Tracy-Gene G. Durkin is the practice leader of the Mechanical & Design Practice Group and a member of the Trademark & Brand Protection Practice at Sterne Kessler, an intellectual property specialty law firm. Tracy has a well-earned reputation for excellence in design patent law, having received numerous distinctions from leading intellectual property publications such as Chambers & Partners, Intellectual Asset Management, World Trademark Review, and Managing Intellectual Property. In 2018, Financial Times named her as one of the "Top Ten Legal Innovators in North America,” noting her as “a leading authority on design patents."
With more than 30 years of experience obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights, she is sought out by leading consumer product companies and by colleagues around the world for her deep understanding of patent, trademark, and copyright law. Her expertise includes helping clear new products and trademarks for use in the marketplace, selecting appropriate legal protection, and enforcing such protection through mediation, litigation, and licensing.
Tracy's leadership at Sterne Kessler includes her current role as practice group leader and member of the compensation committee. She was the first woman elected equity director to the firm, and is the first woman to serve on the firm's executive committee, where she served three terms. A leader in the legal community, Tracy is a member of the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia and is currently serving a three-year term as a member of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC). She is also a member of The Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce Advancement Council at Thomas Jefferson University.
Tracy received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and her B.S., cum laude, in textile manufacturing and marketing from Thomas Jefferson University.
Education/Alumni:
J.D., The George Washington University Law School
B.S., Thomas Jefferson University, cum laude
Last updated November 2021
