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CHICAGO – Janet A. Pioli and Marc V. Richards, attorneys at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, were elected as officers of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC) board for 2011-2012 at the Association’s annual meeting on May 3, 2011, at the University Club of Chicago.

Ms. Pioli will assume the position of president-elect for a one-year term and will become the Association’s president for the year 2012-2013. Mr. Richards will serve as treasurer for a two-year term. Ms. Pioli has long been an active member of IPLAC, having served as a board member and as a long-standing chair of the IPLAC Dinner Committee. Mr. Richards has served on IPLAC’s board of managers and most recently was chair of the IPLAC Creative Achievement Award Committee.

Ms. Pioli has more than 25 years of experience in counseling, procurement, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights. At Brinks, her practice includes patent freedom-to-operate analyses, IP portfolio analyses, due diligence, patent infringement and invalidity, advertising clearance, litigation in trademark, trade dress and patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, false advertising claims and appellate practice. Ms. Pioli's pro bono practice includes representing veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Mr. Richards has more than 18 years of experience advising clients in all aspects of intellectual property law, focusing primarily in patent law. His practice includes litigating patents in both chemical and software industries, and focuses on obtaining patents and developing patent portfolios in chemical, polymer, software and financial services industries. Mr. Richards also counsels clients on the competitive application of their patent portfolios and avoidance of competitor’s patents.

About Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
Founded in 1884 as the Patent Law Association, IPLAC has more than 1,200 members, including lawyers practicing in the intellectual property field, encompassing patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition and related areas. IPLAC offers educational and professional programs for practitioners as well as for the public at large.

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. Brinks is based in Chicago and has offices in Ann Arbor, Mich., Indianapolis, Ind., Raleigh, N.C., Salt Lake City, Utah, and Washington, DC. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.