Dalton Hughes concentrates his law practice on trademark, copyright, trade secret, and unfair competition matters. His varied project history with intellectual property businesses allows him to assist clients over multiple industries at any stage of their goals. Dalton splits his time between transactional client counseling and intellectual property litigation. At Crowell, he has represented plaintiffs and defendants in federal court from drafting complaints to the end of litigation, including extensive discovery motion practice and obtaining a trade secret preliminary injunction. Dalton’s counseling practice includes prosecuting trademarks and copyrights, enforcing global trademark portfolios, analyzing trademark searches, developing trademark filing strategies, and counseling clients on intellectual property due diligence transactions. He also maintains a varied pro bono docket, including representing tenants in leasing disputes, enforcing international non-profit trademark rights, and assisting independent musicians with registering their copyrights.
Previously, Dalton externed for the Honorable Joan H. Lefkow at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In law school, he refined his transactional and client counseling skills while working in the College of Law’s trademark clinic, assisting professional students with their start-up businesses’ licensing and registration.
Dalton’s intellectual property experience comes from a broad background in the media, tech, and entertainment industries. This experience includes copyright and royalty management at a leading global music publishing label, brand development, consumer survey research, contract administration, app development, and computer support. Outside of work, Dalton is active in the Chicago arts community, serving on the associate boards of the Steppenwolf Theatre and the Auditorium Theatre.
Recognition
- CALI Awards for Highest Grade in Advanced Legal Research; Traditional Knowledge & Folklore in Intellectual Property
- Pro Bono Notation – University of Illinois College of Law
- University of Illinois Law Review, Managing Internet & Symposium Editor, 2018–2019
- Vice President, Illinois College of Law Sports and Entertainment Law Society, 2018–2019
- Secretary, Illinois College of Law Intellectual Property Law Society, 2018–2019
Affiliations
- Chicago Bar Association, Member
- Esports Bar Association, Member
- Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Member
- Public Interest Law Initiative, Member
Admissions
Admitted to practice: Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Speeches & Presentations
Publications
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"Restrictive Covenants in the Seventh Circuit," Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(May 10, 2022).
Authors: Dalton Hughes and Astor Heaven.
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"Getting the Deal Through: Advertising & Marketing 2022," Lexology
(April 2022).
Consulting Editors: Roy Abernathy, Raija Horstman, Dalton Hughes, Emily Kappers, and Amy Pauli.
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"Cemetery Company’s Trade Secret Claims Survive Motion to Dismiss by Reasonable Interference of Misappropriation after CEO Fed Competitor Information," Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(December 21, 2021).
Authors: Vincent J. Galluzzo, Laura Schwartz and Dalton Hughes.
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"Seventh Circuit Affirms Trade Secret Protection of Patented Spinal Implant Device," Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(October 5, 2021).
Authors: Dalton Hughes and Brad Lane.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
Press Coverage