Janet A. Pioli

Shareholder

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Janet A. Pioli
Shareholder
Overview

Clients and jurists recognize Janet Pioli’s ability to ethically and successfully represent clients in what they seek to accomplish. One jurist from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois remarked “she is as conscientious a person in working for her clients as any lawyer I know.” Janet’s practice encompasses strategic counseling for large patent portfolios, patent clearance and due diligence, patent prosecution supervision, inter partes reviews, litigation including before the International Trade Commission, and advertising review and clearance. She has a large and successful appellate practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and has made multiple oral arguments before each.

Her practice includes diverse technologies including medical devices, diagnostic devices and systems, navigation systems, heavy truck transmissions, health supplements, loudspeaker systems, personal care products, beverage containers, industrial pumps, ice maker systems, treatment of lyme and other diseases, pool chemicals, copier system chemicals, food and beverage products. She is active in the community and serves on the Board of Visitors of the Northern Illinois School of Law and on the Board of Aspire of Illinois, a charitable organization directed to education and training of children and adults with developmental disabilities. She served as an officer for area organizations including the Richard Linn American Inn of Court and is a past president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. Janet also served on the Brinks’ board of directors and is currently Chairperson of the Client Services Committee.

Practice Groups
Education
  • J.D., cum laude
    Northern Illinois University College of Law, 1984
  • Graduate Studies, Molecular Biology/Biotechnology
    Illinois Institute of Technology, 1992
  • B.S., Political Science
    Illinois State University, 1981
Bar Admissions
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Cir.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fed. Cir.
  • U.S. Dist. Court, N.D. Illinois, Trial Bar
  • U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Area of Focus
Experience | Legal

Brinks, Gilson & Lione, Chicago, Illinois
Shareholder, January 2012-Present
Counsel, January 2005-2011
Associate, August 1998-2004

Law Offices of Evan B. Karnes II and Associates, Chicago, Illinois
Partner, 1993-1998

Helene Curtis, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
Corporate Counsel, 1989-1993

Cook, Wetzel & Egan, Chicago, Illinois
Associate, May 1987-January 1989

Laff, Whitesel, Conte and Saret, Chicago Illinois
Associate, August 1984-April 1987

Forward Thinking
Presentations
  • FTC v. Actavis:  A Year in Review, Mumbai, India, February, 2014
  • Second Annual Naples Midwinter Patent Law Experts Conference, Faculty, January 2014
  • "Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution 2014: A Boot Camp for Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing," Public Interest Law Initiative program, Chicago, May 12-14, 2014
  • "Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution 2013: A Boot Camp for Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing," Public Interest Law Initiative program, Chicago, May 14-16, 2013
  • "Is Inequitable Conduct Dead? Updating Medical Device Prosecution and Litigation Strategies Post-Therasense," ACI Medical Device Patents Conference, Chicago, March 5-6, 2013
  • "Proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board," moderator, The John Marshall Law School’s 57th Annual Intellectual Property Law, Chicago, February 22, 2013
  • "Patent Overview: Part 1," Patent Basics for the Non-Specialist 2008, Practising Law Institute, Chicago, Illinois, June 13, 2008
  • "The Future of Patent Law - U.S. Supreme Court Update," Law Bulletin Seminars: Corporate IP, Chicago, Illinois, February 19, 2008
  • "Litigating the Multinational Patent Dispute," moderator, Brinks Gilson & Lione Client Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, November 1, 2007
  • "Preparing Priority Applications that Succeed When Filed in the U.S. Patent Office and Enforced in the U.S. Courts," Brinks Gilson & Lione Client Seminar, Munich, Germany, June 14, 2005
  • "Knorr-Bremse v. Dana Corporation: How This Landmark Decision May Affect Your Company," Brinks Gilson & Lione Client Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, October 12, 2004 and November 3, 2004
Press Releases & Events
October 24, 2018
Brinks' Gary Ropski Named #1 Leading IP Lawyer in Illinois; Laura Beth Miller Named to Top 100 Leading Women Business Lawyers

CHICAGO—Brinks shareholder Gary M. Ropski has been named the #1 Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer in Illinois and  Laura Beth Miller has been recognized among the Top...

July 30, 2018
Three Brinks Gilson & Lione Women Shareholders Recognized in Chicago's Notable Women Lawyers

CHICAGO – Brinks Gilson & Lione, one of the nation's largest intellectual property law firms, is proud to announce that shareholders Laura Beth Miller, Danielle Anne Phillip, and Janet Pioli have all been named to Crain’s Custom Media 2018 list of Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyers...

April 27, 2017
Brinks Gilson & Lione Patent Attorney Janet Pioli Moderates Panel of Judges for Program on ITC Litigation

CHICAGO—Janet A. Pioli, a patent attorney and shareholder at intellectual property law firm Brinks Gilson & Lione, will moderate the panel “Comparing ITC and U.S. District Court Litigation” at the Update on Intellectual Property Litigation at the U.S. International Trade Commission to be held at The John Marshall Law School on April 27, 2017...

April 27, 2017
Janet Pioli To Serve As Moderator For ITCTLA Program
On April 27, 2017, Janet Pioli will serve as a moderator for the panel, “Comparing ITC and U.S. District Court Litigation.”  Administrative Law Judge Mary Joan McNamara and Former ITC Commissioner Dean Pinkert are on the panel. ...
Register for Event
January 12, 2016
Twenty-two Brinks Gilson & Lione Attorneys Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers 2016, Three Named Rising Stars

CHICAGO—Twenty-two attorneys at intellectual property law firm Brinks Gilson & Lione have been named to the 2016 ...

April 20, 2015
Brinks Gilson & Lione Attorneys Miller, Pioli Named Among Top 10 Women IP Lawyers in Illinois, Says Leading Lawyers - Brinks Only Firm With More Than One Attorney on List
CHICAGO—Laura Beth Miller and Janet A. Pioli, two stand-out intellectual property attorneys and shareholders at Brinks Gilson & Lione, have been named by Leading Lawyers to its list of the Top 10 Women Intellectual Property Lawyers in ...
January 20, 2015
Illinois Super Lawyers Lists 24 Brinks Gilson & Lione Attorneys for 2015, Names Two Rising Stars
CHICAGO—Twenty-four attorneys at Brinks Gilson & Lione, one of the nation's largest intellectual property law firms, are named to the 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers, a rating service that lists lawyers from more than ...
October 23, 2014
Brinks' Gary Ropski Named #1 Leading IP Lawyer in Illinois; 59 Brinks Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers for 2014-2015
CHICAGO—Gary M. Ropski, a shareholder at intellectual property law firm Brinks Gilson & Lione and the firm's past president, has been named the #1 Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer in Illinois by Leading Lawyers, and fifty-nine ...
January 14, 2014
27 Attorneys from Brinks Gilson & Lione Named Illinois Super Lawyers, Six Recognized As Rising Stars
CHICAGO—Twenty-seven attorneys from Brinks Gilson & Lione have been named as 2014 Illinois Super Lawyers in the categories of Intellectual Property Litigation and Intellectual Property, and six have been recognized as Rising ...
Honors
  • Who’s Who Legal - Trademarks, 2018
  • Chicago's Notable Women Lawyers, Crain's Custom Media, 2018
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property Law, 2009-2011, 2013-2017
  • Leading Lawyers, 2012-2014, Top 100 Leading Women Lawyers in Illinois, Top 100 Leading Women Business Lawyers in Illinois
  • Leading Lawyers Network, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, Patent Law, Intellectual Property Law, Advertising & Media Law, Copyright & Trademark Law
Affiliations
  • Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
    Board Member, 2014
    Past President, 2013-2014
    President, 2012-2013
    President-Elect, 2011-2012
    Committee Chair, 2007-2013
  • Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada)
    International Delegate 2011-present
  • Licensing Executives Society International, Life Sciences Committee Vice Chair
  • Richard Linn American Inn of Court
    Secretary, 2009-2010
    Board Member, 2008-2009
  • Federal Circuit Bar Association
  • Federal Circuit Historical Society
    Secretary, Dinner Chair
  • Board of Visitors, Northern Illinois University College of Law
    Chairperson-Career and Professional Development Committee
  • Aspire of Illinois
    Board of Directors, 2014
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