Richards Layton’s IP Practice and Directors Honored in Managing IP’s IP Stars Lists
July 30, 2026
Firm News| Intellectual Property| Commercial Litigation
WILMINGTON, Delaware (July 30, 2026) – Richards, Layton & Finger has earned Managing Intellectual Property’s top Highly Recommended firm ranking. Directors Fred Cottrell and Kelly Farnan are recognized as Patent Stars and Jason Rawnsley is recognized as a Rising Star in the 2026 edition of IP Stars.
Richards Layton is nationally recognized for handling difficult, large-scale intellectual property matters in Delaware. With one of the most active and respected IP litigation practices in Delaware, the firm regularly tackles complex, high‑stakes disputes in the Delaware District Court, one of the leading venues for IP litigation in the United States, as well as in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Superior Court.
Fred Cottrell is chair of Richards Layton’s Litigation Department. As a leading figure in Delaware’s IP bar, he handles significant IP litigation in Delaware’s state and federal courts, regularly representing industry giants in complex patent disputes. Praised as a “standout trial attorney” with “phenomenal knowledge of the judges and courts” (Chambers USA), Fred also litigates antitrust, products liability, and commercial matters.
Kelly Farnan is head of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. “A powerhouse” who “who knows how to communicate complex issues to the court” (Chambers USA), she represents clients in high-stakes intellectual property and complex commercial litigation in Delaware’s federal and state courts. Kelly has secured significant trial victories for clients in Delaware across a variety of intellectual property and commercial matters.
Jason Rawnsley is a director in Richards Layton’s Intellectual Property Group and has been involved in many of Richards Layton’s largest intellectual property cases. Jason represents clients in patent, trademark, copyright, unfair competition, and trade secret disputes in Delaware’s federal and state courts, and in arbitration. He advises companies on intellectual property issues in transactions, including licensing and assignment of intellectual property rights.
About Richards, Layton & Finger
Defining Delaware law since 1899, Richards, Layton & Finger helps sophisticated clients navigate complex issues and the intricacies of Delaware law. We advise global companies, business partnerships, leading financial institutions, local businesses, and individuals across a wide range of practices, including corporate law, alternative entities, commercial law, bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, intellectual property, tax, trusts and estates, commercial real estate, and litigation.