Stephen Baird

Steve Baird works with clients to address their most difficult trademark problems. Steve provides strategic guidance on trademark usage and clearance, branding strategies, domestic and worldwide portfolio management, litigation and enforcement, internet domain name and trademark disputes, licensing, and prosecution. Clients turn to him for his deep experience in trademark and branding matters for startups; design and creative firms; colleges and universities; apparel; jewelry; consumer products; sporting, hunting, and other outdoor goods; food products and ingredients; building materials; medical devices and pharmaceuticals; chemicals, insecticides, and adhesive brands; all kinds of manufacturers; accounting, architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate development firms; restaurants; casinos; software companies; banks; and financial institutions.

Steve’s trademark and brand protection work has gained notoriety for the protection and registration of nontraditional trademarks such as single color marks, product configuration trademarks, and trade dress and product packaging trademarks. He also has helped American Indian tribes build their intellectual property rights and address their legal issues involving intellectual property. His trademark and branding experience in the outdoor sporting, archery, hunting, and shooting industry is extensive and long-lasting.

Steve protects companies’ most important brands and other intellectual property assets by designing efficient, creative, tailored legal strategies to advance their most important business objectives.

Steve is relentless in seeking to understand his clients, their business, industry, goals, objectives, challenges, and limitations. He combines his decades of legal IP experience with his background working as a registered pharmacist, which he has employed to serve a variety of life science, pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, and medical device brands and companies.

A prolific blogger and recognized thought leader, for two years in a row Steve has been named the number one author on trademark matters according to JD Supra’s “Readers’ Choice Awards”.

Concentrations

•Trademark usage and clearance
•Trademark portfolio management
•Nontraditional trademarks
•Trademark litigation
•Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) practice and procedures
•Domain name and internet disputes
•Trademark counterfeiting

Judicial Clerkships

•Hon. Wilson Cowen, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 1990-1991

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, World Trademark Review, 2013-2026
•“WTR Global Leaders,” 2020-2025
•“WTR 1000,” 2013-2026
•Ranked Gold in Minnesota, Enforcement and Litigation
•Ranked Gold in Minnesota, Prosecution and Strategy
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2012-2026
•Selected, “Minneapolis Lawyer of the Year: Trademark Law,” 2017 and 2024
•Listed, Copyright Law, 2012-2026
•Listed, Trademark Law, 2013-2026
•Listed, Litigation - Intellectual Property,” 2014-2026
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Intellectual Property - Minnesota, 2019-2025
•Band 1, 2024-2025
•Band 2, 2022-2023
•Band 3, 2019-2021
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Intellectual Property> Trademarks: Non-Contentious (Including Prosecution, Portfolio Management and Licensing), 2023-2025
•Listed, Managing IP Magazine's World IP Handbook and Survey, “IP Stars: Trademark Stars,” 2013-2025
•Listed, World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) Insights, “Trademark Rankings: U.S. Trademarks - Non-Contentious,” 2023
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2004-2025
•Selected, “Top 100 Lawyers,” 2014
•Listed, Minnesota Monthly, “Top Lawyers in Minnesota,” 2020 and 2023-2025
•Listed, Thomson-Reuters, 'Stand-Out Lawyers,' 2025-2026
•Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers “Law Firm of the Year” in Trademark Law, 2020, 2022
•Top Author, JD Supra, “Readers’ Choice Awards,” 2017-2019
•Minnesota Lawyer
•Selected, “Attorney of the Year,” 2011 and 2013
•Selected, “Circle of Excellence,” 2013
•Name Protect Trademark Insider, 2004-2007
•Ranked Number Six, Top U.S. Trademark Filer, 2004-2007
•Top 50 Trademark Attorneys, 2004-2007
•Selected, CityBusiness, “Forty Under Forty Award,” 2000
•Recipient, First Prize, Brand Names Education Foundation Ladas Memorial Award for Writing Excellence, 1992
•Rated, AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0