Lynda Zadra-Symes

Partner

Orange County

949-760-0404

lynda.zadrasymes@knobbe.com

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Overview

Experience

Recognition

Resources

Lynda is a litigation partner with the firm, where she has practiced for over 34 years. Lynda is chair of the firm’s trademark litigation practice group and co-chair of the firm's copyright litigation practice group. She represents clients through all stages of U.S. litigation, from pre-suits through trial and appeal, in federal courts throughout the country, the ITC and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Her practice involves all types of intellectual property, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, false advertising, unfair competition, and rights of publicity. She also advises on issues relating to customs and anti-counterfeiting, international trademarks and copyrights, advertising, social media, competition and passing off. Lynda works with clients in numerous industries, including food & beverage, fashion and beauty, medical device and healthcare, software and hardware, financial and professional services, sports and entertainment.

Lynda has received multiple awards and has been honored in both national and international forums for her legal accomplishments. For her work in IP litigation, she has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for six consecutive years (2017 – 2023), named a “National Litigation Star” and “California Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation in 2023 and 2024, as well as being included in eight separate editions of Super Lawyers magazine. She has been ranked in the "Chambers USA Guide" for Intellectual Property Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets in California (2023-2024), recognized by The Legal 500 "United States" for Trademarks: Litigation (2020 - 2021), by Legal Media Group’s (LMG) “Best of the Best USA” guide as one of the top 30 trademark practitioners in the U.S., and by the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 as a “Leading Trademark Lawyer,” describing her as a skilled litigator through all phases of litigation with the ability to take on any IP case - a “backbone of the litigation practice.” Lynda has been named among the “Most Influential Women in IP” by World IP Review (WIPR), repeatedly been named in Legal Media Group's "Women in Business Law" guide, recognized as a Trademark Star in Managing IP's "IP STARS" guide for her outstanding intellectual property legal work, named as one of the world’s leading trademark and patent practitioners in the "Who's Who Legal: IP" list by Law Business Research, and nominated by in-house counsel and her peers around the world to appear in Euromoney Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Trademark Law Practitioners. She has also been listed in the Expert Guides as one of the "World's Leading Advisors Chosen by their Peers" for Trademarks and recognized in Lawyer Monthly magazine's "Women in Law Awards" for her outstanding achievements in the legal profession.

Lynda is also a Domain Name Dispute Panelist for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and a founding Board Member of RX Ballroom Dance, which provides free dance classes to persons suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. Additionally, Lynda is a Board Member of the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

Lynda is an active member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and currently holds the position of Co-Chair of the IBA Regional Fora Coordination Committee. Previously, she served as Co-Chair of the IP & Entertainment Committee and the North American Regional Forum.

Education

Leicester Polytechnic - England (LL.B. First Class Honours, 1988), Annual Sweet & Maxwell award for highest results 1985-1988

Inns of Court School of Law - London (Barrister, 1989), Inns of Court Studentship Award, Duke of Edinburgh Award

Leicester Polytechnic - England

Inns of Court School of Law - London

State Bar of California

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. District Court - Central District of California

U.S. District Court - Eastern District of California

U.S. District Court - Northern District of California

U.S. District Court - Southern District of California

Bar of England and Wales

Aesthetics & Personal Care Products

AgBio

Automotive, Transportation & Power Sports

Clean Technology

Communications Technology

Construction & Home Improvement

Electronics & Semiconductors

Fashion & Beauty

Financial Services & Business Methods

Food & Beverage

Healthcare Information Technology

Advertising, Media and Entertainment Practice

Medical Devices & Procedures

Pharmaceuticals

Restaurant & Hospitality

Software & Information Technology

Sporting Goods & Recreation

Practice Areas

Copyrights

Domain Name & Website Content Disputes

International Trademarks

Trademark Searching, Registration & Enforcement

TTAB Proceedings

Design Patents

Data Privacy & Security

Consumer Products Litigation

Trademarks & Brand Protection

IP Strategy

IP Transactions & Agreements

Appellate Litigation

Trade Secret & Employment Mobility Litigation

Trademark & Brand Protection Litigation

VPX v. Orange Bang, Monster Energy Company (C.D. Cal) (confirming arbitral award)

Represented Orange Bang in obtaining arbitral award of $175 million and a permanent injunction in several states. The arbitrator also awarded over $9 million in attorneys’ fees and costs. This is one of the largest trademark infringement awards in US history.

Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VPX) v. Monster Energy Company and Reign Beverage Company (S.D. Fla)

Represented Monster and Reign in a trademark and trade dress infringement suit brought by VPX, who sought over $100 million due to sales of Monster’s Reign beverage. Monster defeated VPX’s motion for preliminary injunction on its trade dress claim, won a preliminary injunction enjoining VPX from selling a competing Reign beverage, and won the dispute over ownership of the Reign mark on summary judgment. After a bench trial on VPX’s trade-dress claim, the court issued a 127-page written opinion in Monster’s favor.

Monster Energy Company v. Integrated Supply Network, LLC (C.D. Cal)

Represented Monster in a trademark and trade dress infringement case. After jury trial, the jury found that defendant infringed Monster’s trademarks and trade dress rights. After appeal and remand to the district court, the district court awarded Monster Energy $10.4 million in disgorgement of ISN’s profits. The court entered a stipulated final consent judgment and permanent injunction against defendant.

Monster Energy Co. v. The Made Group LLC and Sportbike Lites LLC (C.D. Cal)

Represented Monster Energy Company in trademark and copyright infringement action and obtained consent judgment of infringement and permanent injunction.

Millen v. Karen Millen Fashions Ltd., High Court (Chancery Division) England

Retained as US law expert by successful defendant. Court held, inter alia, that Karen Millen did not have right to use or register her name in the US in violation of her agreement to transfer the Karen Millen brand to the defendants.

Monster Energy Co. v. Monster Escorts LLC (M.D. Ga)

Represented Monster Energy Company in trademark and copyright infringement action against vehicle escort company. Obtained consent judgment of infringement and permanent injunction.

Lizalde, et al. v. Advanced Planning Services, Inc., First Allied Securities, Inc., et al.

Represented one of defendants in copyright infringement action filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of California. Obtained favorable settlement for client.

Andrew Zuckerman v. Lenny USA et al., 2:12-cv-03249, (C.D. Cal)

Represented defendant in copyright infringement case filed in US District Court for Central District of California. Obtained favorable settlement for defendant.

Sweet People (dba Miss Me) v. ITC Girl Inc.

Represented defendant in copyright and trademark infringement action filed in US District Court for the Central District of California. Obtained favorable settlement for client.

James R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc., Dba Glidewell Laboratories V. Keating Dental Arts, Inc., WL 655314 (C.D. Cal)

Represented defendant Keating Dental Arts Inc. in a trademark dispute brought by Glidewell Laboratories. Glidewell claimed that Keating Dental’s trademark KDZ BRUXER for dental crowns infringed Glidewell’s registered trademark BRUXZIR for dental crowns. The court held that “bruxing” is a common dental term, that Glidewell’s BRUXZIR mark is a weak mark, and that there was no likelihood of confusion between Keating's KDZ BRUXER trademark and Glidewell’s BRUXZIR trademark.

Monster Energy Company v. HRHH Hotel/Casino, LLC et al., 2014 WL 293773 (C.D. Cal)

Represented Monster Energy in an arbitration against HHHH Hotel/Casino. Monster Energy prevailed on its claims for breach of contract and obtained all of its requested declaratory relief, including a declaration that Monster Energy acquired by assignment and is the owner of all rights in the mark REHAB worldwide for all beverages, and that Hard Rock is precluded from using the REHAB trademark for beverages. Monster Energy also prevailed on its claim for damages and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Sweet People Apparel Inc., dba Miss Me, and RCRV, Inc. dba Rock Revival v. Machine Jeans Inc. and The Wet Seal Inc.

Represented defendants in copyright action filed in US District Court for Central District of California. Obtained favorable settlement for client.

PBEV, LLC v. Hansen Beverage Company d/b/a Monster Beverage Company, Case No. 7:10-cv-3526 (N.D. Ala)

Represented energy drink manufacturer in trademark litigation. Case settled favorably for client.

Hansen Beverage Company v. Cytosport Inc., U.S. Dist. LEXIS (C.D. Cal)

Represented Plaintiff in obtaining preliminary injunction involving MONSTER ENERGY trademark.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation vs. Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., 2:08-cv-08074-ODW-VBK (C.D. Cal)

Represented Defendant Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. in design patent infringement litigation involving boot designs. Obtained transfer of litigation to client's preferred venue and ultimately favorable settlement for client.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation vs. Aldo U.S. Inc., et al., 2:08-cv-07289-R-FFM (C.D. Cal)

Represented Defendants Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. and Alloy Media, LLC in design patent infringement litigation involving boot designs. Case settled favorably for clients.

Robert, Jr., Inc. v. Run Athletics International, LLC, 09-cv-1180 R (JCx) Central District of CA (C.D. Cal)

Represented defendant in patent infringement litigation involving shoe design. Case settled favorably for defendant.

Amirsys, Inc. v. Structurad, LLC et al., 2:07-CV-573-DB (D. Utah)

Represented plaintiff in copyright infringement suit involving subscription website relating to radiology content, resulting in mediated settlement.

Parallax Group International, LLC v. BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.,and, Venture Products, LLC, 07cv4211 SJO (Ex) (C.D. Cal)

Represented defendant in design patent infringement litigation involving children's playmats. Case settled favorably for clients.

Robert Hidey Architects, Inc. v. Richard John Cardoza and Ritner Group, Inc., SACV 8:07-00292-JVS (ANx) (C.D. Cal)

Represented defendant in copyright infringement case involving architectural drawings; case resolved through mediated settlement.

Winn, Inc. v. Compgrip USA Corp., WL 1417633 (C.D. Cal)

Represented Plaintiff in obtaining summary judgment of patent infringement.

Automobile Club of Southern California v. The Auto Club, Ltd., U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19221.

Represented plaintiff in defeating summary judgment motion claiming trademark invalidity and non-infringement; See also 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19230 (represented plaintiff in obtaining summary judgment that defendants were unfairly competing by operating as a motor club in California without a license from the Department of Insurance).

Express, LLC v. Fetish Group, Inc., 424 F. Supp. 2d 1211, (C.D. Cal)

Obtained summary judgment of copyright infringement in defendant’s lace and embroidery design on clothing; See also 464 F. Supp 2d 965 (obtained summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s fraud and unfair competition claims).

Broadcom Corp. v. BroadVoice, Inc., SACV05-431 DOC

Represented plaintiff in trademark infringement suit and later obtained settlement through mediation.

Mattel, Inc. v. Simba Toys GmbH & Co. KG et al., (CV-03-9388 MMM)

Represented defendant in copyright and trade dress infringement suit resulting in mediated settlement.

Winn Inc. v. Eaton Corporation, 272 F. Supp. 2d 968 (C.D. Cal)

Represented Plaintiff in successfully defeating defendant's motion for summary judgment of non-infringement and invalidity of Plaintiff's patents relating to golf club grips.

Ford Motor Co., Carroll Shelby et al. v. Superformance International Replicars, Inc., 251 F. Supp. 2d 983, (D. Mass)

Represented defendant in obtaining summary judgment dismissing Carroll Shelby’s claims to trade dress rights in shape of Cobra vehicle.

Ford Motor Co. v. Ultra Coachbuilders Inc., 57 U.S.P.Q. 2d 1356 (C.D. Cal)

Represented defendant in defeating Ford Motor Co.’s motion for preliminary injunction against limousine manufacturer’s retention of Ford emblems on converted automobiles; denial of injunction upheld on appeal by 9th Circuit.

Modtech, Inc. v. Designed Facilities Construction, Inc., 48 U.S.P.Q. 2d 1208 (C.D. Cal.) and 51 U.S.P.Q.2d 1206 (C.D. Cal)

Represented plaintiff in obtaining preliminary injunction enforcing copyrights in architectural drawings; obtained contempt order following defendant’s violation of injunction.

Terri Lee Associates et al. v. Doll City, USA, SACV-97-6 (AHS) (C.D. Cal)

Represented plaintiff in trademark and rights of publicity case involving collectible dolls; case resolved through mediated settlement after issuance of preliminary injunction in plaintiff's favor.

Beam System, Inc. v. Checkpoint Systems, Inc. et al., 42 U.S.P.Q. 2d 1461 (C.D. Cal)

Represented one of defendants in obtaining dismissal of copyright infringement claims involving computer software.

Asia Entertainment Inc. v. Nguyen, 40 U.S.P.Q.2d 1183 (C.D. Cal)

Obtained summary judgment of copyright infringement in favor of plaintiff involving music and sound recording copyrights; after subsequent trial, attorney fees awarded in favor of client, Asia Entertainment.

Dogloo, Inc. v. Doskocil Mfg. Co., Inc., 893 F. Supp. 911 (C.D. Cal)

Represented plaintiff in obtaining preliminary injunction enforcing trade dress rights in shape of dog kennel.

Essie Cosmetics, Inc. v. Dae Do International, Ltd. et al., 808 F. Supp. 952 (E.D. N.Y)

Represented plaintiff in obtaining preliminary injunction enforcing trade dress rights in shape of nail polish bottle.

Awards & Honors

Chambers 2023

Lynda has received multiple awards and has been honored in both national and international forums for her legal accomplishments:

Recognized in the 2024 Edition of Chambers USA, Knobbe Martens Partners and Practices Recognized in 2024 Edition of Chambers USA | Knobbe Martens (2024)
Recognized by The Legal 500 "United States" for Trademark Litigation (2024)
Recognized as a Trademark Star in Managing IP''s "2024 IP STARS" (2024)
Recognized in World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals guide (2024)
Named in 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers for the distinction honors outstanding lawyers based on peer nominations and independent research.
Named among the “Most Influential Women in IP” by World IP Review (WIPR) (2023)
Ranked in the "Chambers USA Guide" for Intellectual Property Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets in California (2023-2024)
Received "National Litigation Star" and "California Litigation Star" rankings in Benchmark Litigation (2023 - 2025)
Named "Copyright Litigation Lawyer of the Year in California" in the Global Law Experts Annual Awards (2023)
Recognized in the 2022 edition of Euromoney's Expert Guides - Women in Business Law for Trademark/Copyrights
Named a “Leading Litigator – IP Litigation, esp. Trademark, Copyright” in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide (2023-2025)
Recognized as a Trademark Star in Managing IP's "IP STARS" guide for her outstanding intellectual property legal work (2022-2023)
Selected by her peers for inclusion in the The Best Lawyers in America® for her work in Intellectual Property Litigation (2017 - 2022) and Trademark Law (2023)
Recognized by The Legal 500 "United States" for Trademarks: Litigation (2020-2023)
Recognized in the Legal Media Group's (LMG) "Best of the Best USA" guide as one of the top 30 trademark practitioners in the United States (2019, 2021)
Recognized in the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 as a "Leading Trademark Lawyer" from (2012 - 2023). In 2017, Lynda was described as “strong in anti-counterfeiting and domain name matters” and that she “brings value through her ability to manage international cases, especially with her prior experience as a barrister in the UK”. In the 2018 guide, Lynda’s clients and peers commented that she is a “super-experienced IP litigator”, “extremely knowledgeable and fun to work with” and that she is a “tough opponent, but is simultaneously cordial and reasonable”. The 2019 guide described her as someone who "puts in the extra effort to understand her clients' business; she can navigate any challenge and employs creative thinking to find solutions. Her time spent abroad means she is also familiar with the nuances of trademark law in various jurisdictions, which is a bonus." In the 2020 guide, she was also noted for her "case and team management skills; she trains associates thoroughly and gives them responsibility while leveraging the firm's paralegal corps and other support staff well". In the 2021 guide, she was celebrated as a skilled litigator "through all phases of litigation," with the ability to take on any IP case; also described as a "backbone of the litigation practice." The 2022 guide honored Lynda as being “incredibly adept at spotting issues early and developing strategies to capitalize on opportunities” and possessing “extensive knowledge of U.S. and international trademark law.” In 2023, she was recognized for having “expertise in many areas including social media, domain names, anti-counterfeiting and advertising, giving her a wide-angle view of the world of brands that elevates her strategic thinking, particularly in the litigation context.”
Selected by Super Lawyers magazine for intellectual property litigation (2004, and consecutively from 2009 - 2013, and 2020-2021)
Repeatedly named in Legal Media Group's "Women in Business Law" guide (2010 - 2017 and 2019)
Listed in the Expert Guides as one of the "World's Leading Advisors Chosen by their Peers" for Trademarks (2018, 2020)
Named as one of the world’s leading trademark practitioners in "Who's Who Legal: Trademarks" list, by Law Business Research (2006, 2007, consecutively from 2009 - 2019, and 2023)
Named as one of the world’s leading patent lawyers in the "Who's Who Legal: Patents" list, by Law Business Research (2019, 2023). Lynda was described as “a first-rate practitioner who focuses on IP litigation, an area in which she is considered a go-to name in the US market.”
Recognized in Lawyer Monthly magazine's "2015 Women in Law Awards" for her outstanding achievements in the legal profession.
Nominated by in-house counsel and her peers around the world to appear in Euromoney Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Trademark Law Practitioners (2006, 2007, 2012, and 2014)
Named as a Top Women Attorney in Southern California by Super Lawyers (2012, 2013)
Nominated for the Orange County Business Journal Women In Business Awards (2006, 2007)

Articles

Co-Author, The Rise of False Advertising Lawsuits in the Food and Beverage Industry, QSR Magazine (July 2023)

Co-Author, How Gross Is Your Assignment? Actions Speak Louder Than Words When Transferring Goodwill, The Trademark Reporter, September-October, 2021 (Vol. 111, No. 5)

Co-author, How High Court May Resolve Generic'.Com' TM Issue, Law360 (November 2019)

Co-author, Supreme Court Case Highlights the Importance of Applying for Copyright Registration as Soon as Possible, ECONTENT (March 2019)

Co-author, The Supreme Court limits the scope of "full costs" in the Copyright Act fee-shifting provision, Knobbe Martens Firm Alert (March 2019)

Co-author, The Supreme Court holds that a copyright claimant may not sue for infringement until the Copyright Office has granted or refused registration of the work at issue, Knobbe Martens Firm Alert (March 2019)

Co-author, GDPR: Ready for the EU's New Data Privacy Law? What You Need to Know, Knobbe Martens Firm Alert (January 2018)

Contributing author, United States Chapter, International Design Protection, published by Globe Law and Business Ltd. (March 2017)

Contributing author, United States Chapter, Trade Secret Protection: A Global Guide, published by Globe Law and Business (January 2016)

Co-author, Getting the Deal Through: Trademarks 2016, published by Law Business Research Ltd. (September 2015)

Co-author, Kluwers Advertising Treatise - United States Chapter, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (September 2015)

Contributing author, Licenses and Insolvency, A Practical Guide to the Effects of Insolvency on IP License Agreements, published by International Bar Association (October 2014)

Co-author, Supreme Court Decision POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co: What You Need to Know, Knobbe Martens Firm Alert (June 2014)

Contributing thoughts in "Legal Perspective on Negative Online Reviews: What Both Sides Should Consider Before Jumping Into the Fray," JD Supra Perspectives (February 2014)

Contributing author, Trademark Surveys, Volume 1, Designing, Implementing and Evaluating Surveys, published by ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law (2013)

Law360 Q&A with Knobbe's Lynda Zadra-Symes, Law360 (June 2013)

Author, The Current State of Copyright Exhaustion in the U.S., Presented at the AIPLA 2013 Spring Meeting (May 2013)

Author, Anti-counterfeiting strategies in the United States, North American Regional Forum News (Newsletter of the International Bar Association Legal Practice Division) (April 2013)

Contributing author, "International Design Protection", Globe Law and Business (May 2012)

Author, Avoiding IP Troubles Online, The Patriot (February 2012)

Author, The potential pitfalls of comparative advertising, World Trademark Review (2010)

Co-author, Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies: What You Need to Know, Orange County Lawyer (August 2007)

Author, Controlling Counterfeit Trade in Tangible Products Over the Internet (2006)

Author, Sounds, Smells, Shapes and Colors: Protection and Enforcement of Nontraditional Trademarks in the U.S. (2005)

Speeches & Seminars

"Navigating Parallel Importation and Gray Markets in Order to Protect IP Rights," American Conference Institute (ACI) 3rd Annual Summit on Women Leaders in IP Law (June 2023)

"IP Rights for Fashion Designs," Brazilian Bar Association Annual Conference on Fashion Law (December 2022)

"The Social Network: Current Legal Issues in Social Media," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) - Southern California DoubleHeader (November 2015)

"The Legalities of Fashion - Intellectual Property Workshop," Fashion Week San Diego (September 2013)

"Understanding Trade Secrets and Trade Secret Misappropriation," IP Impact San Diego - Trademark Seminar (July 2013)

"What You Need to Know About Copyright Exhaustion Without Getting Exhausted," AIPLA 2013 Spring Meeting (May 2013)

"You've Just Been Sued - What to do in the First 30 Days," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) - Southern California DoubleHeader (April 2013)

"Avoiding Trade Secret Misappropriation, False Advertising & Unfair Competition Claims," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) - Southern California In-House Counsel Conference (January 2013)

"Hiring Competitor’s Top Talent & Being Fiercely Competitive Without Exposing Your Company," Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) - Southern California In-House Counsel Conference (January 2013)

"Winning at the Outset: Improving Chances of Success on a Preliminary Injunction Motion," AIPLA (October 2010)

"Controlling Counterfeit Trade in Tangible Products Over the Internet," Worldwide Piracy Prevention Conference (2006)