On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers issued a public reprimand to Attorney Alan L. Chow for professional misconduct related to a client’s trademark case. The decision followed a joint stipulation between Chow and Bar Counsel, accepted by the Board on April 14, 2023, to resolve the matter without a hearing.

The case is entitled “Bar Counsel v. Alan L. Chow,” with case no. 2025-3.

Chow was the only trademark lawyer at a small law firm. The firm entered into a fee agreement with a client in May 2022 to file two trademark applications for her business. The agreement designated Chow as the responsible attorney, assisted by a law clerk. On August 22, 2022, Chow filed the applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), listing himself as the primary contact using his firm’s email and address. The firm billed the client $1,260 in September 2022, which she paid promptly.

By April 2023, both Chow and the law clerk had left the firm. Chow failed to notify the client of his departure or update his contact information with the USPTO, causing notices to be sent to his former firm’s address. On June 7, 2023, the USPTO issued non-final office actions requesting amendments to the applications, due by September 7, 2023. Chow, unaware of the notices, did not respond. On October 2, 2023, the USPTO declared the applications abandoned due to the lack of response, noting that revival petitions could be filed by December 2, 2023.

The client, unable to reach Chow at the firm, emailed him on September 13, 2023, using a personal email address provided by the firm, but received no reply. After discovering the abandonment through the USPTO website, she emailed Chow again on October 22, 2023, requesting a refund. On November 1, 2023, Chow falsely claimed he had taken steps to revive the applications, though he never filed any petitions. In February 2024, after further client inquiries, Chow promised to secure the trademarks or refund her payment by month’s end but took no action.

The firm, informed by Bar Counsel, refunded the client’s $1,260, and she filed new applications through another attorney. The Board found Chow’s neglect violated rules on competence, diligence, client objectives, and communication, and his misrepresentation breached rules against deceptive conduct. In mitigation, Chow’s depression and anxiety were noted as contributing factors.

The Disposition states:

“Whereupon, pursuant to Supreme Judicial Court Rule 4:01, Section 8(3), and the Rules of the Board of Bar Overseers, Section 3.56, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Alan L. Chow be and hereby is PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED.”

According to Avvo.com, Mr. Chow is an attorney in Swampscott, Massachusetts. He acquired his law license in Massachusetts in 2016.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.