Overview
With wide-ranging litigation experience, Bea Swedlow has a particularly strong focus on litigating patent, trademark, trade dress, trade secret, copyright, and false advertising matters. She represents major clients from such industries as software, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, higher education, consumer goods, retail, and internet/social media. She appears before federal courts nationwide, and administrative bodies. Across her litigation practice, Bea assists clients in developing strategic plans for enforcing and protecting their brand and supporting their innovation, as well as engaging in anti-counterfeiting/anti-piracy litigation. Bea also advises right holders in a broad range of industry sectors, including fashion, consumer products, food and beverage, and retail on strategies to strengthen IP protection and enforcement, assisting owners of iconic brands with their patent, trademark, and copyright needs.
As part of her litigation experience, Bea served as Special Assistant District Attorney, Norfolk County (District Court Criminal Session).
Services
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
Representative Matters
- Obtained summary judgment in patent infringement case for a major automotive supplier
- Defended website owner involving alleged improper use of trademarks
- Represented surviving members of a music group relating to copyright and trademark use
- Defended retailer in a trademark infringement action relating to domain name use
- Served as counsel for an automotive inspection company relating to copyright rights in software
- Obtained favorable outcome for a pharmaceutical company in a false advertising case
- Successfully defended major film/television studio in copyright infringement lawsuit
- Obtained dismissal of copyright lawsuit for music publisher
- Defended news outlets in defamation and trademark litigation filed by subjects of investigative journalism reporting
Prior Experience
- Butzel Long, Shareholder, 2004-2010
- Foley Hoag LLP, Associate, 1999-2004
- Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, Special Prosecutor, 2004
Credentials
Education
- Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Recognition
Awards
- World Trademark Review 1000 – the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2023-2024
- World Trademark Review 1000 states:
- 2024 - "[Deborah (Bea) Swedlow] whose expertise in competition and non-competition cases puts her in good stead to advise companies on their trademark enforcement. Earning her patrons’ trust through strategic management, Swedlow handles the internationally renowned trademarks for food manufacturer Kellogg Company."
- 2023 - [Deborah (Bea) Swedlow] makes her debut in the rankings... she strategises cleverly behind the scenes and presents well. She handles US and global trademark litigation and enforcement for the Kellogg Company, which also instructs the firm on portfolio management."
- World Trademark Review 1000 states:
- Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS, Recognized as a Copyright, Patent, and Trademark Star, 2024
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, "2022 Go-To Lawyer for IP"
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2012-2025
- Recognized in the area of Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Ann Arbor Litigation - Intellectual Property "Lawyer of the Year," 2023, 2025
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2013-2024
- Crain’s Detroit Business “2019 Notable Women in the Law”
- DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2013-2017
- Law Bulletin Media
- Leading Lawyers, Copyright & Trademark Law, 2017, 2021, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Intellectual Property Law, 2017, 2021, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Patent Law, 2017, 2021, 2023-2024
Professional & Community Involvement
- American Arbitration Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Board of Directors
- Women in IP Committee, Former Chair
- Professional Programs
- Copyright Committee
- Patent Litigation
- Nominations Committee 2017
- Media Law Resource Center (MLRC)
- Internet Committee
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
- Washtenaw County Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
- Bryn Mawr College
- Presidential Advisory Committee, 2015-2018
- Committee on Leadership Development, 2020-2023
-
Alumnae Association Executive Board (AAEB), Vice President, 2024-present