Ward and Smith IP Attorneys Earn 2026 IP Stars Recognition

Ward and Smith is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been named 2026 IP Stars by Managing Intellectual Property, a distinction recognizing leading intellectual property practitioners across more than 70 jurisdictions worldwide.

Rankings are determined based on merit and endorsements from peers and clients, reflecting the exceptional talent and dedication of our IP team. The recognition is part of a group of 48 attorneys honored across North Carolina for their work in intellectual property, underscoring the depth of Ward and Smith’s IP practice.

Meet our 2026 IP Stars

Angela P. Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, FIP – Trade Mark Star

Angela leads Ward and Smith’s Intellectual Property practice and is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law. Her strategic approach and thorough understanding of trademark issues have earned her this well-deserved recognition. Angela routinely counsels and assists clients with identifying, protecting, enforcing, and managing their U.S. and international IP rights; trademark and service mark selection, clearance, and registration; and opposition and cancellation proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She also advises clients on responsible AI development and use, AI governance frameworks, and transactions that enable AI development and adoption while safeguarding IP and achieving regulatory compliance. Angela has extensive experience with strategic planning and management of IP portfolios, including IP audits to assist clients with the identification of intellectual property assets and related risks and opportunities.

Erica Rogers – Rising Star

Erica has been named a Rising Star for 2026. She is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Trademark Law who assists individuals, small businesses, and large corporations with a wide array of intellectual property matters, including trademark selection and clearance, prosecution and registration, and trademark portfolio management. Erica also routinely resolves trademark disputes, including drafting and responding to cease-and-desist letters, negotiating coexistence agreements, assisting in trademark infringement litigation in federal court, and handling cases before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). In addition to her trademark practice, she leads the firm’s Name, Image, and Likeness Practice Group.

Joe Schouten – Patent Star

Joe has been named a Patent Star for 2026. He is an experienced litigator who focuses on intellectual property disputes, including patent, trademark, and copyright infringement claims, as well as claims dealing with misappropriation of trade secrets. Joe’s experience includes successful representations in trial courts, appellate courts (including the Federal Circuit), and administrative agencies such as the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Along with intellectual property disputes, Joe also regularly handles complex, high-stakes litigation on behalf of a wide variety of clients.

Ryan Simmons – Patent Star & Trade Mark Star

Ryan has achieved dual recognition as both a Patent Star and a Trade Mark Star for 2026. His practice covers a broad spectrum of intellectual property matters, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Ryan’s work encompasses patent preparation and prosecution (U.S. and foreign), intellectual property assessment, counseling, and portfolio management, as well as business and intellectual property transactions. He also guides and negotiates IP matters related to licensing, non-disclosure agreements, IP due-diligence, and IP-related terms and conditions for various types of agreements. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina, Florida, Vermont, and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

About Managing IP

IP Stars is a yearly publication that relies on six months of research. Its rankings are determined through a weighted analysis of details provided by firms, publicly available data, and input from the market. For more on the methodology, visit: https://www.ipstars.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Methodology/Index/4016.