Mary A. Donovan

Mary has over 30 years of experience advising clients on international trademark, copyright, and licensing issues for a wide variety of clients, in such diverse areas as publishing, pharmaceuticals, sports, toys, food and beverages, hotels, and fashion.  Her expertise includes the acquisition, maintenance, and enforcement of marks worldwide.

Mary manages worldwide trademark portfolios, including the portfolio of a multinational Fortune 500 company, and provides clients with practical advice on the strategic rollout of international intellectual property filing, maintenance and enforcement programs.  Mary also handles U.S. opposition and cancellation actions in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and oversees local counsel’s activities in enforcing marks abroad.  Transactional work includes licensing and worldwide assignment/merger/name change programs.

“Beyond shoes, I love the opera and jazz at Lincoln Center.”

Honors & Recognitions

“The 30-year veteran [Mary] Donovan is a force to be reckoned with for her following, routinely making their business goals her priority. There are few things in the trademark arena she cannot handle, from routine maintenance to global enforcement programmes and UDRP proceedings. She is also regularly called upon to supply guidance on IP transactions.” 2024 WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 

"Mary Donovan has keen commercial instincts and makes it her duty to develop an extensive knowledge of every client’s business, [which makes] her an excellent partner and a trusted adviser... very practical and enables us to efficiently manage our large worldwide portfolio of trademarks... [has the] highest integrity [and] is also resourceful and well connected with local counsel worldwide.” 2023 WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 

"Mary Donovan demonstrates exceptional resourcefulness and judgement, and guides her clients in a way that is sensitive to their budgetary concerns. She is well connected and highly regarded in the wider trademark community, and has excellent relations with local counsel worldwide. She is a pleasure to work with on all aspects of trademark prosecution, enforcement and litigation, as well as unfair competition, internet and advertising issues.” 2022 WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 

“Mary Donovan is a global portfolio management star who is brilliant on the administrative, substantive and commercial aspects of matters.” 2020 WTR 1000 - The World's Leading Trademark Professionals

"Mary Donovan, Christopher Jensen and Maryann Licciardi bring impressive experience to bear in portfolio management, litigation and TTAB proceedings respectively." 2019 WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals

"Mary Donovan who re-joined the firm in 2017 is highly regarded throughout the IP community and well connected with local counsel worldwide, she is cost-conscious, responsive and resourceful. Moreover, she is extremely hands-on and possesses excellent judgement."  2018 WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals

The Best Lawyers in America for Copyright (2023)

WTR 1000 World Leading Trademark Professionals, Prosecution and Strategy (2018 to present)

Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating

The Top Women in Intellectual Property, New York Times insert (based on AV rating)

New York Super Lawyers (2006 - present)

Community & Professional Activities

International Trademark Association

Copyright Society of the USA

The Authors Guild

Experience

• Worldwide experience with the acquisition, maintenance, and enforcement of trademarks, copyright, licensing and assignment/merger/name change programs
• Handles U.S. opposition and cancellation actions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and oversees local counsel’s activities in enforcing marks abroad
• Has advised a wide variety of clients in such diverse areas as publishing, pharmaceuticals, sports, toys, food and beverages, and fashion
• Manages the worldwide trademark portfolios of Henry Schein, Inc. and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Brace Company
• Handled international transfers of trademark portfolio ownership
• Handled the trademark due diligence and implementation for a large merger
• An active participant, writer and lecturer in the International Trademark Association (INTA) and is Co‐Principal Editor of the INTA training tool on trademark practice and procedures

Prior Employement

Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, 1981-1987

Darcy Donovan & Coleman, 1987-1989

Nims Howes Collison, 1990-1992

Proskauer Rose, 1992-1997

Donovan & Yee, LLP 1997-2015

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