Press Releases

CHICAGO - Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that James R. Sobieraj, chair of the firm's Litigation Group, has been installed as the president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC) for 2007-2008 at the association's annual meeting at the University Club of Chicago. Mr. Sobieraj is the ninth member of the firm who has had the privilege to serve as the president of IPLAC.

Mr. Sobieraj has more than 25 years of experience in the procurement, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights and represents some of the firm's largest and most preeminent clients. He has been lead counsel in cases involving patent infringement, ownership of patent rights, license disputes, trade secret misappropriation, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, defamation, fraud, RICO and antitrust matters.

Mr. Sobieraj is the recipient of numerous honors and distinctions. He is a founding member of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, past president of the Licensing Executives Society (U.S. and Canada), a member of the Board of Directors of the Licensing Executives Society Foundation and chair of the Licensing Executives Society 2008 International Conference. He is also a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Federal Circuit Bar Association and The Lawyers Club of Chicago.

In addition to Mr. Sobieraj, other elected officers and members of the Board of Managers for 2007 are:

President-Elect: Joseph E. Shipley, Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery
Vice-President: Patrick G. Burns, Greer Burns & Crain, Ltd.
Treasurer: Sanjay Murthy, Bell Boyd & Lloyd, LLP
Secretary: Steven E. Feldman, Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
Immediate Past President : Debbie K. Wright, Kraft Food Holdings, Inc.
Board of Managers: William Bowe, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.; Matthew Kelly, Chicago Mercantile Exchange; Bradford P. Lyerla, Marshall Gerstein & Borun, LLP; Frederick Meyer, Ladas & Perry, LLP, Monique Morneault, McDermott Will & Emery; Kevin E. Noonan, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff, LLP; Charles Shifley, Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.; and George F. Wheeler, McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd.

Founded in 1884, IPLAC is the oldest intellectual property law association in the country. It presently has more than 1,000 members, including lawyers and other professionals practicing in the intellectual property field, covering the areas of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition and related practices. For further information regarding IPLAC, visit the association's Web site at www.IPLAC.org.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services.