Protect the name you are building your business around.
Names worth using are names worth registering.
Search, filing, and USPTO strategy led by former USPTO Trademark Examining Attorney John E. Dugger. Flat fees, direct attorney access, and no handoff to a document-preparation service.
No charge when attended as scheduled. A payment method is required to reserve a time. A $50 fee applies to cancellations or rescheduling with less than 24 hours' notice and missed appointments. Review the consultation policy.
Experience includes work with
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
- Temu
- Peloton
- Agero
- BU/MIT Technology Law Clinic
Former USPTO Examiner · In-House Marketplace IP Experience · Direct Attorney Access · Nationwide Federal Practice. These reflect prior professional experience and are not an indication of current clients.
Small filing decisions can create expensive problems later.
Led by a former USPTO Trademark Examining Attorney who understands how examiners evaluate applications and the issues that most often lead to refusals.
The search matters
The USPTO does not look only for identical names. Similar wording, sound, meaning, and commercial impression can all create a conflict.
Learn about trademark clearanceThe application matters
Ownership, filing basis, goods and services, and proof of use can all affect whether an application moves forward.
See how registration worksThe response matters
A refusal is not always the end of an application, but response deadlines and legal arguments require careful attention.
Get help with an Office ActionTrademark services for every stage of the brand lifecycle.
Trademark Search & Clearance
Assess potential conflicts before investing in a name.
Learn moreTrademark Registration
Prepare and file a federal trademark application with direct attorney guidance.
Learn moreOffice Action Responses
Respond to substantive or procedural USPTO refusals, including applications filed without the firm.
Learn moreTrademark Monitoring
Identify concerning new applications and receive attorney-reviewed alerts.
Learn moreRenewals & Maintenance
Track and prepare post-registration filings before important deadlines.
Learn moreEnforcement & Disputes
Evaluate potential infringement, demand letters, coexistence issues, and TTAB matters.
Learn moreNo charge when attended as scheduled. A payment method is required to reserve a time. A $50 fee applies to cancellations or rescheduling with less than 24 hours' notice and missed appointments. Review the consultation policy.
A clear path from idea to registration.
Assess and search
We discuss what you want to protect, how the mark is or will be used, and which filing strategy fits the business. When a clearance search is included, John reviews federal records and relevant marketplace use and provides a written risk assessment.
Prepare and file
John identifies the filing owner and basis, drafts the goods and services, reviews the specimen when applicable, and prepares the application for your approval and signature.
Monitor and respond
The firm monitors the application and reports USPTO developments. The Full Filing package includes one response to the first non-final USPTO Office Action, whether the issues are procedural or substantive. For an intent-to-use application, ordinary attorney work for the appropriate Amendment to Allege Use or Statement of Use and up to five permitted extension requests is included through registration; the client pays the applicable USPTO fees. Later or final Office Actions, appeals, consent agreements, TTAB proceedings, and other work outside the included scope are separately quoted.
Know the price before you sign.
Attorney fees and government fees are shown separately. USPTO fees are paid to the federal government and are generally nonrefundable.
Clearance Search
Find out whether a name is worth pursuing, before you invest in filing.
One mark, one class. Less per mark when you clear several at once.
- Attorney-directed federal and marketplace search
- Written risk assessment
- 30-minute strategy call to review
If you retain the firm for a Full Filing on a mark and class covered by the assessment within 30 days of delivery, $295 is credited toward that filing's attorney fee. The total credited across all filings will not exceed the assessment fee you paid.
Start with a searchFull Filing
Search and application, prepared and filed end-to-end with direct attorney access.
Attorney fee per mark, per class · plus the USPTO filing fee (from $350) per class
- Intake, strategy review & clearance search
- Ownership & filing-basis review; goods-and-services drafting
- Specimen review (use-based) & application filing
- Status monitoring & reporting through the agreed endpoint
- One response to the first non-final USPTO Office Action included, whether procedural or substantive
- Ordinary Amendment to Allege Use, Statement of Use, and permitted intent-to-use extension attorney work included through registration; USPTO fees apply
Included ITU work applies to the originally engaged mark and classes and assumes timely client cooperation and ordinary prosecution. Petitions, division requests, corrective evidence projects, refusals arising from a use filing, appeals, and contested matters are separately quoted.
File my markOffice Action Response
Already filed and received a refusal? John responds, even if he did not draft the original application.
Final fee depends on the refusal and record
- Review of your USPTO Office Action
- Strategy call & written response plan
- Response prepared and filed within the agreed scope, subject to timely engagement and cooperation
A mark covering two classes ordinarily carries a $1,390 attorney fee plus the applicable USPTO fees. Protecting two marks in the same class, for example, a word mark and a logo covering the same goods or services, is a flat $1,200 attorney fee (plus the USPTO fee for each mark). Every engagement is quoted as a flat fee, in writing, before any work begins.
Compare the scope, attorney involvement, and total cost, not only the advertised filing price.
What The Branding Iron includes
- Direct work with John E. Dugger, a former USPTO Trademark Examining Attorney.
- Attorney-directed clearance and a written risk assessment.
- Application strategy, drafting, specimen review, and filing.
- One response to the first non-final Office Action.
- Ordinary intent-to-use attorney work through registration.
- A written flat-fee scope before work begins.
Questions to ask any provider
- Who actually evaluates the search and prepares the filing?
- Will I communicate directly with the attorney responsible for my matter?
- Is a written legal risk assessment included?
- What happens if the USPTO issues a substantive refusal?
- Are Statement of Use and extension attorney fees included?
- Is the price per mark, per class, or both?
- Which USPTO fees and later-stage fees are additional?
A lawyer who’s read the file from the other side of the desk.
Before founding The Branding Iron in 2023, John was a Trademark Examining Attorney at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the federal agency that examines and registers U.S. federal trademarks. He went on to handle intellectual property and disputes at Temu, with prior work at Peloton, Agero, and the BU/MIT Technology Law Clinic. He is someone who has evaluated applications from the examiner’s side of the process and now uses that experience to help clients identify and address issues before they become expensive delays.
Read John’s full backgroundCounsel built around how your business uses its brand.
Amazon & E-Commerce
Clear product and store names before launch, prepare applications for marketplace growth, and develop a plan for monitoring copycats.
Learn moreSaaS & AI Startups
Clear a company and product name before you build around it, and plan for sub-brands, modules, and international expansion.
Learn moreCreators, Podcasts & Courses
Protect the name your audience knows, and understand the single-work title limitation before you rely on it.
Learn moreBeauty & Wellness Brands
Clear the brand before you print the packaging, and sort out manufacturer and distributor ownership questions early.
Learn moreFood, Beverage & Hospitality
Protect the name before the next location or product launch, and separate restaurant services from packaged goods.
Learn moreBranding & Naming Agencies
Preliminary screens before presentation and full clearance for finalists, with agency-friendly, white-label workflows.
Learn moreTrusted by founders and brand owners.
"We have been very pleased with the services we've received from The Branding Iron. As a small patient advocacy organization, we wanted some basic branding protections in place, and John has provided us the ‘just right’ solutions. He did a lot of background work and research and really thoughtfully listened to us to understand our organization and our needs. He provided several options for next best steps and thoroughly explained them to us so that we were confident in our decisions. We're very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with The Branding Iron."
Working with John was a true pleasure. He was professional, proactive, and got the job done! Would 10/10 recommend.
"Super professional and easy to work with way better than when I used to work with legal zoom"
"Mr. Dugger helped my business get a trademark license. He was very informative, easy to communicate with and reasonably priced. I would definitely use him for future services."
"Excellent experience working with John Dugger and The Branding Iron.
John was professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and very easy to work with throughout the trademark process. He took the time to explain the process, the costs, and the different options clearly, and I always felt like I understood what I was paying for and why.
What impressed me most was John’s straightforward and honest approach. He wasn’t simply trying to sell me services; he took the time to explain the strategy behind the different options and helped me understand what made sense for my particular situation.
I would highly recommend John to anyone looking for knowledgeable, professional trademark guidance. He was a pleasure to work with, and I would absolutely reach out to him again if I need trademark services in the future."
"I found John Dugger at The Branding Iron through a recommendation from ChatGPT, of all places! Before reaching out, I had already spoken with over a dozen trademark attorneys and IP agents across Canada and the U.S.—spanning both paid and free consultations. Yet, John offered far more value, clarity, and practical guidance on our very first call than I received from paid consultations elsewhere. I knew right then I wanted to proceed with him.
Beyond his deep expertise and the valuable insider perspective that comes from his time as a former USPTO examiner, John is genuinely a really nice guy and a joy to work with. He’s been consistently responsive and generous with his time, always easy to reach by email, phone, or video– with a smile and practical advice.
His pricing is also among the most competitive and transparent I’ve found. His flat-fee structure covers the full filing, ongoing monitoring, and even a response to the first non-final USPTO Office Action if one arises. Many other lawyers charge separate legal fees for these steps, which can add a few hundred dollars to over a thousand in unexpected costs just to reach registration. Knowing exactly what’s included upfront makes budgeting much easier and provides real peace of mind.
To date, we’ve completed a clearance search and thorough written assessment for several word marks that helped me land on a brand name/word mark I felt confident proceeding with, and we’ve now filed my U.S. trademark application. I couldn’t recommend John and The Branding Iron more highly, and I look forward to partnering with him on many more trademarks and U.S. legal needs as my brand grows. Thanks a million John!"
A note on scope. The Full Filing flat fee includes monitoring the status of your own application through registration, plus one response to the first non-final Office Action. The firm’s separate Trademark Monitoring service, which watches for later third-party filings that may conflict with your mark, is priced separately.
A 14-step pre-filing checklist for first-time trademark applicants
Review common ownership, search, class, identification, filing-basis, and specimen issues before submitting an application. It will not turn you into a trademark lawyer, but it can help you avoid errors that lead to preventable refusals.
Prefer a dedicated page? See the full checklist details.
The questions every brand owner asks.
Last updated July 2026.
Why hire a lawyer instead of a filing service?
How long does registration take?
Does filing first give me priority over everyone else?
I already filed myself and got a refusal. Can you help?
Do you only work with clients in Tennessee?
What happens on the complimentary 15-minute consult?
Build the brand. Clear the name. File with a plan.
Tell John what you are building and where you are in the trademark process. You will receive a clear explanation of the next step and a written flat-fee scope before work begins.
No charge when attended as scheduled. A payment method is required to reserve a time. A $50 fee applies to cancellations or rescheduling with less than 24 hours' notice and missed appointments. Review the consultation policy.
Start with a trademark clearance assessment.
Before you invest in a full application, find out whether your name is worth filing. A former USPTO Trademark Examining Attorney reviews your proposed mark and delivers a written risk assessment with a clear recommendation. From $295 for one mark in one class, and less per mark when you clear several at once. No charge to submit the intake. If John confirms after the required conflicts check that he can accept the matter, your saved payment method is charged then and work begins. You are not charged if he cannot accept it.