Intellectual Property Lawyers for Elgin, Illinois
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Demetre K.
A seasoned attorney with deep General Counsel experience and a flexible, business-minded approach to legal leadership. Skilled in collaborating with product, sales, operations, finance, and executive teams — not just to mitigate risk or ensure compliance, but to enable growth, innovation, and efficient deal execution. In my current practice at GCBench, I offer scalable, on-demand counsel tailored to organizations’ changing needs. Legal rigor is combined with operational sensibility, making guidance a facilitator rather than a hurdle. Whether structuring transactions, advising on regulatory matters, or shaping policies, legal strategy is aligned tightly with business objectives.
"Demetre was really easy to work with and made everything feel comfortable from the start. He explained things in a way that was easy to understand, answered my questions without making it feel rushed, and took extra time during the consultation to make sure I understood what was needed. Very professional, easy to talk to, and overall a really good experience. I definitely appreciate his help and would recommend him."
Harry N.
Experienced business advisor and in-house counsel with extensive litigation experience, representing parties in a variety of complex commercial disputes, including securities, financial fraud, contract, and antitrust litigation.
"Harry has been great to work with—responsive, professional, and helpful throughout the process. I really appreciate his guidance and would highly recommend him."
March 5, 2025
JOANNE B.
I am an Illinois-barred attorney with 20 years of in-house government and affordable housing experience. I have had responsibilities of a member of the Office of a Chief Legal Officer, am an adaptable "Jill of all trades," and have strong operations and business acumen. I'm also well equipped to work in fast-paced, multi-priority environments, learn new areas of law and deal with unique situations.
March 9, 2025
Christopher R.
Over the course of the past 30 years, in both General Counsel roles (3 times) and in private practice, I have built a successful national real estate transaction, construction, and environmental law practice
May 21, 2025
Ethan B.
Ethan specializes in preparing and structuring transactional deals and advising business owners as outside general counsel. Ethan enjoys working with business owners and entrepreneurs who strive to achieve growth through utilizing modern-day solutions and implementing business strategies that get results. Ethan is passionate about helping families and individuals with disabilities to design, form, and administer special needs trusts, ensuring individuals with disabilities remain eligible for federal and state benefit programs while living their best lives. Ethan has experience from previous firms in civil litigation, estate planning, and regulatory matters. Ethan holds a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a Masters of Law in Taxation (LLM) from Georgetown Law University Law Center. Prior to law practice, Ethan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was promoted to Chief Editor at a regional news publication.
August 27, 2025
Walid T.
Walid J. Tamari, founder and named member of Tamari Law Group, LLC, is widely recognized as one of the nation's top litigators. In 2018, Mr. Tamari was one of only 25 attorneys in the United States to be recognized by the prestigious National Law Journal as a Trailblazer Lawyer. The publication features lawyers who have “shown a deep passion and perseverance of their mission, having achieved remarkable successes along the way.” In addition, America's Top 100 Attorneys® and the National Trial Lawyers have included Mr. Tamari in their top 100 Illinois attorneys lists and the Business Tort Trial Lawyers Association has also selected Mr. Tamari in its “Illinois Top 10” list. Further, for several years, Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms has chosen Tamari Law Group as one of approximately 25 ranked litigation firms in Illinois. Mr. Tamari is also the past national chair of the Commercial Law League of America's complex commercial litigation committee, a committee comprised of attorneys throughout the nation who practice complex litigation. A distinguished litigator, Mr. Tamari represents clients in high-stakes and high profile civil litigation. He provides clients with result-oriented legal advice and representation in a wide-range of disputes, including claims relating to breach of contract, negligence, business tort and pharmaceutical liability litigation. Mr. Tamari has appeared on CBS News, NBC News, WGN News and Fox News and has been quoted in, among other publications, Forbes, Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Mr. Tamari also teaches entrepreneurship law at Loyola University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. Committed to giving back to the community, Mr. Tamari has established scholarships at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Loyola University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. He has served on national advisory boards at Loyola University of Chicago, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation's Neurosurgery Council.
September 18, 2025
George M.
I am a corporate lawyer with extensive experience assisting clients of all sizes, from solo practitioners to enterprise-level international corporations. Over the course of my career, I have negotiated, drafted, and reviewed thousands of contracts spanning a wide range of industries and complexities. My practice is focused on delivering practical, business-oriented legal solutions that help clients protect their interests and achieve their goals.
December 9, 2025
Kevin F.
Hi, I’m Kevin Flaherty, an Illinois-licensed attorney with extensive experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements for engineering firms, technology companies, public agencies, and small-to-mid-sized businesses. Over the course of my career, I’ve: Led negotiations on domestic and international contracts, including engineering services agreements, EPC arrangements, SaaS licensing, MSAs, purchase/supply agreements, NDAs, and other mission-critical commercial documents. Developed risk-allocation strategies around indemnities, liability limits, flow-downs, multi-party contracting structures, and high-stakes project frameworks. Built contract playbooks, drafting standards, review matrices, and workflows designed to help clients understand their risks clearly and move deals forward with confidence. Provided training and guidance to internal teams and leadership on contract strategy, compliance considerations, and best practices. I bring not only legal expertise, but also a practical, problem-solving mindset—translating dense legal terms into actionable business decisions and helping clients protect their interests without losing momentum.
July 5, 2026
Jordan B.
Former Kirkland & Ellis litigator. 3x business owner before law school. Motivated to solve commercial disputes using legal tools from a business lens.
July 30, 2026
Leonid M.
Leonid Murashkovskiy is an experienced attorney and licensed real estate broker based in Texas, specializing in real estate transactions, corporate law, business consulting, and estate planning. As the founder of Leonid Murashkovskiy, PLLC, and co-founder of Skyline Realty, Leonid brings a comprehensive multi-disciplinary perspective to contract law and asset management, having navigated complex transactions from initial acquisition and financing to development, portfolio compilation, and disposition throughout his career. Licensed to practice law in Texas and Illinois, Leonid earned his Juris Doctor in 2011 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, building upon extensive foundational experience as a mortgage loan officer, escrow officer, and paralegal. This diverse background equips him with deep practical insight into the mechanics of property and corporate deals, allowing him to deliver sharp, strategic counsel to clients managing intricate transactions and corporate operations.
August 4, 2026
Dillon N.
I’m a real estate and tax attorney focused on helping property owners, investors, and businesses navigate the legal and financial sides of real estate. At Relias Law Group, I work on everything from tax assessment appeals to real estate closings and pre-acquisition due diligence. My goal is always the same: make sure clients are protected, well-informed, and getting the most out of their investments. Before this chapter of my career, I spent years in corporate law and litigation, handling deals, disputes, and everything in between. That experience gave me a strong foundation in business law and a good sense of how to get things done practically, not just legally. Along the way, I got interested in how law firms actually work — and more importantly, how they can work better. I’ve helped build and lead legal innovation efforts, introduced new tech and workflows, and worked hands-on with law firms and legal tech companies to modernize how we deliver legal services. I like solving problems, building systems, and making the legal process smoother for everyone involved. Outside of work, I’m a proud dad, lifelong learner, and occasional sailor who believes law should be as human-centered and forward-thinking as the people it serves.
August 19, 2026
Liliana O.
Liliana O’Shea founded and leads Escorcia Law, P.C., a corporate generalist firm focused on transactional matters for businesses across industries. She works with organizations of varying sizes — from small and mid-size businesses to larger corporations — advising on a broad range of corporate and regulatory matters, industry-agnostic in her approach. A Spanish-speaking immigrant from Barranquilla, Colombia, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado and earned her law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2011. Her clients note her focus on asking key questions early in a matter to build the right strategy for each engagement. She lives in Chicago with her husband and young daughters.
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Intellectual Property
Trademark Cease And Desist
California
Can I ignore a cease and desist letter for trademark infringement if I believe my use of the mark is fair use?
I recently received a cease and desist letter from a company claiming that my use of their trademark in my blog posts constitutes trademark infringement. However, I am using the mark in a descriptive manner to criticize and comment on their products, which I believe falls under fair use. I am unsure of how to proceed and whether I can ignore the cease and desist letter without facing legal consequences.
Dolan W.
Hello! Thank you for posting this question. In your case, the other party may claim that you are infringing on their trademark, but proving it is a different case. The Lanham Act provides for a cause of action for infringement of both registered and unregistered trademarks. (15 USC Section 1114(1)(a); 15 USC Section 1125(a)(1)A).) The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has laid out some elements to help determine whether it creates an infringement lawsuit. 1. The complaining party has to prove they have a valid, protectable trademark and that they own that trademark; 2. The complaining party must prove that a mark is similar, and it was used without the consent of the moving party in a manner that is likely to cause confusion among ordinary consumers as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or approval of the goods. The likelihood of confusion can occur at the time of the sale, when there is initial interest by a consumer, or even after the sale, if the confusion causes a consumer to no longer buy a service or product connected to the mark. The court considers things like the strength of the original mark, whether you are using it for some fair use purpose, the similarity, the proximity of the products and marketing channels, whether there’s actual confusion, the defendant’s intent, the quality of respective products, and the sophistication of the customers. (Polaroid Corp. v. Polard Elecs. Corp. 287, F.2d. 492, 495 (2d Cir. 1961.) So what this means is that it'd have to be litigated, but you can argue you are not trying to sell products or services using their mark, but rather you are using it for some other purpose, such as to educate people about their business practices. Best of luck!
Intellectual Property
Video License Agreement
Maryland
Can I use a video licensed under a Creative Commons license for commercial purposes?
I am a small business owner planning to create an advertisement for my product, and I found a video on a platform that is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license. While I understand that the license allows for non-commercial use, I am unsure if I can use this video in a commercial context without violating the terms of the license. I want to ensure that I am legally using the video and not infringing on any rights or facing potential legal consequences.
Haroldo M.
Hi. If the Creative Commons License that you mentioned (CC BY-NC 4.0) does not allow for commercial usage, using that content commercially would violate the license. If you tranform the work sufficiently, you could potentially use it without violating the terms of the license.
Intellectual Property
Trademark Application
New York
Can I trademark a phrase that includes a common word?
I am in the process of starting a small business selling handmade jewelry, and I have come up with a catchy phrase that I want to use as my brand name. However, the phrase includes a word that is commonly used in the industry. I am unsure if I can successfully trademark this phrase, as I have heard that trademarks cannot be registered for generic or descriptive terms. I would like to know if it is possible to trademark this phrase and what steps I need to take to ensure the best chance of success in the trademark application process.
Damien B.
Hello! This is Attorney Damien Bosco. My law office is in Forest Hills, Queens County, New York City. My practice covers the New York City metropolitan area and Long Island. In some situations, I also handle matters throughout New York State. If your phrase contains common jewelry terms, registering it may be challenging. One suggestion is to check the USPTO Database for similar trademarks. If other businesses have brands using the same common word in their brand name, that could give an indication that you may still be able to use it in your brand name. Nonexclusive use means that the word or phrase can be used by other parties and is not solely owned or controlled by the trademark holder. Consult with a trademark attorney for guidance on the registration process and the viability of your chosen phrase.
Intellectual Property
Content Creator Agreement
Washington
Can a content creator agreement be terminated by either party at any time and without cause?
I am a content creator who recently entered into a content creator agreement with a media company. The agreement does not explicitly mention termination, and I am wondering if either party can terminate the agreement at any time and without cause. I am concerned about the potential implications of termination without cause on my rights, compensation, and intellectual property, and I would like to understand my rights and obligations under the agreement.
Merry K.
It would be a good idea for you to have the agreement reviewed by an attorney. You said there's no explicit language regarding termination or notice - is there something implied? With no language regarding termination, most likely either party can terminate at any time, with just a moment's notice, and no reason given. You have asked a lot of questions - I suggest that you post a project here on Contracts Counsel, and ask for an attorney well versed in intellectual property (not me) to discuss your rights, as that is probably the most important issue. An attorney who can also review the language of the entire agreement would be very helpful. (I'm sorry, but I'm not available for this project).
Intellectual Property
Invention Assignment Agreement
Texas
Can an Invention Assignment Agreement require employees to assign ownership of inventions created outside of work hours?
I recently signed an employment contract that includes an Invention Assignment Agreement, which states that I must assign ownership of any inventions I create during or outside of work hours. While I understand the need for the agreement in relation to work-related inventions, I am concerned about its implications for inventions I create on my own time and using my own resources. Can an employer legally require me to assign ownership of inventions created outside of work hours?
Randy M.
Invention Assignment Agreements usually require employees to hand over rights to any inventions they come up with during their employment. But things can get tricky when the agreement tries to claim ownership of something you created on your own time using your own resources. What’s Generally Enforceable Employers often write these agreements in broad terms, sometimes trying to cover anything you invent while you're employed, even if it’s unrelated to your job. Courts usually uphold fair agreements, but they’ll look closely at anything that seems to overreach. Most states try to strike a balance. If an invention is directly tied to your work or the company’s business, the employer may have a valid claim. But if it’s something truly independent that you built on your own time without company tools or knowledge, you’re more likely to keep it. State Laws That Protect Employees Some states have gone further and passed laws that give employees more protection. California’s Labor Code § 2870 is probably the most well-known. It says employers can’t force you to assign inventions that were developed entirely on your own time without using any company resources. The exception is if the invention is connected to the company’s business, research, or your actual job duties. Other states like Washington, Illinois, Delaware, Minnesota, and North Carolina have similar laws. New York passed its own version in 2023, called Labor Law § 203-f, which follows California’s lead. Most of these laws also require employers to give written notice to employees about their rights. In states without specific laws, courts typically rely on general contract principles and public policy. If a contract tries to claim every idea you’ll ever have, that language probably won’t hold up. But if the invention overlaps with your employer’s field, even if you built it at home, the company could still have a real claim. When Employers Still Have Rights Even with legal protections, there are a few situations where the company can still argue ownership: 1. If the invention is related to the business or current projects. 2. If you used any company tools, software, workspace, or confidential info. 3. If the invention came out of your assigned job duties, even if you worked on it after hours. These carve-outs are broader than most people realize. For example, if you’re a software engineer and your side project uses the same coding language or solves a similar problem as your employer’s product, that could raise red flags, even if you used your own laptop at home. How to Protect Your Own Inventions If you want to make sure you keep the rights to something you’ve created, documentation is key. Keep records of when you worked on it, what tools you used, and how it relates (or doesn’t relate) to your job. Don’t use your work email, computer, or cloud storage. And read your agreement carefully. Some contracts require you to disclose all inventions, even personal ones. Disclosure doesn’t always mean you have to assign it, but it can start a conversation you’d rather avoid. The Shop Right Rule Even if you own your invention, your employer might still be able to use it under what’s called the “shop right” doctrine. This means that if you used company time, tools, or resources, the company may have a free, nonexclusive license to use your invention in its operations. You’d still own it, but you couldn’t stop them from using it. Why Jurisdiction Matters The state where you work usually controls which laws apply to your agreement, not the state where your company is based. That can make a big difference. For example, engineers in California have strong statutory protections. Employees in Texas may need to rely on general contract law instead. The Final Analysis Your best move is to have an employment attorney review your agreement. The details matter, and so does your state's law. A good attorney can explain what's enforceable, help you negotiate better terms (like explicit carve-outs for personal projects), and show you how to protect your own work without violating your contract. If you're looking for this type of guidance, the attorneys on Contracts Counsel are available to help. Whether you need a quick contract review or full representation, you can connect with experienced employment lawyers who understand the nuances of invention assignment agreements in your state.
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