Wood Herron & Evans

What Wood Herron & Evans does

Wood Herron & Evans LLP is a Cincinnati-based boutique intellectual property law firm founded in 1868, providing specialized legal services across patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, enforcement and litigation, privacy and data security, publishing and media, and advertising law. The firm serves multinational corporations, mid-sized enterprises, innovative startups, universities, trade associations, and individual inventors across the United States and internationally through a network of approximately 150 foreign associates in more than 50 countries. Its competitive differentiator is a technically credentialed lawyer base — the majority hold graduate or doctoral degrees in engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, or related disciplines — enabling prosecution across biotech, chemicals/materials, electrical/electronics, mechanical/aerospace, and software/computer technology areas.

The firm operates a traditional professional services model with revenue generated through hourly and fixed-fee legal engagements (no public pricing disclosed). Service delivery is differentiated by two in-house support capabilities uncommon among IP firms: a patent drafting and illustration team with 68+ years of combined experience that produces USPTO-compliant technical drawings, and a docketing team with 73+ years of combined experience managing U.S. and foreign IP filings. The firm is led by a three-person Executive Committee (Steven W. Benintendi, Ph.D., Sarah Otte Graber, and Randy S. Jackson) and is structured as an Ohio limited liability partnership owned by its equity partners. Named enterprise engagements span Sony, Veeco Instruments, Fifth Third Bank, Covidien, and others across technology, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and entertainment industries.

The go-to-market motion is enterprise-direct, with lead attorneys matched to clients based on technical expertise. Marketing channels consist of organic social (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X), content marketing via the firm website, and referral-driven growth via peer networks and industry associations including INTA, AIPLA, and state bar associations. The firm maintains Tier 1 Best Law Firm rankings in Cincinnati across six IP-related practice categories, Best Lawyers in America recognition for multiple attorneys, Chambers USA Band 3 rating, and WTR 1000 trademark firm designation. Current operational signals include a 2022 headquarters relocation, a 2022 partner admission, and a 2025 lateral attorney hire, consistent with steady-state partnership growth rather than aggressive expansion.

Name

Wood Herron & Evans

Legal name

Wood Herron & Evans LLP

Website

https://whe-law.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wood Herron & Evans LLP is a 1868-founded Cincinnati-based boutique intellectual property law firm providing patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, licensing, and litigation services to multinational corporations, mid-sized enterprises, startups, and universities across 50+ countries via a 150-associate foreign network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Law Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Copyright Services & Content Protection (BPAHAMAC), IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK), IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG), IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence (BPAHAMAI), IP & Patent Information Publishing (Patent/Litigation Analytics, Prior Art) (MPAJACAK)

Keywords

• Intellectual property law
• Patent prosecution services
• Trademark registration services
• Copyright protection services
• IP litigation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Professional legal services for intellectual property matters including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, and litigation. Services provided to businesses, trade associations, universities, foundations and individuals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wood Herron & Evans is a Cincinnati-based boutique intellectual property law firm providing comprehensive IP legal services, including patent prosecution and litigation across biotech, chemicals, electrical/electronics, mechanical/aerospace, and software disciplines; trademark and copyright registration and enforcement; trade secret protection; licensing and transactions; IP enforcement and litigation; privacy and data security counsel; and publishing, media, and advertising law. The firm supports these services with in-house patent drafting/illustration and docketing teams, and delivers international IP prosecution through a network of approximately 150 foreign associates in more than 50 countries.

Product overview

Wood Herron & Evans is a boutique intellectual property law firm offering comprehensive IP legal services. The firm provides patent services (prosecution, litigation, and post-grant proceedings across biotech, chemicals, electrical/electronics, mechanical/aerospace, and software disciplines), trademark services, copyright services, trade secrets protection, enforcement and litigation, licensing and transactions, privacy and data security counsel, publishing and media legal services, and advertising law. Supporting these core practice areas are in-house Patent Drafting and Illustration services and IP Docketing Services. The firm also offers IP Portfolio Management Counseling to help clients strategize and optimize their intellectual property holdings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Services Comprehensive patent legal services including patent prosecution, due diligence, drafting, illustration, design services, enforcement, litigation, IP docket management, and post-grant proceedings. Covers multiple technical disciplines including biotech, chemicals and materials, electrical/electronics, mechanical/aerospace, and software/computer technologies. For businesses, universities, and inventors requiring patent protection.
• Trademark Services Trademark legal services including registration, maintenance, enforcement, trademark clearance searches, infringement opinions, and domain name dispute resolution through UDRP and ACPA proceedings. For brand owners, corporations, and trade associations.
• Copyright Services Copyright legal services including copyright registration, assignment and recordation, enforcement of ownership rights, litigation and resolution of infringement issues, licensing agreements, copyright due diligence, and DMCA compliance. For creators, publishers, media companies, and content owners.
• Trade Secrets Protection Legal counsel on protecting trade secrets including sales channels, distribution, manufacturing processes, and competitive strategies. For companies needing to safeguard proprietary know-how.
• Enforcement & Litigation Intellectual property litigation services including prosecution and defense of IP matters in state and federal courts, alternative dispute resolution (arbitration and mediation), and post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. For rights holders and accused infringers.
• Licensing & Transactions Licensing counsel for various industries including sports leagues, entertainment properties, publishers, and corporate brands. Services include trademark clearance, patent procurement, copyright matters, and domain name transactions.
• Privacy & Data Security Privacy legal services including data breach response, e-commerce compliance, website privacy policies, COPPA compliance, and CAN-SPAM compliance. For businesses handling consumer data.
• Publishing & Media Legal counsel for publishing, distribution, option, and licensing agreements; copyright registration; rights clearance; prepublication review; defamation and privacy counsel; and digital rights management. For publishers, media companies, and content creators.
• Advertising Law Legal services for advertising and marketing including ad campaign review, claim substantiation, trademark and copyright issues, contests and sweepstakes, false advertising claims, and right of publicity matters. For advertisers, agencies, and brand owners.

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Foreign Associates NetworkcoreOthersThe firm works with approximately 150 foreign associates/organizations in more than 50 countries around the world to effectuate and manage patent and trademark portfolios for international clients.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Barnes & Thornburg: Indianapolis-headquartered full-service firm with a substantial IP practice; competes with Wood Herron & Evans for IP work in the Midwest and serves similar mid-sized enterprise clients with technical IP needs.
• Fish & Richardson: Nationally renowned IP boutique law firm with extensive patent prosecution and litigation capabilities; competes with Wood Herron & Evans for high-stakes patent matters and serves similar multinational enterprise clients.
• Finnegan: Leading national IP law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., with deep patent prosecution and litigation practices; competes for technical patent matters and trademark portfolio work with similar Fortune 500 clients.

Direct peers

• Oblon: Virginia-based IP boutique law firm specializing in patent prosecution and IP litigation with strong technical/engineering bench; highly comparable boutique IP model competing for enterprise patent and trademark portfolios.
• Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox: Washington, D.C.-based boutique intellectual property law firm focused on patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and litigation; serves similar technically sophisticated enterprise clients and competes for similar patent portfolio work.

Regional players

• Dinsmore & Shohl: Major Cincinnati-rooted full-service firm with significant intellectual property practice; competes with Wood Herron & Evans for patent prosecution, trademark, and IP litigation work in the Ohio/regional market.
• Frost Brown Todd: Large Cincinnati-based full-service firm with an established IP practice group; directly competes with Wood Herron & Evans for Cincinnati and Ohio-based enterprise and mid-market IP matters across patent prosecution, trademarks, and litigation.
• Keating Muething & Klekamp: Cincinnati-headquartered full-service firm with active IP litigation and prosecution capabilities; competes for the same regional client base and talent pool as Wood Herron & Evans.
• Taft Stettinius & Hollister: Indianapolis/Cincinnati-rooted full-service firm with a sizable IP group; comparable peer offering patent prosecution, trademark, and IP litigation services to a similar enterprise and mid-market client base in the Midwest.
• Porter Wright Morris & Arthur: Cincinnati/Ohio-based full-service firm with an IP practice group serving similar enterprise and mid-market clients across patent prosecution, trademark, and copyright matters in the Ohio market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/woodherronevans
• Facebookfacebook.com/woodherronevans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wood-herron-&-evans-llp
• Instagraminstagram.com/woodherronevans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wood Herron & Evans