Press Releases

CHICAGO — Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that Jerome Gilson, a senior partner at the firm, and Anne Gilson LaLonde are recipients of the 2005 Burton Award for Excellence in Legal Achievement in the law firm category for their legal guide, The Madrid Protocol: Trademark Superhero. The award was presented at a ceremony held recently in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 

Now in its sixth year, this national industry award annually recognizes and rewards concise and effective legal writing by partners in law firms and by law students. Founded by lawyer and author, William C. Burton, the Burton Foundation, a nonprofit, cultural and academic organization, and The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement are devoted to further promoting the stature of the legal profession. LexisNexis, a leader in authoritative legal, news and business information, is the primary sponsor of the program. 

Mr. Gilson's career in trademark and unfair competition law has spanned four decades. He is admitted to practice before eight federal Courts of Appeals and before the United State Supreme Court. He has handled numerous trials and appeals before the federal courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board as well as providing counsel to a cross section of the country’s largest and most prominent corporations and famous brand names. Since 1999, Mr. Gilson and Ms. Gilson LaLonde, an attorney and his daughter, have produced several prominent written works in trademark law, including the award winning, The Lanham Act: Time for a Face-Lift, and the highly respected, oft-cited treatise, Trademark Protection and Practice (Matthew Bender), a supplemented 11-volume standard reference work, which provides a comprehensive coverage of the law of trademarks. 

"Jerry Gilson is the pre-eminent trademark lawyer in America. It is altogether fitting that he receive this award,” said Brinks president Jerold A. Jacover. 

The Burton Awards Program receives nominations from managing partners of the nation’s 600 largest law firms and from professors at academic institutions. More information about The Burton Awards can be found at www.burtonawards.com. 

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four other offices across the country and serves the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with approximately 150 attorneys who specialize in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and Internet work, unfair competition, and technology and licensing agreements.