Katten Muchin Rosenmann has hired advertising litigator Christopher Cole from Crowell & Moring to strengthen its IP department and help it build a full-service advertising practice. 

Cole joins as a partner and chair of Katten’s advertising, marketing and promotions practice group in Washington DC. 

His practice focuses on advertising, unfair competition, brand disparagement, reputation and IP matters, with extensive experience in litigating Lanham Act and consumer class action cases. 

Cole’s clients include Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries including food and beverages, media and telecommunications, tech, energy, home appliances and other consumer products. 

At Katten, he will advise advertisers and promotions agencies, tech developers, content producers and entertainment companies on litigation and transaction matters.

Deepro Mukerjee, chair of Katten’s global IP department, said: “The practical and innovative approach Chris brings as a talented advertising litigator in solving cutting-edge IP issues strengthens our department’s capabilities to serve our high-profile roster of clients in this ever-evolving, competitive landscape.”

Cole spent almost a decade at Crowell & Moring where he was co-chair of its technology and brand protection practice group. He also co-led the firm’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) advisory team, working with clients on ESG-related advertising issues.

Prior to that he spent almost eight years as a partner at Manatt Phelps & Phillips where he was chair of its false advertising practice. He also had spells as counsel at Paul Hastings and as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis.

Mukerjee added: “Chris’s significant experience and leadership skills further positions Katten for growth as a full-service advertising practice that complements our distinguished patent, trademark and copyright practices.”

Other US firms strengthening their IP teams in recent months include Morgan Lewis & Bockius, which added a five-strong patent prosecution team from Duane Morris in September led by partner Manita Rawat. 

In August, Squire Patton Boggs hired trademark expert Candice Kwok in Palo Alto from Marks & Clerk in Singapore. Also in August, top 200 US firm Armstrong Teasdale beefed up its UK IP team with the arrival of a quartet of patent specialists from Phillips & Leigh in London.

Back in May, Fox Rothschild opened a Boston office following the arrival of a quartet of IP lawyers from Mintz Levin, including partner Peter Corless.