Robert S. Brennen

Miles & Stockbridge successfully defeated an opposition filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board by a major firearms manufacturer to the registration of a trademark owned by a small minority-owned Baltimore soap maker. In this pro bono representation, the firm proved that the trademark used with the client's natural skincare products was distinct from the opposer's mark and was not likely to cause any customer confusion. Following a trial under the accelerated case resolution protocol, the TTAB dismissed the opposition allowing the trademark registration to be issued.

Represented a pro bono client in obtaining a reduction of a juvenile life sentence following statutory changes governing juvenile life sentences in Maryland. After reviewing 25 years of prison records, interviewing family and friends and presenting witness testimony at hearing in Baltimore City Circuit Court, the team secured agreement from prosecutors to reduce the client's sentence to time served, with a final ruling expected at a follow-on sentencing hearing.

Represented the widow of a decedent in a contested will caveat matter, securing affirmance from Maryland's intermediate appellate court of a circuit court summary judgment finding no genuine dispute that the will was not the product of undue influence and suffered no defect affecting its validity. The result followed proceedings in the Orphans' Court, an earlier appellate trip and trial-level litigation spanning more than five years.

Another client received a complaint from one of its employees and a virtually simultaneous anonymous complaint alleging that a high-level employee had engaged in sexual harassment of his subordinates. Miles & Stockbridge was retained to investigate the allegations and advise on the next steps. During the investigation, the respondent made his own allegations of financial misconduct at the company that we also addressed. 

Represented a CEO of financial services company in defense of securities fraud claims.  We reached a settlement that was favorable to our client and breach of fiduciary duty was dismissed.

Obtained judgment in favor of managing member and co-owner of multimillion dollar real estate enterprise in dissolution and breach of fiduciary duty litigation following 15-day trial. Judgment affirmed on appeal.

Represented a hospital system in response to a lawsuit in the United States District Court of Maryland claiming patent infringement. We achieved a very favorable settlement within two weeks, with the entire settlement funded by a vendor of the allegedly infringing system.

Represented a contract pharmaceutical manufacturer in dispute with contracting party. After conducting investigation into the facts and circumstances and confronting the other party with our analysis, the disputing party abandoned their claims against our client.

Representing an international test administration provider in defense of a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, claiming patent infringement. On August 18, 2017 the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted our client's Motion to Dismiss, finding that the IQS patent was invalid.

Represented a producer and distributor of chemicals in prosecution of trade secret action in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against a former sales employee who copied several hundred sensitive documents to a portable hard drive before departing the company. We obtained a temporary restraining order and ultimately consent permanent injunction barring former employee from retaining and using client’s information.