Julie Tolek Image

Julie Tolek

Trademark Attorney

Dilworth IP

Julie Tolek is a Trademark Attorney with Dilworth IP, where her trademark practice focuses on a holistic approach to brand protection. Julie has earned a reputation with clients and colleagues for her passionate expertise in branding and marketing and helps her clients take educated risks when appropriate and understands when a more conservative approach may be necessary. She advises clients of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.

Julie’s practice focuses on initial trademark and tradename counseling; development and management of trademark portfolios; resolving conflicts over disputed marks and names; establishing and enforcing rights of trademarks used on the Internet; Customs and Border Protection registration of trademarks for anti-counterfeiting protection; and litigating opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). In her life-before-law, she worked for Apple, Inc. as a Creative Trainer, managing a team of trainers and teaching clients how to use technology. Julie has gained national recognition on the topics of marketing and branding, including at American Bar Association’s Techshow conference and the Clio Cloud Conference, and she is also on the MCLE New England faculty. Julie has been published by MCLE New England, American Bar Association Legal Technology Resource Center, Attorney at Work, GPSolo Magazine, Spotlight Branding, and other publications on the topics of branding and marketing. Julie was also named one of the Top Women of Legal Tech by the American Bar Association in 2015, 2016, and 2021 for her contribution in branding and marketing to the legal community.

Julie is a dedicated yogi and advocate for other breast cancer survivors. She enjoys Sunday drives through the back roads of Massachusetts with her husband and saltwater fishing in the Boston Harbor in the summer.

Recent Articles by Julie Tolek

Chipotle and Sweetgreen Play Chicken Over Trademark

Just days after a complaint was filed against restaurant chain Sweetgreen by Chipotle Mexican Grill for trademark infringement, dilution, and deceptive business practices, Sweetgreen has changed the name of its offending product in order to reach possible settlement. Last week, Chipotle filed a complaint against Sweetgreen for naming its new menu item  “Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl”. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. et al. v. Sweetgreen Inc., case number 8:23-cv-00596, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Chipotle has numerous registered trademarks for variations on the word CHIPOTLE in relation to its restaurant and food, including stylized versions in various fonts. Prior to filing the complaint, Chipotle sent Sweetgreen a cease-and-desist letter asking the salad chain to drop the word “chipotle” from the name, which is the usual practice in trademark related lawsuits.

As Companies Employ Clever Crypto Options, Beware of Common Trademark Traps

While some companies have not yet jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon, others are rolling out processes to accept payment for goods via cryptocurrency. Some companies are also embracing cryptocurrency internally, in the form of employee benefits. Earlier this year, BTCS, Inc., the blockchain technology company, announced that it will offer dividends payable in Bitcoin. This should come as no surprise, since the company was the first “pure play” U.S. publicly traded company focused on digital assets and blockchain when it went public in 2014. Continuing to lead the digital asset industry, it is now also the first Nasdaq-listed firm to offer shareholders the option to receive dividends in bitcoin.

Past Events with Julie Tolek

IPWatchdog LIVE 2023

September 17-19, 2023

IPWatchdog LIVE 2022

September 11-13, 2022