Build the Brand. Then Protect It.

You've put real work into your name, your logo, your reputation. A federal trademark registration is how you make sure no one else can ride what you built.


I'm Rebecca Fuller, a trademark filing attorney based in Las Vegas. I help small business owners and entrepreneurs register their trademarks with the USPTO — and navigate the process without the confusion, delays, or rejection letters that come with filing alone.

Why Trademark Registration Matters for Your Business

Your brand is what makes customers choose you over the next option. Without federal trademark registration, that brand is exposed. Someone in another city — or another industry — can start using a confusingly similar name, and you'll have limited tools to stop them.


A registered trademark with the USPTO gives you exclusive nationwide rights to use your mark in connection with your specific goods and services. That's not a technicality — it's the legal foundation that lets you enforce your brand, license it, and build real equity in it over time.


If your name matters to your customers, it's worth protecting.

What the Trademark Process Actually Looks Like

The USPTO process has several stages, and where most DIY filers run into trouble is not knowing what each stage requires. Here's how I approach a trademark filing from start to finish.

Application Filing

There are two types of USPTO applications: use-in-commerce (for marks already in active commercial use) and intent-to-use (for marks you plan to use). I identify the correct filing basis, select the appropriate international class or classes for your goods and services, and draft the application to minimize examiner objections.

USPTO Examination

After filing, a USPTO examining attorney reviews the application — typically within several months. If there are no issues, the mark is published for opposition. If the examiner raises an objection, you'll receive an office action requiring a written response.

Clearance Search

Before filing anything, I conduct a comprehensive trademark search to identify existing marks that could conflict with yours. A registrable mark needs to be distinctive and clear of confusingly similar marks already on the register. Skipping this step is the fastest way to waste a filing fee.

Office actions are common. They're also time-sensitive — you generally have three months to respond before the application goes abandoned. I draft responses that address the examiner's specific objections, whether that's a likelihood-of-confusion refusal, a specimen issue, or a description of goods and services that needs clarification.

Office Action Response

Once approved, your mark is registered and you can use the ® symbol. Registration isn't permanent by default — you'll need to file maintenance documents at the 5–6 year mark and again at the 10-year renewal. I can help you stay on top of those deadlines so your registration doesn't lapse.

Registration and Maintenance

Why DIY Trademark Filings Fail

The USPTO doesn't require an attorney to file. That doesn't mean filing without one is a good idea.


The most common reasons trademark applications get rejected or abandoned:

Selecting the wrong international class for your goods or services

Filing an inadequate or incorrect specimen showing the mark in commercial use

Missing an office action response deadline, which abandons the application entirely

Failing to identify an existing confusingly similar mark before filing

Using a mark that is too descriptive to qualify for registration

Each of these is avoidable. I know what the examining attorney is looking for — and I know how to present your application in a way that anticipates the most common objections before they become problems.


Rejection is common. It's also often preventable.

Who I Work With in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has one of the most active small business ecosystems in the country, and a significant portion of the businesses here rely heavily on brand identity. I regularly help clients in:


  • Hospitality and entertainment businesses protecting venue names, concepts, and event brands
  • Food and beverage operators registering restaurant names, menu concepts, and packaged product brands
  • Consumer brands and e-commerce sellers protecting product names and logos before scaling
  • Creative professionals and personal brands registering their name or signature mark
  • Startups and service businesses establishing trademark rights before a competitor does


If you're building something in Las Vegas, Henderson, or anywhere in the Clark County area, the time to register is before someone else does.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trademark Registration

  • How long does it take to register a trademark?

    From the date of filing to final registration, the process typically takes 12 to 18 months, assuming no significant objections. Office actions, opposition proceedings, or intent-to-use extensions can extend that timeline. Filing sooner rather than later works in your favor — your priority date is established the day you file.

  • What's the difference between ™ and ®?

    The ™ symbol can be used by anyone to indicate a claim of trademark rights — no registration required. The ® symbol is reserved for marks that have been officially registered with the USPTO. Using ® before your mark is registered is a federal violation, so the distinction matters.

  • What's the difference between state and federal trademark registration?

    A state trademark registration protects your mark only within that state. Federal registration with the USPTO gives you exclusive rights to use the mark nationwide in connection with your specified goods and services, and it creates a public record that puts other filers on constructive notice. For most businesses with any growth ambition, federal registration is the right move.

  • How do I know if my mark is available to register?

    Availability isn't just about whether the exact name is taken — it's about whether any existing mark is confusingly similar to yours in the same or related class of goods and services. A proper clearance search looks at the USPTO database, state registrations, and common law use. This is one of the most important steps in the process and one of the easiest to underestimate.

  • Is my business too small to need a trademark?

    Scale isn't the determining factor — the value of your brand to your customers is. If your name, logo, or slogan is what brings people back, it's worth protecting. Registration costs significantly less than defending an unregistered mark against an infringer, and the window to establish priority closes the moment someone else files first.

  • How to register a trademark in Las Vegas — do I need a Nevada attorney?

    Trademark registration is a federal process through the USPTO, so you don't technically need a Nevada-licensed attorney. That said, working with a local trademark attorney in Las Vegas means you get someone who understands your business context, is easy to reach, and can handle any follow-up filings or office action responses without the delays that come with remote or high-volume filing services.

Ready to Register Your Mark?

I've been practicing law in Las Vegas since 2006. When you work with me on a trademark filing, you work directly with me — not a paralegal, not a document service, not a form-filling platform. If you're ready to put a legal wall between your brand and anyone who'd copy it, let's talk.