s heart to hit their stomach when they research your counsel, hire Ron. This is exactly what I was told by a team member of the “other side” after she came to work for us following our Ron-at-the-helm victory. When Ron took our case, I felt confident after doing my own research that we had the best. But this statement by my now sales manager cemented that sentiment; we had the best, and the other side knew it. Ron is a plethora of knowledge when it comes to intellectual property. Combine that with his powerful persona, his calm-in-the-storm approach, and his articulate legal writing skills, and you’ve got a brilliant attorney that you will be proud to have in your corner. Throw in his uncompromising honesty and his canny sense of humor, and you’ve got someone you’ll be proud to have as your friend. If you’re looking for the best ip attorney, your search is over. You’ve found your man.

– Sandy

★★★★★
Ron succeeded in attaining a difficult trademark.

Ron advised me to pursue a trademark that would provide broader protection if approved. This would alleviate me from filing additional trademarks for variations of my service. He did a great job and my trademark is now registered.

– Avraham

Ron Coleman - Dhillon Law Group Counsel
Ron Coleman Discusses Rock & Roll, Redskins, and Free Speech on Law Journal TV
The First Amendment and the New State Censorship: Project Veritas Panel at Freedom Fest 2022
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