25 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized as 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
February 18, 2026
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that 25 of its attorneys were recognized in the 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars…
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Ward and Smith Ranked by Best Law Firms® in 2026
November 6, 2025
Ward and Smith, P.A., has been recognized in the 2026 Edition of Best Law Firms®. The firm was ranked by Best Law Firms in 30 practice…
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The Voice Behind the Brand: Who Owns What You Hear?
September 23, 2025
One of the best ways to pass the time driving to the mountains or beaches is a good podcast. Podcasting has created commercial and…
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68 Ward and Smith Attorneys Honored by Best Lawyers® for 2026
August 21, 2025
Ward and Smith is proud to share that 68 attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®. Of those honored, 55 were named to…
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Taking the Chair: Erica Rogers Talks Leadership, Community, and the Future of IP Law in North Carolina
July 16, 2025
Ask Erica Rogers what excites her most about intellectual property law, and she’ll talk about creativity, about community, and about building something bigger than…
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Four Ward and Smith Attorneys Named 2025 IP Stars by Managing IP
June 9, 2025
Ward and Smith is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been named 2025 IP Stars by Managing IP, a prestigious recognition…
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Media Mention: Erica Rogers Sheds Light on Legal Challenges in the Creator Economy
May 28, 2025
What happens when influencers become entrepreneurs and suddenly find themselves navigating intellectual property law? That’s the question intellectual property attorney Erica Rogers helped tackle…
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Maximizing Recovery in Trade Secret Cases: A Guide to Damages and Remedies
April 29, 2025
Ed. Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons’ CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association’s Antitrust…
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First-to-File: A Game-Changer in US Patent Law
March 25, 2025
The shift in patent law from First-to-Invent to First-to-File came about over a decade ago, but still leaves many inventors scratching their heads. Is…
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Attorney Erica Rogers to Lead Career Advocacy Discussion at INTA 2025 Annual Meeting
March 19, 2025
Attorney Erica Rogers, a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law, will serve as a Table Host at the International Trademark…
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Ward and Smith Attorneys Honored as 2025 Business North Carolina Legal Elites
January 6, 2025
Ward and Smith is proud to announce that 38 of its attorneys have been named to Business North Carolina’s 2025 Legal Elite, a testament to…
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What’s in a Name Anyway? Trademark Basics for Community Associations
December 6, 2024
This article explores the essentials of trademark rights, their relevance for community associations, and the balance between protecting these trademarks versus respecting the free…
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Ward and Smith Ranked by Best Law Firms® in 2025
November 11, 2024
Ward and Smith has been honored in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. The firm has made its mark in the legal field by being ranked…
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Erica Rogers Named Vice-Chair of NCBA Intellectual Property Law Section
August 28, 2024
Erica Rogers has been appointed as the Vice-Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA). She previously held…
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67 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America for 2025
August 15, 2024
Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that 67 attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers®. Fifty-four attorneys were chosen for inclusion in…
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Our July Focus: Legal Rights, Responsibilies, and Regulations
July 26, 2024
The July theme of Legal Rights, Responsibilities, and Regulations promotes awareness of legal rights, ethical responsibilities, and the regulations that govern our businesses. Defamation…
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The #AD Vantage Point: Navigating the FTC Endorsement Guides, Part III
January 24, 2024
As a reminder, the FTC Endorsement Guides describe how the FTC evaluates whether certain advertisements are false and misleading under Section 5 of the…
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36 Ward and Smith Attorneys Honored in Business North Carolina’s 2024 Legal Elite
January 4, 2024
Ward and Smith proudly announced that 36 attorneys have been honored in Business North Carolina’s 2024 Legal Elite. Five legal luminaries stand out as shining…
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Ward and Smith: Our Highlights of 2023
December 27, 2023
As we reflect on the past year, it’s evident that 2023 has been remarkable for Ward and Smith. We’ve welcomed new team members, launched…
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Top 10 Most Popular Articles of 2023
December 20, 2023
As we approach the New Year, it’s time to reflect on the articles that have most resonated with readers throughout 2023. Ward and Smith…
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Erica Rogers Becomes a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law
December 7, 2023
Attorney Erica Rogers is now a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law. Attorneys seeking this specialization must meet stringent standards…
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Erica Rogers Recognized as a 2023 Rising Star by Managing IP
November 13, 2023
Attorney Erica Rogers has been recognized by Managing IP as one of the “Rising Stars” for 2023. This prestigious acknowledgment is awarded to the…
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Ward and Smith Ranked in 2024 “Best Law Firms”
November 2, 2023
Ward and Smith has been ranked in the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 27 practice areas. Firms included in the 2024 “Best Law Firms”…
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52 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for 2024
August 17, 2023
Ward and Smith proudly celebrates an incredible achievement—over half of our esteemed attorneys have gained recognition from one of the nation’s most respected legal…
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Veteran Intellectual Property Attorney Joins Ward and Smith
January 19, 2023
Ward and Smith is delighted to welcome Art DeBaugh, an intellectual property attorney with over three decades of experience providing unique solutions enabling businesses…
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Angela Doughty To Speak at Coastal Women’s Forum Meeting
September 2, 2022
The Coastal Women’s Forum (CWF) has invited intellectual property attorney Angela Doughty to speak at its monthly meeting. Angela’s presentation will center on understanding the…
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It’s About Time: Federal Court Addresses Delta-8
May 26, 2022
Delta 8 tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), an intoxicating form of THC often derived from hemp-derived cannabidiol (aka “CBD”), has been at the center of numerous hot…
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The Fun and Whimsical (but Crowded) Landscape of Beer Names Part 1
February 25, 2022
In addition to all its natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation, Western North Carolina has more lately become known for its abundance of…
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Erica Rogers to Participate in “A Conversation with Former Tomorrow’s Leader Award Recipients”
August 9, 2021
In 2017, intellectual property attorney Erica Rogers was recognized by the International Trademark Association (INTA) with the inaugural Tomorrow’s Leader Award. Now, she is…
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Highlights From the Intellectual Property Law Institute of the Lavender Law® Conference
August 4, 2021
I recently attended the 2021 Lavender Law® Conference, a virtual event of social networking, on-demand programming, and live sessions hosted by The National LGBT…
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Website Compliance: Key Costly Legal Risks Every Business Should Consider
May 28, 2021
A recent statistic posted by Sweor states that 75% of consumers admit to making judgments on a company’s credibility based on the company’s website…
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U.S.-China Trade Deal Shows Potential for Improved U.S. Intellectual Property Rights in China
February 12, 2020
A result of negotiating techniques from Donald Trump’s book “The Art of the Deal” or a result of strategies from the ancient Chinese military…
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Tranquil Beaches and Simple Trademarks … and the Dangers Swirling Below
August 10, 2018
Trademark clearance and registration—sounds like an additional legal expense, right? Unfortunately, this potential cost is the reason many individuals and businesses forgo the trademark…
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Supreme Court Announces Broad Separability Test in Applying Copyright Law to Useful Articles
April 19, 2017
This article continues the discussion in an earlier article addressing the scope of copyright protection as it applies to useful goods under copyright law.…
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Avoiding Three Costly Mistakes: Common Trademark And Copyright Pitfalls That Plague Businesses
December 18, 2014
Intellectual property law impacts every business—whether owners of the business know it or not. For example, the moment a name is used in relation…
