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Pirkey Barber: The Austin Firm That Registered OpenAI’s “ChatGPT” and Won Taco Bell’s “Taco Tuesday” Fight

When OpenAI needed to register the trademark “ChatGPT,” it turned to Pirkey Barber. When Taco Bell needed to fight for the right to use “Taco Tuesday” nationally, Pirkey Barber represented the client. Founded by two former Fulbright & Jaworski partners in 2006, this Austin firm has grown into one of the largest trademark-and-copyright-exclusive practices in the country, devoting 100% of its attorneys’ time to that single specialty.

Origin and Background

Pirkey Barber PLLC is headquartered on Austin’s Eastside, with additional offices in the D.C. Metro area, San Francisco, Seattle, and Minneapolis. Founded in 2006 by Louis Pirkey and Bill Barber, formerly partners at Fulbright & Jaworski, the firm has grown from three attorneys to roughly 49 attorneys and 20 paralegals, making it one of the largest U.S. firms focused exclusively on trademark and copyright law.

Practice Concentration

The firm’s practice covers the full spectrum of trademark and copyright work: intellectual property litigation, USPTO proceedings including Trademark Trial and Appeal Board matters, domain name disputes, trademark policing, clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, trade dress, advertising counseling, false advertising litigation, social media and online branding issues, anti-counterfeiting, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution. Alicia Morris Groos, a Chambers-ranked member of the firm, focuses her practice on U.S. trademark and copyright law and global IP portfolio management, and has testified before both the Texas Senate and House committees on trademark registration legislation. See this Austin Intellectual Property directory for how this nationally ranked trademark-and-copyright boutique compares to general IP practices.

Notable Work / Track Record

Pirkey Barber’s documented, named work includes registering the “ChatGPT” trademark on behalf of OpenAI, representing Taco Bell in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board cancellation proceeding over the “Taco Tuesday” mark held by a competitor, representing Pop Mart Americas in U.S. trademark enforcement and anticounterfeiting matters, and securing a complete trial victory for waterproof footwear brand Dryshod International in a long-running copyright and trademark dispute (Haas Outdoors v. Dryshod International, et al., Western District of Texas). These are specific, independently verifiable named client matters rather than aggregate claims.

Client Voice

Independent peer-review sources describe Pirkey Barber as providing “expertise, value, attentiveness, and responsiveness” that is “unparalleled,” with one client review calling the firm “outstanding” with a “who’s who list of clients” and “sophisticated and capable attorneys.” A major international company client stated it “highly recommends” the firm. Awesome Attorneys did not identify negative or critical reviews warranting disclosure in the sample reviewed.

Beyond the Courtroom

Alicia Morris Groos has testified before both the Texas Senate Business & Commerce Committee and the Texas House Business & Industry Committee regarding HB 3141, legislation relating to trademark registration and protection that was ultimately signed into law in June 2011 — direct legislative involvement in shaping Texas trademark law rather than simply practicing under it.

Recognition for This Austin IP Firm

Pirkey Barber holds a Chambers USA Band 1 ranking for Intellectual Property in Texas — the highest tier, shared with only one other firm — and Louis Pirkey was named the 2025 Austin Lawyer of the Year in Litigation-Intellectual Property by Best Lawyers. The firm has also been named Firm of the Year for U.S. Trademark Disputes (South) and holds a World Trademark Review Gold Band ranking, one of roughly 14 firms nationally to receive that distinction. Awesome Attorneys independently verified these recognitions through Chambers, Best Lawyers, and World Trademark Review’s own published rankings.

Texas Legal Backdrop

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, a significant part of Pirkey Barber’s documented practice, function as specialized administrative litigation before the USPTO rather than federal district court, with their own evidentiary rules and appeal process to the Federal Circuit. Anti-counterfeiting enforcement, another documented practice area, often combines federal Lanham Act civil claims with Texas state deceptive trade practices claims and, in serious cases, coordination with federal customs enforcement at U.S. ports of entry. None of this is legal advice; a specific trademark or copyright matter should be evaluated by a licensed attorney based on the actual facts involved.

Awesome Attorneys Assessment

Pirkey Barber’s clearest differentiator is genuine, top-tier national trademark and copyright specialization — Chambers Band 1, named work for OpenAI and Taco Bell, and a client roster of some of the world’s most recognized brands — built from an Austin foundation rather than a satellite office of a larger national firm. The honest trade-off is that a firm of this caliber and scale typically commands higher rates than smaller Austin boutiques, and its docket of high-profile national clients may mean less individualized attention for a small local business with a routine trademark filing. For any client — from a Fortune 500 brand to a growing company — facing a significant trademark or copyright matter that demands top-tier expertise, that documented national reputation is a strong basis for a shortlist.

Methodology and Sourcing

This profile was researched from Pirkey Barber’s own website (firm history, attorney biography for Alicia Morris Groos, and recognition page), Chambers and Partners’ USA firm and department profiles, World Trademark Review’s WTR 1000 firm profile, and World IP Review’s coverage of the firm’s named client matters.

Publisher Disclosure and Independence Notice

Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal directory and editorial publication. This profile was not paid for, commissioned, or reviewed by Pirkey Barber PLLC or its attorneys prior to publication. Awesome Attorneys may in the future offer sponsored placement products to attorneys and firms, including this one, but sponsorship has no bearing on the editorial content, inclusion, or findings of this profile.