Overview
Michael Allan is Chair of Steptoe’s Copyright and Trademark practice. He represents rights holders and companies in disputes involving digital piracy, counterfeiting, product copying, unauthorized resellers, false advertising, and competitive misappropriation. Mike tries cases and serves as lead counsel in federal district and appellate courts throughout the country and before administrative agencies including the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Mike is ranked by Chambers USA in Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets and recognized by World Trademark Review. He has been recognized as a Trailblazer in IP by the National Law Journal and an IP MVP by Law360. Clients have told Chambers that "Mike is brilliant in his work and maintains communication candidly and clearly. He is a pleasure to work with and always delivers."
Entertainment and Copyright
Mike has significant experience representing music industry rights holders and other copyright owners in high-stakes copyright litigation and enforcement matters. He represents most major music publishers, record labels, and music trade organizations.
His work includes disputes involving large-scale unauthorized distribution, repeat infringers, internet-based piracy, and enforcement strategies. Mike pioneered a decade-plus effort by the music industry to block mass online piracy using secondary liability theories against internet service providers. He served as lead counsel in cases against Altice Communications, RCN Telecom, Cox Communications, Windstream, and others.
He also represents labels and publishers alike on a variety of music related issues including royalty disputes, contract claims, voice and likeness issues, and more. Additionally, Mike advises clients on general copyright protection, enforcement strategy, and copyright transfer issues, including agreements relating to high-profile published works.
Trademark, Trade Dress, Design Patent, and Unfair Competition
Mike has deep experience representing some of the world’s largest fashion houses, luxury brands, consumer companies, and financial institutions in trademark, trade dress, false advertising, unfair competition, anti-counterfeiting, and brand enforcement matters.
He has had particular success in protecting his client’s valuable trademarks using secondary liability theories, including contributory trademark infringement. In 2025, he obtained a trademark award approaching $600 million against a mall operator found liable in connection with the sale of counterfeit goods. The judgment is among the largest trademark judgments in United States history.
Mike also has substantial experience in Section 337 investigations before the ITC. He has brought and enforced trademark infringement claims at the ITC on behalf of several well-known brands and also defended claims before the ITC as well. Mike served as lead counsel in a closely watched ITC investigation involving Lanham Act and antitrust claims against a major foreign steel manufacturer, securing dismissal of all claims.
Trade Secrets and Competitive Misappropriation
Mike represents companies in trade secret and unfair competition disputes involving employee departures, competitor hiring, confidential business information, technical materials, and proprietary data. He has recently handled a number of former employee trade secret matters, including in connection with securing temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to prevent continued disclosure.
His trade secret work is well suited to fast-moving disputes where early evidence preservation, forensic review, and injunctive relief strategy may determine the outcome. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in complex trade secret litigation, giving him a practical view of how these cases are built, attacked, and resolved.
Finally, Mike has developed comprehensive trade secret protection programs for his clients. He regularly provides training and compliance support, including reviewing contracts and agreements with a focus on confidentiality, non‑compete, and non‑solicitation provisions.
- District of Columbia
- New York
- South Carolina
- US District Court, Northern District of New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1998, cum laude; Syracuse Law Review; Syracuse Moot Court Board
- B.A., Hamilton College, 1995
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
Entertainment and Copyright
- Served as lead counsel to an international group of music companies in copyright infringement cases against a major cable provider.
- Represented national music trade organizations in intellectual property protection and enforcement matters.
- Represent large film studio on copyright protection matters.
- Represented several tech companies in copyright disputes related to source code copyright claims.
- Represented financial institutions in copyright infringement suits.
- Oversaw copyright transfer agreements relating to books authored by former First Lady.
- Served as lead counsel to a large manufacturing company in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Trademark, Trade Dress, Design Patent, and Unfair Competition
- Represent a major fashion house in a widespread trademark infringement and counterfeiting case against a casino operator.
- Represented a major fashion house in trademark litigation in which the defendant, a mall selling counterfeit goods, was found liable for $584 million in statutory damages.
- Represented a tech company in a complex trade dress claim brought by a competitor.
- Served as lead counsel to a major French fashion house in the first Section 337 investigation in which a luxury goods manufacturer used the ITC to litigate trademarks against counterfeiters. Obtained a general exclusion order prohibiting unlicensed entry of certain products infringing registered marks. (In re Handbags, 337-TA-754.)
- Served as lead counsel to a leading US importer and marketer of luxury wines and spirits in a Section 337 patent infringement investigation.
- Obtained summary judgment in a trademark infringement case for a major French fashion house.
- Upheld a multimillion-dollar judgment on behalf of a major French fashion house in a precedent-setting Second Circuit opinion.
- Secured a multimillion-dollar summary judgment for a British fashion house in a trademark infringement and breach of contract case.
- Serve as lead counsel to several luxury brands on intellectual property enforcement and unfair competition matters.
- Represent a major financial institution in trademark, unfair competition, and false advertising matters.
- Represented a large automobile insurance carrier in trademark infringement and product disparagement cases nationwide.
Trade Secrets and Competitive Misappropriation
- Represent an AI company in trade secret litigation against an ex-employee and new employer involving allegations concerning the intelligence sector.
- Defend a tech company from claims of trade secret misappropriation.
- Advise a financial services company on contract issues and trade secret compliance.
- Represent a real estate company on claims of unfair competition and trade secret misappropriation.
- Represented a tech company against claims of widespread trade secret theft.
- Served as lead counsel to an internet services company in complex trade secret litigation.
- Enforced a non-competition agreement against a former software executive.
- Advise numerous clients on trade secret protection, employee departure issues, and litigation strategy involving confidential business information.
Speaking Engagements
- "Trademark Enforcement and Secondary Liability," INTA Fashion Industry Group (FIG), INTA, London, May 2026
- "IP Management and Licensing Considerations in an AI World," PLI's The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property in California and Beyond 2025, November 13, 2025
- "Brand Protection at the ITC," INTA Fashion Industry Group (FIG), INTA, San Diego, May 19, 2025
- "Diffusion Brands: Are They In or Are They Out?," Brands and Fashion Conference, March 23, 2017
- "Industry Breakout: Fashion Forward," INTA, May 6, 2015
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Attorneys Michael Allan and Joseph Ecker Recognized in 2026 WTR 1000
February 18, 2026
Press Releases
Steptoe's Win for DISH in Dispute with Disney Earns AmLaw Litigator of the Week Shout-Out
November 24, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures Major Win for DISH in High-Stakes Dispute with Disney Over Sling Passes
November 19, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Files Amicus Brief Defending Music Industry’s Copyright Protections
November 3, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Obtains Trademark Victory for Legendary New Wave Band The Plimsouls
May 15, 2024
Client Alerts
June 13, 2023
Events
Webinars
February 9, 2023
Speakers: Michael J. Allan, Bill Toth
Webinars
2021 Copyright Roundup: The Key Decisions, Upcoming Trends, and Cases to Watch
February 10, 2022
Speakers: Michael J. Allan, Bill Toth
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets (2025-2026)
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, Intellectual Property Litigation (2020-2021)
- Legal 500 US, Intellectual Property: Copyright (2018-2019)
- Legal 500 US, Trade Secrets: Litigation and Non-Contentious Matters (2019)
- Legal 500 US, Patent Litigation, International Trade Commission (2017-2018)
- Legal 500 US, Intellectual Property: Trademarks, Litigation (2016-2018)
- World Trademark Review 1000 (2014-2020, 2024-2026)
- National Law Journal, "Trailblazers in IP" (2016)
- Law360, Intellectual Property "MVP" (2016)