Downtown San Diego · 1230 Columbia Street Free case evaluation · (619) 232-8151
San Diego · California · Nationwide

San Diego Trademark Attorneys — registration, disputes & TTAB.

Trial-tested advocacy for the businesses that built their brands on something worth protecting. We handle trademark matters end-to-end — from clearance search to federal court — from our downtown San Diego office since 1962.

Ana Claudia C. Guedes, San Diego trademark attorney, Partner at Wingert Grebing Brubaker & Walshok LLP
Ana Claudia C. Guedes Partner · Trademark Practice Lead
60+Years of
Trial Practice
AV®Martindale
Preeminent*
ABOTANational Trial
Leadership
20+Years IP
& Trademark
USPTOFederal
Practice

Every stage of the trademark lifecycle.

Whether you're filing your first mark or defending your brand in federal court, we handle the full arc — with the judgment of a trial lawyer at every step.

A downtown firm with a national reach.

We're located at 1230 Columbia Street in downtown San Diego — minutes from the federal courthouse. Local clients get in-person strategy sessions; national clients get a firm that appears in federal court and before the TTAB from coast to coast.

Address
1230 Columbia Street
Suite 1100
San Diego, CA 92101
Hours
Mon–Fri · 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Service area
San Diego County
California · Nationwide
1230 Columbia Street · Downtown San Diego · near the federal courthouse
Ana Claudia C. Guedes, Partner — trademark attorney in San Diego
Meet your attorney

Ana Claudia C. Guedes

Partner · Trademark Practice Lead

Ana brings over 20 years of experience across AmLaw 50 litigation and two General Counsel roles. She represents global brands in registration strategy, prosecution, licensing, and litigation — including TTAB proceedings — and handles name, image & likeness (NIL) matters for world-class athletes.

Her in-house background makes her an unusually effective outside general counsel: she understands how trademarks fit into a business, not just a docket.

Full biography →
State Bar of California D.C. Bar U.S.D.C. S.D. Cal. U.S.D.C. N.D. Cal. U.S.D.C. C.D. Cal. USD School of Law, J.D.

Trademark questions, answered.

Short, straight answers to the questions we hear most from San Diego founders and national clients.

Do I need a trademark attorney in San Diego to register a trademark?+
The USPTO does not require you to hire a trademark attorney unless you're a foreign-domiciled applicant, but its own data shows applications filed by attorneys are significantly more likely to register on the first action. A San Diego trademark attorney can run clearance searches, draft the description of goods/services properly, and respond to office actions — which is where DIY filings most often fail.
How long does trademark registration take in California?+
Federal USPTO registration generally takes 12–18 months from filing to registration when the application proceeds smoothly. Office actions, third-party oppositions, or specimen issues can extend this significantly. California state trademark registration is faster (weeks, not months) but only protects your mark within state borders.
What should I do if I receive a trademark cease and desist letter?+
Do not respond immediately, and do not ignore it. Preserve the letter, stop any communications with the sender, and consult a trademark attorney. We evaluate priority of use, mark strength, and the likelihood-of-confusion factors before any statement is made to opposing counsel — because everything you say in the first week becomes evidence if this goes to court.
What is the difference between TTAB and federal court in a trademark dispute?+
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) only decides the right to register a trademark — it cannot award damages or an injunction. Federal court decides the right to use a trademark in commerce and can award monetary damages, attorneys' fees in exceptional cases, and injunctive relief. Many matters start in one forum and migrate to the other; we litigate in both.
How much does a trademark attorney cost in San Diego?+
Trademark attorneys in San Diego typically bill hourly for litigation and TTAB matters and flat-fee for registration work. Flat-fee registration commonly ranges from $750 to $2,000 per class plus USPTO fees. Litigation and TTAB matters vary widely based on complexity. We give written estimates before engagement, not after.
Do you handle trademark matters outside California?+
Yes. Our trademark practice is federal — we file with the USPTO and appear in U.S. District Courts and before the TTAB for clients nationwide. We are physically based in downtown San Diego but our matters regularly involve parties and courts across all fifty states.

Tell us what's happening.

Every inquiry is reviewed personally by Ana or another partner. All communications are confidential.

  • Same-day reply during business hours
  • Honest merits assessment — not a sales call
  • Written fee estimate before engagement
  • Confidential & attorney-reviewed