Press Releases

CHICAGO – For the ninth consecutive year, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione has been named to the top tier among intellectual property law practices in Illinois in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. In addition, Brinks attorneys Jerome Gilson, Gary M. Ropski, Meredith Martin Addy, Ralph J. Gabric and Laura Beth Miller were selected for individual recognition as leading lawyers in intellectual property.

Individual rankings are based on “technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client.”

Jerome Gilson was ranked as a “Senior Statesman” by Chambers USA. The publication cited his “tremendous experience handling trials and appeals before federal courts, the USPTO and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.” He is widely recognized as the original author of Gilson on Trademarks, a leading treatise in the field. Mr. Gilson has helped some of the largest trademark owners in the world develop legal strategies to protect their brands.

Gary Ropski, president of Brinks, and Meredith Martin Addy, chair of the firm's Appellate Group, were both ranked in Band 1, the highest of the six Chambers USA individual ranking categories.

Gary Ropski was praised as being an “incredible trial lawyer, someone with the ability to turn an esoteric topic into something easy to understand.” Mr. Ropski is a trial lawyer with 35 years of experience in intellectual property. He has litigated in every federal judicial circuit in the United States and in almost all of the top ten districts for patent litigation. He has participated in more than 100 IP lawsuits, and has received accolades for how he presents and rebuts claims in litigation, making complex topics easily understandable by a jury or judge.

Meredith Martin Addy’s “attention to detail and preparation is unsurpassed,” said sources. Ms. Addy has earned extensive recognition as a leading appellate lawyer and has lodged several important Federal Circuit victories. Her practice also focuses on intellectual property cases in federal district court. She works with some of the nation's highest-profile companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, software, scientific research and engineering industries.

Ralph Gabric and Laura Beth Miller were both ranked in Band 3. Mr. Gabric is chair of the firm’s Patent Litigation Group and focuses on high-stakes patent litigation and related antitrust matters. With over two decades of trial experience, he has substantial first and second chair responsibilities in bench and jury trials. His litigation experience also includes Markman hearings, preliminary injunctions, temporary restraining orders, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals.

Ms. Miller is chair of the ITC Group at Brinks and has represented a number of Fortune 500 companies as general counsel on trade secret protection, trademark clearance and use, patent and copyright protection and licensing matters. She is a litigator in the traditional areas of intellectual property including patent, trademark, unfair competition, trade secret and copyright law. In addition, she has extensive commercial litigation experience in contract, antitrust, product liability, RICO violations and bankruptcy.

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, was first introduced to the United States market by Chambers and Partners in 2003 and is published annually. Chambers’ rankings are based on in-depth interviews with leading private practice attorneys and key in-house counsel. For more information about Chambers USA and the 2011 rankings, visit www.chambersandpartners.com.

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.