Centennial
1920
The firm is founded in Des Moines, Iowa.
Firm attorneys take their first patent infringement lawsuit to a successful trial.
1937
Chicago office opens.
1954
The firm’s attorneys prove that inventions can be both patented and copyrighted in the case of Mazer v. Stein before the United States Supreme Court.
1960
Washington, D.C., office opens.
1973
In an unprecedented nine-month long trial, attorneys of the firm prove John Atanasoff is the inventor of the first electronic computer, the ENIAC, changing the course of the history of invention.
1978
Don Banner is sworn in as Commissioner of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
1980
Attorneys of the firm establish that life forms are patentable in the Diamond v. Chakrabarty case in the United States Supreme Court.
1985
Boston office opens.
1989
Attorneys of the firm help Amgen secure its intellectual property rights in Amgen Inc. v. Chugai Pharmaceuticals, et al., a landmark decision involving biotech patents.
1991
Don Banner and Joe Potenza help establish the first Inn of Court dedicated to IP law, the Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court.
1995
Our Washington, D.C., office, known as Banner, Birch, McKie & Beckett, merges with the Chicago law firm of Allegretti & Witcoff, to form Banner & Allegretti.
1997
The firm adopts the name
Banner & Witcoff.
Portland office opens.
Firm lawyers establish the first-ever patent trial practice class for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
1998
The firm’s attorneys help client Nike obtain U.S. Design Patent No. 400,000 for the iconic Air Jordan athletic shoe design.
2002
Banner Witcoff earns distinction of being "IP America's Dream Team" by The American Lawyer.
2005
The National Inventors Hall of Fame awards Donald W. Banner with a Lifetime Achievement award.
2008
The firm announces the inaugural recipients of the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship.
2013
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of firm’s longtime client, NIKE, in Already, LLC, DBA Yums v. NIKE, Inc., preventing a challenge over the trademark registration of NIKE’s Air Force 1 sneaker trade dress.
2015
Banner Witcoff earns distinction of being among the “Top Patent Firms” in the country, based on the total number of U.S. utility patents issued.
2017
Banner Witcoff becomes the first law firm to exceed 1,000 U.S. design patent grants in a single year
Banner Witcoff is recognized for filing more inter partes review petitions than any other law firm in the first half of a single year for longtime client Comcast Corp.
2019
Firm wins “Impact Case of the Year” award for its work representing Converse in its trademark battle over the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers.
Banner Witcoff is ranked No. 5 on Vault’s 2020 list of Best Intellectual Property Boutique Law Firms.
For the 16th consecutive year, Banner Witcoff obtains more U.S. design patents than any other law firm in the country.
The firm is ranked one of the best performing and most active law firms in inter partes review.