Megan Bannigan

Megan K. Bannigan is a partner and member of the Litigation and Intellectual Property & Media Groups at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, focusing on trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, false advertising, design patents, rights of publicity, licensing and other contractual disputes. She represents clients across a range of industries, including consumer products, cosmetics, entertainment, fashion and luxury goods, financial services, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, professional sports and technology.

Ms. Bannigan has extensive trial experience, helping to secure an over $20 million jury verdict for client Learning Annex in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, among other matters. She also has experience representing clients before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the International Trade Commission. Recognized by Managing Intellectual Property’s IP STARS and Law360 as a Rising Star, she is known for “translat[ing] complex legal issues into clear pragmatic legal advice.” Ms. Bannigan is recognized as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 US (2021), where she is lauded for her “tremendous drive, unsurpassed knowledge, creative solutions and quick, insightful communications.” She is ranked as a top practitioner by World Trademark Review (2020), which reports that she has “deep substantive knowledge married to a practical approach and is not intimidated by the most challenging cases or counterparties.”

Ms. Bannigan is also a frequent speaker and panel member for business, legal practice and educational groups across the country and is frequently quoted, mentioned and published in national and international publications, including Bloomberg, Reuters, Managing Intellectual Property, The World Trademark Review, Practical Law, Intellectual Property Magazine and Law360, as a legal authority on trademark and copyright matters. In December 2019, Ms. Bannigan testified as an expert before the United States Senate Judiciary Intellectual Property Subcommittee on the issue of fraudulent trademarks.
Ms. Bannigan is also an adjunct professor, teaching Advanced Trademark and False Advertising Law at NYU School of Law and Fashion Law at Rutgers School of Law. She previously was a Clinical Visiting Lecturer at Law at Yale Law School, leading the team of students that helped secure the landmark decision in Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell, where the Court declared that several features of Connecticut’s system of education, including the formula for distributing funding to school districts, were unconstitutional.

Ms. Bannigan is active in intellectual property-related professional organizations, including the International Trademark Association, for which she spearheaded the development of INTA’s Pro Bono clearinghouse, was a member of the 2019 Presidential Task Force focusing on corporate responsibility and brands for a better society and, in 2017, was awarded the Volunteer Service Award for Advancement of the Association. She also currently serves as Counsel to the INTA Foundation. Ms. Bannigan is also Chair of the American Bar Association – IPL Trademark Litigation Committee, as well as member of the Section’s Nominating Committee and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Section’s Landslide Magazine. In both 2020 and 2021, Ms. Bannigan was the recipient of ABA-IPL Section Leadership Achievement Award. Ms. Bannigan is also a member of the NYC Bar Council on IP and Fashion Law Committee.

Ms. Bannigan has a strong commitment to public service. She has a large pro bono practice and is active in an array of not-for-profit organizations, including for Delivering Good, the Cancer Research Institute and Advocates for Children of New York. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Bannigan worked in the Office of the New Jersey Governor.

Ms. Bannigan joined the firm in 2007. From 2008 to 2009, she clerked for the Hon. Mary Little Cooper of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Ms. Bannigan received her J.D. with high honors from Rutgers University in 2007, where she served as production editor of the Rutgers Law Review. She received a B.A. with honors from Rutgers College in 2002. Ms. Bannigan is a member of the Bars of New York and New Jersey and is admitted to practice before the Southern District of New York and the District of New Jersey.