Best Lawyers in Illinois, United States for Intellectual Property Law

Troy A. Groetken, Shareholder Email: tgroetken@taftlaw.com Tel. (312) 775-8259 Practice Areas: Global Intellectual Property Portfolio Analysis, Counseling & Management; Complex Chemical, Small-molecule Pharmaceutical, and Biotechnological Patent Prosecution; Intellectual Property Acquisition, Divestiture, and Licensing; Clearance, Freedom to Operate & Invalidity Opinions; Trademark Prosecution; Antitrust; Intellectual Property Landscaping Education: Drake University, College of Pharma...

George C. Lombardi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Patent Law. George C., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which George C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melissa A. Vallone is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Melissa A., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melissa A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bradley provides diverse IP protection to large companies and startups by strategically building comprehensive global IP portfolios to monetize and protect products and methods using utility patents, design patents, trademarks, and copyrights. He also helps his clients with litigation financing, patent litigation, licensing, IP incentive programs, and general counseling on IP matters. What do you focus on? My practice focuses on helping clients create monetizable IP using customized patent mi...

Tom Donovan advises on patent and trademark litigation and prosecution, unfair competition and trade secret litigation, as well as a variety of licensing-related matters. Regardless of the client or the complexity of the matter at hand, Tom provides his clients with the guidance they need, in a way they can understand and apply to their daily business operations. Tom also has significant negotiation and drafting experience with software licensing, as well as patent, trademark and copyright li...

Joseph R. Lanser is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Joseph R., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew counsels clients on invention harvesting, patent and trademark portfolio management, intellectual property acquisition, domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, and intellectual property transactions. He has prepared and prosecuted more than 750 patent applications and appeals on behalf of clients, primarily in the mechanical, electrical, electromechanical and software arts. Additionally, Matthew conducts IP asset management for his clients, having extensive experi...

Approachable, yet candid in his counsel, Kurt Rohde provides an objective analysis of the issues tied to his clients’ intellectual property assets and best courses of action. In particular, with over 14 years focused in complex patent litigation and large patent portfolio management, Kurt regularly serves as patent trial counsel for multibillion dollar corporations. Kurt helps his clients keep the bigger picture at the forefront by advising on obtaining, evaluating, and enforcing their ...

Mark R. Galis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law and Trademark Law. Mark R., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With nearly 30 years of experience working with clients that include household brands and, in particular, mid-market businesses, John is able to remain calm and focused when encountering challenging environments. He helps clients to reduce stress in service of negotiating their desired resolution. Because copyright and trademark litigation is frequently used as a competitive tool, John works to ensure efficiency and preserve client resources throughout the litigation process, including elimin...

Russell is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he has spent his entire 36+ year career. He focuses his trial, appellate and alternative dispute resolution practice on patent infringement matters and disputes involving and related to technology transfer and patent license agreements. His trial practice includes jury trials, arbitrations and Section 337 proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission. His appellate practice concentrates on appeals in the Court of Appeals for ...

John Cullis focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, counseling and procurement. Over the course of his career, John has been recognized among his peers as a preeminent litigator in the field of intellectual property. John is an accomplished trial lawyer who has first-chaired trademark, trade dress, trade secret, copyright and unfair competition matters before judges and juries in numerous U.S. federal courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Trademark ...

Alejandro Menchaca is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Patent Law. Alejandro, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alejandro is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard T. Ruzich is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Richard T., who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tom represents clients in patent and trademark prosecution, intellectual property litigation, and post-grant patent challenges before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Tom has a broad base of experience in various technological and business areas, particularly in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical and medical device inventions. He drafts invalidity opinions, investigates freedom to operate, counsels on strategic portfolio management, and conducts due diligence investigations prio...

Tom is a registered patent attorney who develops and protects complex patent, trademark and copyright portfolios maintained by domestic and global businesses. He has significant experience in negotiating and drafting software licenses, patent and trademark licenses and transfers, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, product development agreements, joint venture agreements and all related agreements that include critical intellectual property components. He also regularly performs thoro...