Trademark & Service Mark Attorney · Nationwide
Protect Your Brand.
Ortman Law Firm represents businesses through every stage of trademark protection — from pre-launch clearance through federal registration before the USPTO, Texas state filings with the Texas Secretary of State, opposition and cancellation practice before the TTAB, and post-registration enforcement. One lawyer. One docket. No handoffs.
Ortman Law Firm represents businesses through every stage of trademark protection — from pre-launch clearance through federal registration before the USPTO, Texas state filings with the Texas Secretary of State, opposition and cancellation practice before the TTAB, and post-registration enforcement. One lawyer. One docket. No handoffs.
End-to-End Protection
From clearance to enforcement.
Most trademark practices hand you off three times before your certificate prints. Ortman doesn't. As a solo practice by design, the lawyer who clears your name is the same one who files the application, responds to the office action, and — if it comes to it — takes your opposition to the TTAB. Same lawyer. Same docket. Same accountability.
- Comprehensive clearance & conflict analysis
- Federal applications and prosecution before the USPTO
- Including Texas state trademark applications and renewals
- Office action responses & refusal strategy
- Opposition and cancellation before the TTAB
- Post-registration maintenance & watch services
- Cease-and-desist, demand letters, and licensing
A look at the marketplace
The federal trademark system in numbers.
Three figures from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Trademarks Performance Dashboard. They describe the federal trademark system as it currently operates — the marketplace any new application enters, and the substantive landscape against which a mark must be analyzed and prosecuted.
The firm operates within this system. The numbers below are not firm performance claims; they describe the territory.
Context
What to expect.
Sources: USPTO Trademarks Performance Dashboard, Q2 2026.
Common questions
Trademark basics, answered.
What is the difference between a trademark and a service mark?
A trademark identifies the source of goods (physical products), while a service mark identifies the source of services. They work the same way legally and are registered through the same process, which is why both are commonly called trademarks. A brand name, logo, or slogan can be protected as either, depending on whether you sell products, services, or both.
Do I need a federal (USPTO) trademark, or is a Texas state registration enough?
A federal registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office gives you rights across the entire country and is the right choice for most businesses that sell across state lines or online. A Texas state registration, filed with the Texas Secretary of State, only protects your mark within Texas. We handle both and can advise which fits your business at your free strategy call.
How long does it take to register a trademark?
A USPTO examining attorney typically takes several months to first review an application — currently about four and a half months. If there are no refusals or objections, registration often takes roughly eight to fourteen months from filing. If the examiner raises issues in an office action, the timeline can be longer.
What is a clearance search and why does it matter before I file?
A clearance search checks existing federal, state, and common-law marks to see whether your proposed name, logo, or slogan is likely to conflict with one already in use. Searching before you file helps you avoid a refusal, an infringement dispute, or the cost of rebranding after launch. We run a clearance read on your proposed mark and share it on the initial call.
What does it cost to register a trademark?
The USPTO charges a government filing fee for each class of goods or services your mark covers — a few hundred dollars per class — which is separate from attorney fees. Because cost depends on how many classes you need and whether the application draws an office action, we discuss a clear scope with you before any engagement. The initial strategy call is free.
What is an office action and what happens if I receive one?
An office action is an official letter from the USPTO examining attorney refusing registration or raising a legal or procedural issue with your application. You generally must respond by the stated deadline — typically three months — or the application goes abandoned. Responding to office actions, including substantive refusals such as likelihood of confusion, is a core part of what we do.
Do I have any trademark rights if I have not registered?
Yes. Simply using a mark in commerce can create limited common-law rights in the geographic area where you operate, and you may use the ™ symbol without any registration. Federal registration provides stronger, nationwide protection, the right to use the ® symbol, and important legal advantages if you ever need to enforce your mark.
Talk to us about a mark —
not a billable hour.
Tell us about a name, logo, or slogan you're planning to launch. We'll run a clearance read and share it on the call. No retainer, no engagement letter, no pressure.
Schedule a free strategy call