Trademark clearance
Evaluate proposed names and logos, identify potentially conflicting marks, and discuss legal and commercial risk before investing in a launch.
Trademark Registration and Enforcement
Trademarks identify the source of goods or services and help consumers distinguish one business from another. Sanchelima & Associates assists with trademark searches, U.S. and international applications, Office Action responses, portfolio management, licensing, TTAB proceedings, and infringement disputes.
Legal consultation
Request a consultation
Tell us briefly what you need help with. Our team will review your message and contact you.
Google★★★★★5.0· 297 reviews↗VerifiedSubmitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after a conflicts review and a signed engagement agreement.
GoogleReviews of our firm
5.0 / 5★★★★★297 reviews
Verified Miami trademark counsel
Build a brand that is easier to clear, register, and enforce.
Trademark protection starts before an application is filed. A strong strategy considers whether the proposed name, logo, slogan, or product appearance is distinctive, whether confusingly similar marks already exist, who owns the mark, and how the brand is actually used in commerce.
Sanchelima & Associates, P.A. counsels businesses, founders, franchise systems, creators, and international companies on U.S. and cross-border trademark portfolios. The work may include clearance, applications, Office Actions, assignments, licenses, coexistence agreements, oppositions, cancellations, and infringement disputes.
A federal registration can provide valuable nationwide benefits, but registration is one part of brand protection. Consistent ownership, proper use, monitoring, renewal deadlines, domain names, social media, contracts, and enforcement decisions all affect the strength and value of a mark.
Trademark services
A coordinated approach to brand protection.
Federal trademark applications
Select the owner, filing basis, goods and services, drawing, and specimens; prepare and prosecute applications before the USPTO.
Office Action responses
Address refusals involving likelihood of confusion, descriptiveness, identification wording, specimens, disclaimers, and other examination issues.
Portfolio strategy and maintenance
Coordinate filings, renewals, declarations of use, ownership records, assignments, licensing, and coverage as products and markets change.
International trademark protection
Coordinate Madrid Protocol or national filings with foreign associates based on target markets, priority dates, and enforcement needs.
Oppositions and cancellations
Represent parties in contested proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and advise on settlement, evidence, and procedural strategy.
Trademark enforcement and defense
Assess demand letters, infringement allegations, unfair competition, counterfeiting, online use, and options for negotiation or litigation.
Domains, online platforms, and social media
Address cybersquatting, impersonation, marketplace listings, account names, takedown procedures, and online uses that affect brand rights.
From name to portfolio
A practical trademark registration process.
The strongest filing strategy starts with the business and the marketplace, then builds the legal record around actual use and future plans.
- 01
Choose and clear the mark
Review the proposed mark, the goods or services, known competitors, and search results before committing to packaging, signage, advertising, or a domain.
- 02
Confirm ownership and filing basis
Identify the correct applicant and whether the application is based on current use, intent to use, or a qualifying foreign application or registration.
- 03
Prepare and prosecute the application
Draft the identification, submit the drawing and required information, and respond to USPTO examination issues when they arise.
- 04
Use, monitor, and maintain the registration
Preserve specimens and ownership records, watch renewal dates, use the mark consistently, and evaluate conflicts in proportion to business risk.
Representative clients
Brands protected by the firm.
With client authorization, we are proud to feature businesses and consumer brands ranging from regional companies to widely recognized national products.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Global hospitality brand.
Diageo
Global beverage company.
Brawny · Quilted Northern · Sparkle
National household-paper brands.
Kimberly-Clark
Global consumer-products company.
Brillo
Household-products brand.
Gravol
Consumer-health brand.
Client authorization applies to publication of the names and logos shown here. The examples do not identify confidential details, imply endorsement, or guarantee a similar result.
Trademark insights
Questions businesses should ask before investing in a brand.
How to Choose a Trademark Attorney in Miami
Seven questions about clearance, applications, Office Actions, fees, and long-term protection.
Read the article ↗Why Registering Your Trademark Early Matters
How early clearance and filing can reduce rebranding risk and strengthen a growing business.
Read the article ↗IP 101 for Startups
A founder’s guide to coordinating trademarks, inventions, creative work, and company ownership.
Read the article ↗Trademark FAQ
Common questions about trademark registration and protection.
What can a trademark protect?
Trademarks can protect words, names, logos, slogans, designs, and in some cases product packaging, sounds, colors, or other source-identifying features. The mark must function as an indicator of source for specified goods or services.
Should I search before filing a trademark application?
A clearance search can identify conflicts that are not obvious from an exact-name search. Similarity in sound, appearance, meaning, and commercial impression can matter, as can related goods and services.
What is the difference between common-law, state, and federal rights?
Common-law rights may arise from use and can be geographically limited. State registration operates under state law. Federal registration can provide nationwide procedural and substantive benefits, subject to the registration and actual scope of rights.
Can I file before I start using the mark?
A U.S. intent-to-use application may reserve priority while a business prepares to launch, but registration generally requires qualifying use and an acceptable specimen. Deadlines and additional filings apply.
What is a trademark specimen?
A specimen is evidence showing how the mark is actually used with the identified goods or services. Advertising may work for services, while goods generally require use associated with the products at the point of sale.
How long does federal trademark registration take?
Timing depends on USPTO examination, Office Actions, publication, oppositions, filing basis, and response time. Intent-to-use applications also require proof of use before registration.
What happens if the USPTO issues an Office Action?
The refusal or requirement must be evaluated and answered by the stated deadline. Responses may involve legal argument, amendments, evidence, disclaimers, revised identifications, or a different strategy depending on the issue.
Does a registration automatically stop infringement?
No. Owners should use and maintain their marks, monitor material conflicts, preserve evidence, and choose enforcement steps carefully. The appropriate response depends on the strength of the mark, similarity, goods or services, geography, defenses, and business objectives.
For general government guidance, visit the USPTO Trademark Basics resource ↗