Atty. Thomas J. "Tom" Donovan
Tom Donovan advises on patent and trademark litigation and prosecution, unfair competition and trade secret litigation, as well as a variety of licensing-related matters. Regardless of the client or the complexity of the matter at hand, Tom provides his clients with the guidance they need, in a way they can understand and apply to their daily business operations.
Profile Summary
About Thomas J. "Tom" Donovan at a glance
Thomas J. "Tom" Donovan is a ip attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. They have 39+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1987. Admitted to practice in Illinois (1987). Educated at Illinois Institute of Technology (J.D., 1987) and University of Illinois - Chicago (B.S., 1982). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Copyright Law (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Tom Donovan advises on patent and trademark litigation and prosecution, unfair competition and trade secret litigation, as well as a variety of licensing-related matters
- Regardless of the client or the complexity of the matter at hand, Tom provides his clients with the guidance they need, in a way they can understand and apply to their daily business operations
- Tom also has significant negotiation and drafting experience with software licensing, as well as patent, trademark and copyright licensing, and in rendering patent validity and infringement opinions
- Tom is valued by clients and colleagues for his grasp of the nuances of different types of licensing transactions
- He delivers wide experience in negotiating with deal constituents in order to effectively close transactions while incorporating his client’s underlying objectives
- Tom represents companies involved in a wide variety of industries, ranging from manufacturing to technology and software
- His tech experience includes advising businesses involved in the development, manufacture and marketing of plastics and packaging, exercise equipment and other health and fitness products, financial clearing software, products used in the manufacture of semiconductors, battery components, and beverage dispensing equipment and other food service equipment
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas J. "Tom" Donovan's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas J. "Tom" Donovan handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Thomas J. "Tom" Donovan is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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