IPLAC Comments on Changes to the Claim Construction Standard for Interpreting Claims in Trial Proceedings Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. View IPLAC's letter to the USPTO HERE.
The IPLAC Educational Foundation has been helping Chicago Public School high school students by awarding scholarships to CPS students planning to study engineering, science or pre-law in college. Donate now.
Committee
Focus
Chair
Vice Chair
ADR
Plans presentations on alternative dispute resolution in IP.
James M. Amend JAMS 71 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 3090 Chicago, IL 60606 612-332-8225 [email protected]
James C. Munson 2550 N. Lakeview Avenue, #2302 Chicago, IL 60614 312-749-1942 [email protected]
Advertising and Internet
Plans presentations on legal issues relating to advertising and hot topics in the internet arena.
Anisha A. Mehta K&L Gates LLP 70 West Madison Street, Suite 3300 Chicago, IL 60602 312-807-4227 [email protected]
Rachel Gartner Amin Talati Upadhye, LLP 100 South Wacker Drive Suite 2000 Chicago, IL 60606 312-784-1071 [email protected]
Agents
Plans presentations and meetings on topics of interest to patent agents.
Jagriti Ritu Chander Helix Patent Services LLC 1251 W. Leland Avenue, #1 Chicago, IL 60640 773-517-2552 [email protected]
Rachel Vorbeck TottisLaw One East Wacker Drive Suite 1205 Chicago, IL 60601 312-527-1447 [email protected]
William McGrath Davis McGrath LLC 125 S. Wacker Drive Suite 1380 Chicago, IL 60606 312-332-4748 [email protected]
Ryan Martin Loeb & Loeb 321 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60654 312-464-3189 [email protected]
Corporate
Plans meetings and presentations on topics of interest to IP attorneys working in corporate law departments. Members of this committee are limited to corporate practitioners.
Mary Schnurr Ardagh Metal Beverage USA Inc. 8770 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue Chicago, IL 60631 773-399-3604 [email protected]
George Jonas BP America, Inc. 150 W. Warrenville Road, MC 200-1W Naperville, IL 60563 832-619-4248 [email protected]
Billie Hinnen Sram, LLC 1000 West Fulton Market, 4th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60607 312-664-8800 x 1324 [email protected]
Creator of the Year
Solicits nominations for an award presented to a person or organization for a significant or unique creating in any aspect of IP.
Vangelis Economou Director, Patent Clinic The John Marshall Law School 315 S. Plymouth Court Suite 110 Chicago, IL 60604 847-644-3500 [email protected]
Daniel M. Gurfinkel Dennemeyer & Associates, LLC. 2 North Riverside Plaza Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60606 USA 312-380-6504 [email protected]
Dinner (Judges and Annual)
Plans the IPLAC Annual Dinner in May and the Annual Dinner Honoring the Federal Judiciary.
Janet Pioli Brinks Gilson & Lione NBC Tower, Suite 3600 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive Chicago, IL 60611 312-321-4725 [email protected]
Alisa Simmons Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery LLP 120 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603 312-629-7947 [email protected]
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
The D&I Committee promotes diversity and inclusion within IPLAC itself and the Chicago IP Community at-large through several different ways that include: (i) providing D&I CLE programming for the Chicago IP Community; (ii) providing outreach to diverse student groups in both law school and undergraduate programs within the Chicago area; (iii) providing opportunities for mentorship and sponsorship for diverse attorneys; and (iv) assessing opportunities for improving diversity in different aspects of the Chicago IP Community and formulating strategies with partners to improve diversity in such areas. The D&I Committee welcomes input from any and all IPLAC members in assisting in its mission.
Per the by-laws, this committee consists of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Field Day
Plans the golf tournament and other events for IPLAC’s Annual Field Day.
Brian Verbus Kirkland & Ellis LLP 300 North LaSalle Street Suite 2700 Chicago, Illinois 60654 T: 312.862.3775 [email protected] Evan Kline-Wedeen Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP 120 South LaSalle Street Suite 2100 Chicago, Illinois 60603 T: 312.629.7972 [email protected]
Foundation Liaison
Liaises between IPLAC Educational Foundation and IPLAC leadership and Board.
Alisa Simmons Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery 120 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603 312-629-7947 [email protected]
Historian Records
Assists IPLAC in managing the historical records of the organization.
Joseph Nabor Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery 120 S. LaSalle Street Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603 312-577-7700 [email protected]
Alisa C. Simmons Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery LLP 120 S. LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60603 312-629-7947 [email protected]
Law School Outreach
Plans programming for the local law school students. Promotes camaraderie with the law schools.
Professor Cynthia Ho Loyola University School of Law 25 E. Pearson St. Chicago, IL 60611 312-915-7148 312-933-9994 [email protected]
Professor David L. Schwartz Northwestern University School of Law 375 East Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60611-3069 312-503-2646 [email protected]
Liaison to Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition
Coordinates with Midwest Regional planning committee to host moot court competition and recruit volunteer bailiffs.
Brent Hawkins Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP One Market, Spear Street Tower San Francisco, CA 94105 415-442-1449 [email protected]
Alisa Simmons Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP 120 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603 312-629-7947 [email protected]
Litigation
Plans seminars on issues relating to IP litigation.
James Conte Ladas & Parry LLP 224 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60604 Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60604 312-427-1300 [email protected]
Ken Adamo Kirkland & Ellis LLP 300 N. LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60654 312-862-2671 [email protected]
Litigation: Amicus Committee
Tracks and identifies amicus opportunities and proposes and prepares amicus briefs to be submitted by IPLAC.
Bob Resis Banner & Witcoff Ten S. Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL 60606 312-463-5000 [email protected]
Margaret M. Duncan McDermott Will & Emery LLP 444 W. Lake Street, Suite 4000 Chicago, IL 60606 312-372-2000 [email protected]
Litigation: Claim Construction Committee
Prepares annual book and update on recent cases involving claim construction issues.
Edward Manzo Husch Blackwell LLP 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2200 Chicago, IL 60606 312-526-1535 [email protected]
Kevin E. Noonan, Ph.D. 300 South Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606-6709 312-913-2145 [email protected]
Membership
Develops plans for recruiting and retaining IPLAC members, evaluates applications for membership in IPLAC, and plans a reception for new members and committee chairs.
Luke Curran (chair since 2017-04) Dinsmore & Shohl LLP 227 W. Monroe Street Suite 3850 Chicago, IL 60606 312-837-4326 [email protected]
Eric Maiers (chair since 2017-04) Greenberg Traurig 77 W. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601 312-456-1036 [email protected]
Kenny Matuszewski Rabicoff Law LLC 73 W. Monroe St. Chicago, IL 60603 708-870-5803 [email protected]
Paralegal
Plans presentations and meetings on topics of interest to paralegals. Plans networking and social events for members.
Cindi Schermerhorn Astellas US LLC 1 Astellas Way Northbrook, IL 60062 224-205-6318 [email protected]
Abby Lenz Neal & McDevitt 1776 Ash Street Northfield, IL 60093 847-441-9100 847-441-0911 [email protected]
Louise B. Tennis Goldberg Kohn 55 E. Monroe Street Suite 3300 Chicago, IL 60603-5792 312-201-4000 [email protected]
Patents – International
Plans presentations on the patent laws of various countries and/or international treaties.
John S. Paniaguas Clark Hill PLC 150 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 2700 Chicago, IL 60601 312-985-5559 [email protected]
Joshua D. Sarnoff DePaul University 25 E. Jackson Chicago IL 60604 312-362-6326 [email protected]
Patents - U.S.
Sponsors presentations on changes in U.S. patent law and procedures and regulations at USPTO. Also recommends to IPLAC leadership and board on whether IPLAC should take action on proposed legislation and regulation.
Jeffrey A. Chelstrom Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP 1 S. Wacker Drive 28th Floor Chicago, IL 60606 312-701-9300 [email protected]
Reid Huefner Irwin IP LLC 1333 Burr Ridge Pkwy Suite 200 Burr Ridge, IL 60527 630-756-3103 [email protected]
Public Relations- Newsletter
Prepares the IPLAC newsletter for distribution to all members. Assists the organization in promoting IPLAC programs, events & activities.
Ela Baio Nixon Peabody LLP 70 W. Madison Street Suite 3500 Chicago, IL 60602 312-425-8684 [email protected]
Public Relations-Social Networking
Assists IPLAC in using social media as a tool to communicate with our members and other IP practitioners.
Bradley M. Taub Nixon Peabody 70 W. Madison Street Suite 3500 Chicago, IL 60602 312-425-8563 [email protected]
Angelo Christopher Nixon Peabody LLP 70 West Madison, Suite 3500 Chicago, IL 60602 312-977-4391 [email protected]
Symposium
Plans and sponsors annual patent seminar on developments in patent law.
Alisa Simmons Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP 120 S. LaSalle Street Suite 1600 Chicago, IL 60603 312-629-7947 [email protected]
Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition
Sponsors an annual in-depth seminar on new developments in trade secret and unfair competition.
Sherry Rollo Hahn Loeser 125 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900 Chicago, Illinois 60606 312-637-3020 [email protected]
R. Mark Halligan FisherBroyles, LLP 203 N. LaSalle Street Suite 2100 Chicago, IL 60601 630.200.0701 [email protected]
Trademarks & Anti-Counterfeiting
Plans and hosts presentations on changes in U.S. trademark law and procedures and regulations at USPTO. Also recommends to IPLAC leadership and board on whether IPLAC should take action on proposed legislation and regulation.
Anna King Banner & Witcoff, Ltd 10 S. Wacker Drive Suite 3000 Chicago, IL 60606-7407 312-463-5000 [email protected]
Melaina Jobs Loeb & Loeb 321 N. Clark Street, Suite 2300 Chicago, IL 60654 312-464-3139 [email protected]
Website
Assists the organization in maintaining the IPLAC website (www.IPLAC.org), emailing communications to membership, and planning website improvements.
Marc Trachtenberg Greenberg Traurig, LLP 77 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 3100 Chicago, IL 60601 312-456-1020 [email protected]
Brian Barnes CIBC Bank USA 70 West Madison Chicago, IL 60602 312-953-0322 [email protected]
Cindi Schermerhorn Astellas US LLC 1 Astellas Way Northbrook, IL 60062 224-205-6318 [email protected]
Women in IP
Plans and hosts programs and meetings of interest to women IP practitioners. Hosts annual judicial panel and progressive networking dinner.
Libby O’Neill Loeb & Loeb 321 North Clark Street Suite 2300 Chicago, IL 60654 312-464-3149 [email protected]
RiKaleigh Johnson Greer Burns & Crain 300 S. Wacker Suite 2500 Chicago, IL 60606 312-987-2925 [email protected]
Young Members
Plans networking and social events targeted to younger (and young at heart) members.
Dunstan Barnes McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. 500 West Madison Street, 34th Floor Chicago, IL 60661 312-775-8000 [email protected]
