When I met Jim Rosini in 2016, his stellar reputation preceded him.

He was known as one of the most accomplished trademark lawyers in the country, and I soon learned that his reputation was exceedingly well-deserved. It's no small feat to stay current on developments in IP law, given the head-spinning pace of technological change, but Jim possesses that rare combination of old-school common sense and new-school fluency in technology that makes him a potent advocate for whomever he represents. Even better, he's an incredible teacher, a gracious mentor and a natural communicator—the kind of man who makes friends at every level with the clients, staff and companies in which he works.

Jim's career is a colorful combination of solid-gold acumen, a sterling reputation and true-blue loyalty that has served his clients, his colleagues and his staff members extremely well for more than three decades. His agility in the courtroom and out has earned him recognition on every conceivable “best” list, from publications such as Managing Intellectual Property, The US Legal 500, and World Trademark Review 1000. It has also earned him the devotion of countless clients in an array of industries, including retail giants, software companies, publishers, insurers, pharmaceuticals, authors, advertising, finance, manufacturing and amusement parks.

An unparalleled innovator, Jim pioneered the art of “emergency rebranding,” helping household names swiftly navigate the rebranding process during times of crisis. This work includes guiding clients through the brand strategy process; name change clearances and registrations; and reintroduction to the marketplace. Jim's leadership in this process earned him and his colleagues' recognition by Financial Times in its 2011 Innovative Lawyers Report, which honored just 21 firms for their innovative and ground-breaking services to clients.

The clients Jim has assisted in emergency rebrandings include AIG, which rebranded its insurance division to Chartis Insurance; Citibank and Citifinancial, with the rebranding of its One Main division; General Motors, with the rebranding of GMAC Financial to Ally Bank; and Abbott Labs, in its spin-off of Abbvie.

With a robust portfolio of pro bono work on behalf of charitable organizations such as Renovation House and the All Stars Project, Jim embraces his role as a conscientious citizen of the legal community. He is similarly dedicated to educating and informing his fellow lawyers—particularly on trademark, copyright, internet and branding issues—frequently speaking and writing on those topics at professional conferences and in industry publications. And, as an adjunct professor at New York Law School, he has taught courses and seminars on different aspects of intellectual property law, helping to educate the next generation of lawyers.

Of course, being an exceptional lawyer is noteworthy and deserving of recognition. But what truly sets Jim apart is his collegiality and his love of family. His infectious smile and wonderful sense of humor, combined with his strong leadership skills, have been instrumental in building our firm's strong IP team. His generosity of spirit, his humility, his willingness to share both credit and blame truly set him apart from his peers. He gives credit where credit is due, distributes opportunity fairly and always treats everyone around him with unfailing, unerring respect.

Jim—honorable, trustworthy, smart and truly funny—sets an example for us all outside the courtroom and the boardroom as well. An accomplished tennis player by avocation, Jim strives for—and achieves—excellence both in and on the court. Perhaps most important, to know Jim is to know his unstinting devotion to his wife Bobbie of almost 40 years (and an accomplished nurse in her own right); his two beautiful daughters, Jennifer and Kathryn; and his precious grandchild, Isabella.

Jim is a uniquely talented lawyer whose innovation and ingenuity create excellent results for his clients. As his partner and friend, I am delighted to see him be recognized for a lifetime of excellent work and unparalleled contributions to his profession and his community.

Robin Russell is deputy managing partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth.