Gary is an accomplished intellectual property attorney with over eighteen years of legal experience. His practice primarily focuses on complex patent prosecution, portfolio management, product clearance, patent-related opinions and intellectual property litigation.
Gary develops an in-depth understanding of his clients’ business and technology to identify and manage their intellectual property assets. As a well-rounded practitioner, he provides counsel to clients on matters relating to patent procurement, infringement and validity analyses, M&A due diligence, claim construction, internal patent programs, and licensing and conflict avoidance, enabling clients to make strategic business decisions.
Gary’s patent practice is complimented by his experience in complex intellectual property litigation in federal and state courts. He has been a start-to-finish advocate in over twenty patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation matters. His litigation practice includes: pre-filing assessment; pre-trial pleading and motions; fact and expert discovery; claim construction advocacy; and pre-trial orders. His more high-profile cases have been highlighted in such publications as The Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune.
Gary represents emerging-growth, mid-market and Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of software, electrical, mechanical and electro-mechanical technologies. He also represents universities and research organizations regarding their leading innovations, including obtaining patent protection for a Nobel Prize winning inventor on behalf of a premier Midwestern university.
He has substantial experience representing high-tech and telecommunications companies in diverse areas such as: wireless networks; computer controlled systems and business methods; software processes; optical, laser and microwave technologies; magnetic resonance imaging, NMR spectroscopy; aerospace technologies, computer objects and models; integrated circuits; neural networks; and voice, data and video communications.
He has also represented clients in patent matters involving numerous mechanical technologies including: medical and dental devices; military systems, ballistic body armor; lithographic printing presses; automotive components; credit-card production equipment; firearms; and consumer products.
Prior to joining The Eclipse Group, Gary was a partner and founding member of the patent law practice at Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, LLP in Chicago.
- B.S., Engineering, Marquette University, 1987.
Major: Biomedical Engineering (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department)
- Recipient of Evans Scholarship; Four-year full scholarship from the Western Golf Association
- J.D., The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, 1992
- Member, Chicago Intellectual Property Alliance
- Member, Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
- Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Member, Evans Scholars Bar Association
- Member, Intellectual Property Owners Association
- Member, Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Numerous patent infringement litigation matters enforcing the patent portfolio for a leading innovator and manufacturer of battery test and management products. The subject matter involved complex digital and analog technologies. Representations resulted in favorable Markman rulings and matter resolutions for the client.
- Defended a Scotland-based developer and licensor of silver-bearing wound care technology in a contractual dispute brought by a world-wide distributor of medical products. The case involved declaratory judgment and various business tort claims relating to ownership of the client’s patented technology. After extensive discovery in the U.S. and Europe, summary judgment was ultimately obtained in favor of the client on all counts prior to trial.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of the client on all counts before the District Court in a lengthy copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit between competitors in the beauty products industry. This closely-watched case involved the ability to copyright useful articles and was featured in various publications, including the Chicago Tribune and the front page of The Wall Street Journal.
- Successfully defended Samsung Corporation in a patent infringement action initiated by a patent holding company against several leading cell phone manufacturers. Responsible for oversight and development of claim construction, non-infringement, and invalidity strategies. Shortly after convincing the court to bifurcate issues of liability and damages, a favorable settlement was obtained.
- Obtained summary judgment finding of infringement and a dismissal of multiple affirmative defenses on behalf of a major manufacturer of ballistic-resistant body armor in a trademark infringement and consumer fraud action against a key competitor. Handled day-to-day responsibilities for all aspects of the case, including detailed fact and expert discovery over a three-year period. Awarded sanctions and costs after exposing numerous discovery violations by the defendant, and a favorable settlement was obtained on the eve of trial. This case was covered in a feature article on the front page of The Wall Street Journal.