CHICAGO – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is the top intellectual property firm in Illinois, according to new rankings by The Best Lawyers in America (2011), and eighteen Brinks attorneys have been named leaders in IP law.

Brinks also was ranked as the top intellectual property law firm in Chicago, Illinois, and in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the firm’s office in the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina holds the top ranking in both intellectual property and biotechnology law for the area.

The rankings were published in the 17th edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.

Jerome Gilson and Roy E. Hofer share the distinction of having been listed in Best Lawyers for 20 consecutive years. Gilson, widely recognized as the original author of Gilson on Trademarks and highly respected internationally, has specialized in trademark and unfair competition law for more than 40 years. Gilson has helped some of the largest trademark owners in the world develop legal strategies to protect their brands, including Harvard University, Exxon, Bayer AG, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Wrigley Doublemint and Juicy Fruit, United Airlines, Jockey, U.S. Steel and others.

Roy Hofer is a trial lawyer with 45 years of experience specializing in patent, trade secret and related antitrust and contract matters. He now devotes most of his time to Federal Circuit cases; serving as a mediator, arbitrator, or special master; and rendering opinions on patent validity, infringement and litigation issues. Hofer has been an author, lecturer and presenter on trial techniques, intellectual property law, and matters of general interest to the legal profession in journals and at meetings of the ABA, AIPLA, Practicing Law Institute (PLI), Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University School of Law and John Marshall School of Law.

Other attorneys named to the Best Lawyers list include the firm's current president, Gary M. Ropski; Meredith Martin Addy, who heads the firm's Appellate Group; Laura Beth Miller, who leads the firm's ITC Group; and James P. Naughton, who heads the firm's Clean Technology Group.

Other attorneys recognized from Brinks' Chicago office are Jack C. Berenzweig, Henry L. Brinks, Timothy Q. Delaney, Thomas J. Filarski, Ralph J. Gabric, Jerold A. Jacover, Richard G. Lione, James R. Sobieraj and Mary M. Squyres.

Steven L. Oberholtzer and Eric J. Sosenko of Brinks' office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, were named in the list, as was Allen R. Baum from the firm's office in the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. Baum was listed on both the intellectual property law and biotechnology law lists.

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a peer-review survey of more than 3.1 million confidential evaluations sent to the top attorneys in the country. Because no fee or purchase is required, being listed in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States and serves the intellectual property needs of clients around the world. Brinks has 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents who specialize in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark and copyright law. The firm also advises on issues relating to intellectual asset management, trade secret, unfair competition, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments for companies in the electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering sectors; the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology industries; and for companies whose work relates to Internet and computer technology law. The firm's trademark practice works on behalf of clients who deal in a wide variety of products and services. Founded in 1917, Brinks is based in Chicago and has five additional offices across the country, including its new office in Washington DC. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.