Dan Mullarkey’s experience spans many facets of intellectual property law — from managing major worldwide trademark portfolios to litigating patent cases in federal courts throughout the United States. Much of Dan’s work focuses on trademark litigation and prosecution. He provides counseling and strategic analysis related to the use and registration of trademarks both in the U.S. and abroad. His clients range from multi-national corporations to start-ups and small businesses. He has extensive experience clearing, registering, and enforcing trademarks.  

He has contested proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and represented clients before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to attending law school, Dan was a policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration.

Education

  • Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (J.D., 2010)
    • Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy, Student Articles Editor
  • James Madison University (B.B.A., 2002)
    • Marketing

Bar Admission

  • District of Columbia, 2012
  • Virginia, 2010

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2015
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2014
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2012
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, 2011

Professional Affiliations

  • International Trademark Association
    • Publications Committee, 2026-2027
    • Young Practitioners Committee, 2024-2025
  • American Bar Association

Recognition

  • Named one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in Intellectual Property Law, 2025
  • World Trademark Review's 1000 List, Bronze – DC Metro Area, 2023-2026
  • Named as a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2014-2020
Publications
Shelf Space: Should You Rebrand? What Startup Founders Need to Know About Trademark Risk and Goodwill
You secured the perfect domain name. It cost a little more than you envisioned, but you have the coveted .com of your dreams. It’s available and all social handles are clean. The name feels right and conveys just the right amount of information to the consumer while still being unique. Just in case, you reach out to a trademark attorney — and it’s not quite the green light you wanted. The trademark attorney has advised that there is some risk to using the name. Now you’re in naming limbo, trying to decide if the risk is worth the story you’ve already started telling. Here’s how to make the call with your brand, budget and investors in mind. What Startup Founders Should Weigh
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In-House Influence Podcast
Welcome to In-House Influence, a podcast that features interviews with some of the nation’s most influential in-house counsel. In-House Influence is a proud partnership between Polsinelli’s Washington, D.C., Office and the Association of Corporate Counsel National Capital Region. In-House Influence features interviews on the 'how' behind each guest's path toward leadership – with a focus on their youth during the ages of 7-17. Each podcast, divided into 10-minute sections, highlights four different trailblazers in the legal community from various industries, including government contractors, health care, real estate, technology, and financial services. Guests reflect on hardships, mentorship and early life decisions that helped mold them into the leaders they are today. Since 2016, our audience has been listening and learning about different journeys
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