Biography

Prior to joining Neal & McDevitt in 2017, Nick spent the majority of his nearly twenty-year career practicing at one of the nation’s largest IP boutiques.  Nick’s specialized practice includes counseling clients on all aspects concerning the management of their domestic and international trademark and copyright portfolios, including the development and implementation of worldwide enforcement and defensive strategies, global brand clearance and prosecution, and international licensing and transactional matters.

Nick’s practice also has a heavy litigation component, having prosecuted and defended claims of trademark, trade dress and copyright infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, counterfeiting and dilution in federal district court. Nick also has substantial experience in matters before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), domain name disputes before the Internet Committee for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and working closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Whether they be large, multinational corporations, individual entrepreneurs, or startup companies, Nick works with clients to develop and implement IP strategies aimed at reaching their unique business goals.  Nick’s clients have spanned virtually every major industry, including transportation, retail and manufacturing, technology, food and beverage, real estate and financial, health and life sciences, education, and others.

Experience

Partner, Neal & McDevitt, LLC (Aug. 2017 – Present)

Partner, Husch Blackwell LLP (Oct. 2015 – Aug. 2017)

Shareholder, Brinks Gilson & Lione (Jan. 2006 – Oct. 2015)

Associate, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione (Sep. 1999 – Dec. 2005)

Professional Accomplishments

  • Ranked by the World Trademark Review to the WTR 1000 for trademark prosecution and strategy in 2020 and 2021
  • Named to the Leading Lawyers NetworkSM in each year from 2011-2016 and 2019 – 2021 for Intellectual Property Law

Admitted to practice

  • Illinois (1999)
  • Kansas (pending)
  • United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Education

J.D., 1999, Boston University School of Law (Intellectual Property Concentration)

B.A., Sociology, 1996, The Pennsylvania State University (English Minor)

Outreach

  • Physical Security Interoperability Alliance – Secretary and Counsel

Lectures

  • 2013 False Advertising Under Section 43(a) – Learn and Links IP Law Seminar and Golf Outing, Firsco, TX, October 2013
  • 2013 Trademark Seminar – Association of Corporate Counsel, Chicago Chapter, Chicago, IL, July 2013
  • 2013 Budgeting and Managing The Costs of Section 337 Cases in the ITC – ITAG Conference, Bangalore, India January 2013
  • 2012 Markman Hearing – Claim Construction – ITAG Conference, New Delhi, India, January 2012
  • 2011 Using U.S. Trade and Competition Laws to Protect the Value of Brand Names and Other Trademarks in a Global Economy – Chicago International Trade Commissioners Association, Chicago, IL October 2011
  • 2011 Counterfeit and Gray Market Goods – 3rd International Intellectual Property Rights Conference, Global IP Convention, Bangalore, India, April 2011
  • 2007 Compulsory Licensing in Latin America – presented to the Latin American Forum, Miami, FL, November 2007

Professional Activities and Memberships

International Trademark Association (INTA)

  • Indigenous Rights Committee
  • Dilution Committee

American Bar Association (ABA)

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

Representative cases

(Represented Parties in Bold)

U.S. District Court

  • Few Spirits, LLC v. Gray Skies Distillery, LLC, 1:17-cv-01031 (W.D. Michigan)
  • American Intercontinental University, Inc. et. al. v.  American University, 1:16-cv-10669 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Top Tobacco, L.P. et. al. v. Good Times USA, LLC, 1:16-cv-04292 (N.D. Illinois)
  • The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations et. al. v. Fortis Business Media LLC., 1:14-cv-10225 (N.D. Illinios)
  • Top Tobacco, L.P. et. al. v. Good Times USA LLC, 1:14-cv-08978 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Flowers Bakeries Brands LLC v. Earthgrains Baking Companies Inc. et. al., 7:13-cv-00138 (M.D. Georgia)
  • Alticor Inc. v. Nutrisystem, Inc. et. al., 1:12-cv-00256 (W.D. Michigan)
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Marquez, 1:12-cv-03364 (N.D. Georgia)
  • Consumers Digest Communications, LLC v. Avayo Media, LLC et. al., 1:10-cv-02698 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Progressive Casualty Insurance Company v. Clark et. al., 1:08-cv-02213 (N.D. Ohio)
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. American Assist Travel Services, Inc. et. al., 1:08-cv-23476 (S.D. Florida)
  • Cohen Group v. Herman Miller, Inc., 1:06-cv-00430 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Nano-Proprietary, Inc., v. Keesmann, 1:06-cv-02689 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Progressive Casualty Insurance Company v. Drive Financial Services, LP, 1:05-cv-00665-PAG (N.D. Ohio)
  • Herman Miller Inc v.  L. Cohen Group et. al., 1:05-cv-04760 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Röder Zeltsysteme Und Service AG v. Röder et. al., 3:04-cv-00193 (S.D. Indiana)
  • Drive Financial Services, LP v. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, 6:04-cv-00558 (E.D. Texas)
  • Thatcher, et. al. v. Kohl’s Dept Stores, et. al., 1:97-cv-04746 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Herman Miller Inc. v. Nightingale Corp., 1:03-cv-03981 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Viridian Pkg. v. Zila Inc, et. al., 1:03-cv-03285 (N.D. Illinois)
  • MyDocOnline Inc v. Roche Diagnostics, 1:03-cv-01822 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Sage Prod Inc v. Kimberly Clark Corp., 1:02-cv-00126 (N.D. Illinois)
  • National Association of REALTORS v.  Tyll, 1:02-cv-08261 (N.D. Illinois)
  • 1-800 Contacts v.  JSJ Ent., 2:02-cv-00705-TC (D. Utah)
  • Herm Sprenger GmbH v. Miller Harness Co, et. al., 1:01-cv-08717 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Zila Swab Tech. Inc. v. Van Dyke, et. al., 1:01-cv-08729 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Com-DDS v. Wally Balls, L.L.C., et.al., 3:00-cv-02121 (N.D. California)
  • Archer Daniels Midland v. Narula, 1:99-cv-06997 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Thomas & Betts Corp, et. al. v. Panduit Corp, 1:94-cv-02656 (N.D. Illinois)
  • Academy Ltd. v. CWGS Group, LLC and Gander Outdoors, LLC, 4:18-cv-04366 (SD TX)
  • The North Face Apparel Corp. v. CWGS Group, LLC and Gander Outdoors, LLC, 17-1815-MN (D Del)

TTAB

  • CWGS Group, LLC Colby v. Robertson, Opp. No. 91238520
  • Power Stop LLC v. R1 Concepts, Inc., Opp. No. 91223917
  • Jeffrey Schermerhorn v. National Association of REALTORS, Canc. No. 92061031
  • Top Tobacco, L.P. v. Good Times USA LLC, Opp. No. 91215444
  • Rubik’s Brand Ltd. v. Tax Discharge Determinator.com, LLC, Opp. No.
    91214990
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Advershares LLC, Opp. No. 91214648
  • Crew Group, Inc., and J. Crew International, Inc. v. Caribbean Canvas Co. Ltd., Opp. Nos. 91214021, 91213593, 91211263, 91210255.
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Players Travel, Inc., Opp. No. 91211172
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Charles G. Hanna, Opp. No. 91210621
  • National Association of REALTORS v. Larry M. Nelis, Opp. No. 91209482
  • Advanced Food Concepts, Incorporated v. Noble Desserts Holdings Ltd., Canc. No. 92054779
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Orlando G. Silva MD, Opp. No. 91198139
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Applied Card Systems, Inc., Opp. No. 91188811
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Consumer Benefit Services, Inc., Opp. No. 91188607
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Holiday Systems International of Nevada, Opp. No. 91188056
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Youbet.com, Inc., Opp. No. 91187983
  • National Association of REALTORS v. Tomas Korpa, Opp. No. 91187313
  • National Association of REALTORS v. Jillian Gathe, Opp. No. 91186034
  • Integrated Business Analysis, Inc. v. International Institute of Business Analysis, Opp. Nos. 91185061 and 91185062
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. American Apparel, Inc., Opp. No. 91184941
  • Chicago Tribune Company v. Fox News Network, LLC, Opp. Nos. 91184316 and
    91184319
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. FIA Card Services, National Association, Opp. No. 91183943
  • National Association of REALTORS v. The Realteers LLC, Opp. No. 91183346
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Kirkpatrick Bank, Opp. No. 91177970
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Affinion Publishing, Inc., Canc. No. 92047076
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Visual Data Systems Inc., Opp. No. 91171635
  • Reno Air Racing Association, Inc. v. American Airlines, Inc., No. 92045922
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. DVS Shoe Co., Inc., Opp. No. 91170862
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Affinion Publishing, Inc., Opp. No. 91170154
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Motivation Advantage, Inc., Opp. No. 91170098
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Motivation Advantage, Inc., Canc. No. 92045355
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. American Media Operations, Inc., Opp. No. 91167582
  • Raytheon Company v. Lockheed Martin Corp., Opp. No. 91167189
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Affinitas Corporation, Opp. No. 91165978
  • Jacob Zimmerman v. National Association of REALTORS, Nos. 92032360 and 92040141 – See 70 U.S.P.Q.2d 1425 (TTAB 2004)
  • Royal Paper Converting, Inc. v. Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Canc. No. 92042514
  • Arleen Freeman v. National Association of REALTORS, Nos. 92027885 and 92028047 – See 64 U.S.P.Q.2d 1700 (TTAB 2002)
  • Bissell Homecare, Inc. v. The Hoover Company, No. 91153952
  • Alps Electric Co., Ltd. v. Innoverse, Inc., Opp. No. 91151459
  • HOS Development Corporation v. Tomkraft Industries, Inc., Opp. No. 91125479
  • National Association of REALTORS v. Realtorcountry.com, Inc., Opp. No. 91125020
  • National Association of REALTORS v. Patricia A. Solio, Opp. No. 91118735
  • Yamaha Corporation of America v. Wrightwood Enterprises, Inc., Opp. No. 91108787
  • CWGS Group, LLC v. Plus Medical Inc., Canc. No. 92071063
  • Academy Ltd. v. CWGS Group, LLC, Opp. No. 91245739
  • The North Face Apparel Corp. v. CWGS Group, LLC, Opp. No. 91245714
  • American Airlines, Inc. v. Move, Inc., Opp. No. 91244106
  • PRL USA Holdings, Inc. v. Polo Enterprises Holdings Pty Ltd., No. 91241599
  • Academy Ltd. v. CWGS Group, LLC, Opp. No. 91240176
  • The North Face Apparel Corp. v. CWGS Group, LLC, Opp. No. 91240148
  • Heidrick & Struggles Int’l, Inc. v. Decipher Lab Ltd., Opp. No. 91240041
  • Tyco Electronics Services GmbH v. Beijing Chehejia Information Tech. Co., Ltd., Opp. No. 91239954
  • Tyco Electronics Services GmbH v. RePower Tech. Co., Ltd., Opp. No. 91239972
  • TE Connectivity Corp. v. Wuhan Raytex Protection Co., Ltd., Opp. No. 91239444
  • United States Polo Ass’n v. Polo Enterprises Holdings Pty Ltd., No. 91238780
  • BHPC Associates LLC v. Polo Enterprises Holdings Pty Ltd., No. 91238689
  • Healthy.com, Inc. v. Lifelabs LP, Opp. No. 91237744
  • BHPC Associates LLC v. Polo Enterprises Holdings Pty Ltd., No. 91237579

ICANN

  • Federal Reserve Banks v. Chris Hoffman, Case No. D2004-0918 (WIPO)
  • Diageo North America, Inc. v. Carolina Audio Visual, Case No. D2005-0555 (WIPO)
  • United Airlines, Inc. v. United Airline Dot Com, Case No. D2002-0835 (WIPO)

Nicholas G. de la Torre

Partner

Admitted in IL, KS (pending)
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Overland Park, KS