Howard Michael
Partner
Overview
From emerging startups to Fortune 100 companies, clients turn to Howard Michael to protect their most valuable intellectual property assets and to draw on his deep trademark and advertising expertise. Boards of directors, CEOs, General Counsels, and senior marketing executives rely on Howard to guide them through their most consequential business challenges around the globe.
Career & Education
- University of Michigan, B.A., political science, 1993
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1998
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Professional Activities and Memberships
- International Trademark Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
Representative Matters
- Represented a famous baking company in trademark infringement litigation involving the national launch of a product line and issues including fair use and geographic rights.
- Coordinated the seizure of illegally imported counterfeit goods into the United States; obtained temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, ex parte seizure orders, and final judgments against several defendants.
- Coordinated several worldwide trademark clearance projects in the alternative energy fields.
- Secured federal trademark protection in connection with iconic athletic footwear.
- Coordinated foreign trademark litigation directed to counterfeit cargo goods.
- Assisted a not-for-profit client in developing and licensing a groundbreaking online course for Chicago public school students.
Recognition
- Chambers USA: Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets - Illinois, 2025–2026
- World Trademark Review Global Leaders: Private Practice, Global Leader, 2025–2026
- World Trademark Review 1000, Illinois
Silver Band, Prosecution and Strategy, 2020–2021
Silver Band, Enforcement and Litigation, 2020–2021
Bronze Band, Prosecution and Strategy, 2018–2019
Bronze Band, Enforcement and Litigation, 2017–2019 - Managing Intellectual Property Magazine: IP Star, 2020
- National Law Review: Go To Thought Leader, 2019
- Leading Lawyers Network: Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer, 2010–2016
Third Circuit Adopts Nominative Fair Use Defense
|01.23.06
The National Law Journal
ITC Can Protect Trademarks, Not Just Patents, Panel Says; Also Hope For Anti-Counterfeit Legislation
|10.27.21
International Trade Today
Practices
- Intellectual Property
- Brand Protection
- Trademark Counseling and Litigation
- European IP Law
- Aviation
- Trade Secrets
- Copyright Counseling and Litigation
- False Advertising Disputes and Litigation
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- IP Prosecution and Portfolio Management
- Renewable Energy
- Digital Health and Health Information Technology
- Advertising and Brand Protection
