Susan Neal

Retired Co-founder, Neal & McDevitt, LLC — Susan Neal retired from the practice of Intellectual Property law on December 31, 2009.  Susan has more than 30 years of trademark and unfair competition experience.  During that time she has represented a wide range of clients including large corporations, small and medium sized businesses and individuals.  She is also an experienced mediator, having been selected as one of the very first distinguished members of the Panel of Neutrals of the International Trademark Association.

 

Capital Partner, McDermott, Will & Emery— Susan joined MWE, a 750 attorney international firm with one of the largest intellectual property departments of any large general practice firm, on April 1, 1996 in the Washington, DC office. Susan headed the firm's Trademark Group, transferring to the Chicago Office in December 1997. While at MWE, Susan was responsible for providing the full spectrum of trademark and copyright practice, including clearance, registration, licensing, conflicts and litigation.

 

Shareholder, Willian Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione — Susan joined WBH, one of the world's largest firms specializing only in intellectual property law, in June 1980 as a law clerk. Susan was elected Shareholder in 1986. Approximately one third of the firm specialized in trademark law, including clearance, registration, licensing, and trademark conflicts and litigation. Susan transferred to the firm's Washington, DC office in September 1994.

J.D., 1982, DePaul University College of Law
B.A., 1979, DePaul University
A.A., 1969, Southern Illinois University

United States Supreme Court (1994); Illinois (1982); U.S. District Court, ND Illinois (1982); Trial Bar, ND Illinois (1984); U.S. Court of Appeals, 11^th Cir. (1985); U.S. Court of Appeals, 3^rd Cir. (1987); U.S. Court of Appeals, 7^th Cir. (1989); U.S. District Court, WD Texas (1990); U.S. Court of Appeals, 9^th Cir. (1991); U.S. District Court, CD Illinois (1996); District of Columbia (1997); WD Wisconsin (2000), U.S. Court of Appeals, 6^th Cir. (2005).

Panel Member, Distinguished Panel of Neutrals, INTA ADR Program

Frequent lecturer, including American Intellectual Property Law Association ("Damages In Trademark Cases"); Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (ICANN-UDRP Proceedings); PLI Practising Law Institute ("Understanding Basic Copyright Law").

Active Member, International Trademark Association (INTA)

INTA Committee - Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition: Midwest Regional Committee 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003; Vice Chair 2004; National Chair 2005

Co-Chair Trademark Appeals Committee, Federal Circuit Bar Association 1994-1996

Sponsor - Susan Somers Neal Scholarship in Intellectual Property Law - DePaul University College of Law

 

 

Adjunct Professor, Advanced Trademark Law, DePaul University College of Law

Instructor, Copyright and Trademark Law.  Mallinckrodt College, Wilmette, Illinois Legal Assistant Program

Instructor, Trademark Law, The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois

It's Time to End Discrimination Against Trademarks of Color, The Federal Circuit Bar Journal, Spring, 1995, co-author.

 

Mere Colour Trade Marks in the US After Qualitex, Managing Intellectual Property,  A Euromoney Publication, June 1995, co-author.

 

The Growing Threat to Tobacco Trademarks (Joe Camel Demands His Rights), Managing Intellectual Property, A Euromoney Publication, November 1996, co-author.

 

Understanding Basic Copyright Law - 2002, Copyright Litigation and Strategies, May 2002, co-author.

Acuson Corporation v. Accuscan Health Imaging, LLC, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Acuson Corporation v. Chad Therapeutics, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition Proceeding) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Ameritech Corporation v. Martinside Marketing, (ND Illinois) (Domain Name Dispute) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Apria Healthcare Group Inc. v. Mario Valente Collezioni, Ltd., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Axminster v. Shaw Industries, Inc., (SD New York) (Copyright Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Inc. v. Big Smith, (CD Illinois) (Emergency Summary Judgment – Licensing Dispute) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Inc. v. Nationwide Equipment, (MD Florida) (Counterfeiting Preliminary Injunction) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Inc. v. RH Marking, (ND Illinois) (Counterfeiting Seizure/TRO) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Tractor Co. v. Reich, (CD California) (Counterfeiting TRO) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Tractor Co. v. TAP Equipment, (CD California) (Counterfeiting Seizure/TRO) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Inc. v. Trak International, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Tractor v. Chinakat, (ND Georgia) (Trademark Infringement Preliminary Injunction) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Tractor v. Gillespie, (ED Virginia) (Trademark Infringement Preliminary Injunction) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Tractor v. Nu Century, (Canada) (Counterfeiting Action) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar Tractor v. Paris, (SD New York) (Trademark Infringement Preliminary Injunction) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar v. Great Lakes Diesel, (ND New York) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Caterpillar v. Hidary, (SD New York) (Counterfeiting TRO) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Church of Scientology v. Lerman, (ED Virginia) (Copyright Seizure) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Claire Murray v. Shaw Industries, Inc., (D Massachusetts) (Jury Trial, Copyright Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Darvish v. Images, (MD Florida) (Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Dieter v. B&H Industries, (11^th Cir., U.S. Supreme Court) (Petition for Cert. to the U.S. Supreme Court) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

DIRECTV, Inc. v. Global TV Concepts, Ltd., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff's Counsel)

 

DIRECTV, Inc. and Hughes Electronics Corporation v. United Online, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

DIRECTV, Inc. v. Skyvision, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Eames v. Herman Miller, Inc., (ND California) (Right of Publicity) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Ethnicgrocer.com, Inc. v. Unlimited Latin Flavors, Inc. et al., (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement and Domain Name Dispute) (Defendants’ Counsel)

 

Euromarket Designs, Inc. d/b/a Crate & Barrel v. Crate & Barrel Limited, Miriam Peters and Point Blank Multimedia, (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement and Domain Name Dispute) (Defendants’ Counsel)

 

First Chicago v. First Chicago, (ND Illinois) (Counterfeiting Seizure TRO/Service Mark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Fleetguard, Inc. v. Baldwin Filters, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Passing Off) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Head Sport AG v. Mark Bowman, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Hester Industries v. Tyson Foods, (D New Jersey, 4^th Circuit) (Jury Trial, Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Hester Industries v. Tyson Foods, (ND New York) (Summary Judgment Proceedings, Bench Trial and Appeal) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Hughes Electronics Corporation and DIRECTV, Inc. v. Areba Web Ideas and Eduardo Ieda, (WIPO UDRP) (Complainants' Counsel)

 

Isaly v. Kraft, (MD Florida, 11^th Circuit) (Bench Trial, Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Jaguar Cars Limited v. Jag Auto Group, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution, Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff's Counsel)

 

Jaguar Cars Limited v. Design Toscano, (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Jim Bouton v. Amurol Products, (SD New York) (License Dispute) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Land Rover v. Landrunner, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Logan Graphics Products, Inc. v. Textus USA, Inc., et al., (ND Illinois) (Trade Dress Infringement, False Advertising, Deceptive Trade Practices) (Defendant's Counsel)

 

Mile High Upholstery v. General Tire, (aka Essex Fabrics, Inc. v. Gencor, (ND Illinois) (Summary Judgment) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Ourhouse, Inc. v. Hardware.com, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Pioneer Kabushiki Kaisha v. Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Pita Franchise Corporation v. Sara Lee Corporation, (ED Michigan) (Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Principal Financial Group, Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Co. v. Principal Equity Mortgage, Inc., (MD Alabama) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution, Unfair Competition and Counterfeiting) (Plaintiffs’ Counsel)

 

Principal Financial Group, Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Co. v. Principal Mortgage & Investment Corporation, (ND Georgia) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution, Unfair Competition and Counterfeiting) (Plaintiffs’ Counsel)

 

Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. The Principal Group, Inc., et al., (ND California) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principal Escrow, (CD California) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. The Principal Group¸ (WD Texas) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principal Hospital Co., (D Tennessee) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principal Management Group, Inc., (ND Texas) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principal Mortgage Corp., (ND California) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principal Mortgage Corporation, (ND New York) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principal Mortgage, (MD Florida) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principle Mortgage, (D Arizona) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Principalcare, (D Tennessee) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Stephen Blagden, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. CBS Corporation, et. al., (D Colo.) (Trademark Dilution, Defamation Resulting in Business Reputation Injury) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Daum Corporation, (CD California) (Trademark/Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. J. William Gurley, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Help-U-Sell, (D Missouri) (Trademark/Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Help-U-Sell, (CD California) (Summary Judgment) (Trademark/Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Help-U-Sell, (D Utah) (Jurisdiction/Venue Dispute) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Hoffman, (D Alaska) (Trademark/Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Mastro, (MD Florida) (Trademark/Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

RE/MAX International, Inc. v. Quality Realty and Yaodi Hu, (ND Illinois) (Trademark/Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Robert Salomon v. Bank One, Illinois, N.A., etc., et al., (ND Illinois) (Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Defendants’ Counsel)

 

Roll Rite Corporation v. Automated Integrated Systems, (6^th Cir.) (Appeal) (Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff-Appellant’s Counsel)

 

Sands, Taylor v. Quaker Oats, (7^th Cir.) (Bench Trial and Appeal) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff-Appellee’s Counsel)

 

Sara Lee Corporation and Sara Lee Fresh, Inc. v. Pita Franchise Corp. and Frank J. Lombardo, (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiffs’ Counsel)

 

Schiffmayer Plastics v. Menard, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Trademark, Trade Dress, and Patent Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Schnadig Corporation v. Collezione Europa U.S.A., (ND Illinois) (Design Patent Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Shaw Carpets v. Shaw Industries, Inc., (ED Virginia) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Shaw Industries, Inc. v. Equinox International Corporation, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Shure Brothers, Inc. v. Pro DJ, Inc., Taky Electronics Co., Ltd., SHS Musical Wholesale and Music Go Round, (ND Illinois) (Trademark, Trade Dress and Copyright Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. v. Accuscan Health Imaging, LLC, (D Utah) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Sun Pharmaceuticals v. Schering Plough, (MD Florida) (TRO, Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Tai Pan, Inc. v. Virgin Records America, Inc., Columbia Pictures, Inc. and The Spice Girls, (MD Florida) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendants’ Counsel)

 

Ten West Apparel, Inc. v. Menard, Inc., (SD New York) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Transcraft v. Doonan Trailer Corporation, (ND Illinois) (Trademark and Trade Dress Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

V&S Vin & Sprit AB v. Wild Pitch Records EMI, Inc., et al., (CD California) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution, Unfair Competition and Copyright Infringement) (Plaintiff's Counsel)

 

Warrior Insurance Group, Inc. v. insureon.com, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution and Unfair Competition) (Defendant’s Counsel)

 

Zenith Electronics Corporation v. Zayante, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)

 

Zenith Electronics Corporation v. Zurich American Insurance Company, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)