Press Releases

CHICAGO – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the country's largest intellectual property firms, is pleased to announce its 2011 board of directors, which includes Gary M. Ropski, Allen R. Baum, Jeffery A. Handelman, Joseph F. Hetz, Mark H. Remus, James R. Sobieraj and Dominic P. Zanfardino.

Concurrently, Brinks announces the appointment of James R. Sobieraj as president-elect, to assume the firm presidency from current president Gary M. Ropski in 2012.

Gary M. Ropski is a trial lawyer with nearly 35 years of intellectual property experience. Mr. Ropski has litigated in every federal judicial circuit in the United States and in almost all of the top 10 districts for patent litigation. He also taught patent and copyright law for 17 years at the Northwestern University School of Law. He has been the firm’s president since 2006.

James R. Sobieraj has more than 28 years of experience in enforcing, licensing and procuring intellectual property rights. He has been lead counsel in many cases involving patent infringement, ownership of patent rights, license agreements, trade secrets, trade dress infringement, copyright infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, breach of contract, fraud and antitrust. Mr. Sobieraj is a past president of the Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada) and the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago.

Allen R. Baum is the managing shareholder of Brinks Research Triangle Park, N.C. office. He focuses his practice on licensing, due diligence review, infringement/validity studies and patent preparation/prosecution in the areas of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, biotechnology and medical devices. Mr. Baum has managed large portfolios of patents and applications for Global Fortune 100 companies; counseled major pharmaceutical companies on strategies concerning product patent expirations and the potential emergence of generic competitors; and helped venture-backed companies develop and implement strategies for IP portfolio development. Mr. Baum is the president and chairman of the Board of Governors for Certified Licensing Professionals (CLP), and is a past president of LES (USA & Canada).

Jeffery A. Handelman has practiced IP law for more than 25 years and has served as co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice and chair of the Trademark Practice. Mr. Handelman litigates before U.S. Court of Appeals and district courts around the country and practices extensively before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the USPTO. His expertise includes trademark law, unfair competition, trade dress, dilution, false advertising, copyright law and licensing matters. Mr. Handelman is frequently invited to speak on IP topics and is the author of Guide to TTAB Practice, a two-volume treatise published by Aspen Publishers that was a co-winner of the 2008 Burton Award for Legal Achievement.

Joseph F. Hetz is based in Brinks’ Chicago office. He practices law in the areas of patent prosecution and non-infringement/invalidity opinions with a technical concentration in memory devices, Internet and e-commerce inventions, telecommunication systems, semiconductor devices and medical devices. Mr. Hetz has prosecuted more than a 1,000 patent applications in the U.S. and international patent offices, and is one of the few patent attorneys to be involved in a public use proceeding before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Mark H. Remus, whose practice focuses on IP litigation, has represented Fortune 500 companies and innovative businesses in district courts throughout the U.S. since 1997. He has successfully represented clients in jury trials and in appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. He has litigation experience in the pharmaceutical, electrical, chemical and mechanical arts, and he also counsels clients on pre- and post-trial strategy. Mr. Remus has rendered a broad array of validity, infringement and enforceability opinions on patents related to many areas of technology.

Dominic P. Zanfardino has practiced IP law and related matters exclusively since joining Brinks’ Chicago office in 1990. His practice focuses on litigation, and includes complex cases, temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunction proceedings, and appellate practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He also provides general IP counseling primarily in areas relating to biotechnology and medical devices. Mr. Zanfardino is admitted to practice in several district and appellate courts throughout the country as well as the USPTO.

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 newest office in Washington D.C. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.