Intellectual Property Practice Ranks Top in Houston

May 1, 2006

HOUSTON (May 1, 2006) – For the fourth consecutive year, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP has been named the No. 1 Houston law firm for trademark filings by NameProtect Trademark Insider.

NameProtect ranked law firms in 20 regional markets around the country by the number of trademark filings made in 2005 to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Bracewell topped the list for Houston having filed 260 trademarks on behalf of clients.

"Bracewell & Giuliani is pleased to receive this recognition, and we appreciate our clients' trust in handling this valuable work on their behalf," said Jeffrey Whittle, partner in Bracewell's intellectual property practice.

Among Bracewell's notable trademark filings in 2005 included those for the following clients:   The Mattress Firm Inc., Advocare Inc., Healthcare Vision Inc., Avomex Inc., Waste Management Inc., Pride International, Overstock.com, Farouk Systems Inc. and Crown Castle International.

A privately held company founded in 1997, NameProtect is a digital brand protection firm that provides research, watching and online brand monitoring services to help practitioners meet the evolving intellectual property challenges of the digital era.  NameProtect Trademark Insider is NameProtect's quarterly publication covering news of the trademark industry.