CHICAGO – LAWFUEL – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, is pleased to announce that it has become a Gold level charter member of the recently-established Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) Law Firm Leadership Circle, building on its existing pro bono leadership. Recognizing the importance of ensuring access to justice in the Chicago area, the new Leadership Circle embodies best practices for law firms on pro bono, firm giving and related issues involving access to justice.

“Our firm believes in providing pro bono services to people of limited means and to charitable organizations in furtherance of their organizational goals,” said Brad Lane, Pro Bono Committee chair and a shareholder at Brinks. “By becoming a Gold level charter member of the CBF Law Firm Leadership Circle, we intend to be an example to other law firms. Regardless of the number of attorneys in a law firm, all it takes is a commitment to pro bono to make a difference in the community.”

Since formalizing and expanding its existing pro bono policy in 2000, the firm’s pro bono work has become a vital part of the firm’s culture, encouraging firm lawyers to serve the disadvantaged, providing trial advocacy and negotiation training to its attorneys and becoming a source of pride for the entire firm.

In joining the Leadership Circle at the Gold status level, Brinks has pledged to build on its existing commitment to support pro bono endeavors and legal aid by:

•Encouraging each of its attorneys to complete at least 50 hours of pro bono work each year;
•Donating $600 or more per attorney in the firm’s Chicago office to legal aid organizations annually;
•Participating in the annual CBF’s Investing in Justice Campaign;
•Advocating for adequate legal aid funding at the federal, state and local levels;
•Providing in-kind marketing, training and administrative support for legal aid agencies to the extent practicable; and
•Striving to support public interest law fellowships, rotations and internships.

The Chicago Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of The Chicago Bar Association and rallies Chicago’s legal community to ensure that everyone in the Chicago area has access to the justice system, particularly the low-income and disadvantaged Chicagoans who most need the protections of our civil legal system. The CBF’s work is made possible by the generous support of more than 150 law firms and corporations and thousands of individual donors. For more information about the CBF and the Leadership Circle, visit www.chicagobar.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 170 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. For more information, visit www.usebrinks.com.

CHICAGO, IL – LAWFUEL – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, is pleased to announce that Meredith Martin Addy, has been named one of the Top 10 Illinois Super Lawyers across all practice areas by Law & Politics magazine.

Intellectual property law, specifically patent law, traditionally has been dominated by men. However, in fourteen years of practice, Ms. Addy is among the most recognized patent attorneys in Illinois. In the firm’s 90 years, she is the youngest female attorney to achieve partner, the youngest female to sit on the firm’s Board of Directors and the youngest female to chair a firm practice group, the Appellate Group.

Ms. Addy has been a part of many precedent-setting patent cases at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2007, she represented clients in three of the IPO Daily NEWS™ List of the Top 13 Patent Cases. Her clients include some of the major players in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, audio and navigation. In addition, Ms. Addy has testified before a Congressional Committee on the state of the Federal Circuit and patent appeals. She also has served as a Special Master and Court Appointed Expert, advising district court judges in complex patent litigations.

Ms. Addy is President of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court, one of only five IP-focused Inns in the U.S., and she serves on the 16-member Federal Circuit Advisory Council. Ms. Addy is chair of the Amicus Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and is a former member of the Board of Managers of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago.

Ms. Addy is a frequent speaker at bar and industry functions and is an editor of Claim Construction in the Federal Circuit (West Legalworks.) She has been named repeatedly as a leading Illinois IP lawyer by Chambers USA, by The Best Lawyers in America and was named one of “Forty Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. She also was named one of the Top 50 Female Illinois Super Lawyers for the fourth consecutive year and one of the Top 100 of Illinois lawyers across all practice groups according to Law & Politics magazine.

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 170 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. For more information, visit www.usebrinks.com.