Biography

Rick Biagi, a Member of Neal & McDevitt, joined the firm shortly after its founding in 1998.  Rick’s practice includes counseling clients in the areas of selection, adoption, use, and protection of trademarks and domain names; anti-counterfeiting; the registration of trademarks and copyrights on a worldwide basis; licensing; and advertising and promotions law compliance.

Rick represents a wide range of clients including large multinational financial services institutions; associations; national retailers and QSR’s; manufacturers of well-known consumer brand products, food products, apparel, and alcohol beverages; and technology companies.

Rick’s extensive litigation experience includes proceedings involving trademark, copyright, and advertising disputes before U.S. Federal Courts, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Rick holds several leadership positions within the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the American Bar Association-Intellectual Property Law Section (ABA-IPL) and is a frequent speaker on intellectual property topics across the country.  Rick is the current Chair of the Trademarks Division for the ABA-IPL Section.  In addition, Rick previously served as the Chair of INTA’s Pro Bono Committee and now serves on INTA’s U.S. Legislation Subcommittee where he is engaged in the development of trademark legislation and policy on Capitol Hill and in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Actively involved in his community, Rick was twice elected in 2009 and 2013 to the Park Ridge Park District Board of Commissioners; in 2017, he was elected to the District 64 Park Ridge-Niles School Board where he currently serves as the board’s president.

Rick and his wife, Susan, live in the Chicagoland area where they are raising their five children.  If he’s not working, you can most likely find Rick on a golf course, softball field, equestrian arena, scout meeting, basketball court, track meet, school or church event or wherever his family may be at that moment.

Professional Accomplishments

  • Rated AV(R) PreeminentTM by the Martindale-Hubbell(R) National Law Directory, a peer review for ethical standards and legal ability.  AV(R) PreeminentTM is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating.
  • Appointed a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (2014)
  • Named to the Illinois Super Lawyers(R) Rising Stars for 2010 and 2011, Intellectual Property Law
  • Named to the Illinois Super Lawyers(R) for 2014 through 2018 in Intellectual Property Law
  • Named to Leading Lawyers for 2018 and 2019 in Advertising and Media Law
  • Recipient of the 2012 International Trademark Association Volunteer Service Award For Pro Bono Services
  • Recipient of the 2014 and 2018 Recognition of Outstanding Leadership Contribution by the American Bar Association – Intellectual Property Law Section

Admitted to Practice

  • Illinois (2001)
  • District of Columbia (2002)
  • United States Supreme Court (2006)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Cir. (2005)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Cir. (2010)
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2001)
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois (2018)
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (2011)
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (2013)
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2014)
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (2016)

Education

  • Exec. Cert. in Negotiation, 2008, University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
  • J.D., 2001, magna cum laude, DePaul University College of Law
    • Order of the Coif (2001)
  • B. Music, 1992, trumpet performance, University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign

Outreach

Recent Lectures:

  • 2018 American Bar Association – Intellectual Property Law Section – Spring Conference – Panel Moderator – The Dark Side of Knockoffs
  • 2016 American Bar Association – Intellectual Property Law Section – Spring Conference – Panel Moderator – Expert Survey Evidence
  • 2015 American Bar Association Annual Meeting – Panel Moderator, Four Lanham Act Gold Records in 12 Months by the Supremes: You Keep Us Hang’n On
  • 2015 United States Patent and Trademark Office Entrepreneur Workshop – Catalyze Chicago – Panel Presenter
  • 2013 International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, Panel Presenter, Pro Bono Representation for Trademark Practitioners
  • 2012 American Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section, Spring Conference; Panel Moderator; Jack and COLA – Top Ten Intellectual Property Myths With Wine & Spirits
  • 2012 American Bar Association Annual Meeting; Presenter; Resurrecting Legacy Brands

Pro Bono:

  • AmeriFace
  • Bugles Across America
  • Active Transportation Alliance
  • Rainbow Hospice
  • The Theraplay Institute
  • Modern Gaelic Productions
  • Life Meets Work
  • The Kalo Foundation
  • Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
  • PicDiversity
  • American Craft Spirits Association

Civic, Governmental & Charitable Boards

  • Trinity Irish Dance Company (2017)
  • Park Ridge Holiday Lights Fund (Director – 2016 – Present)
  • Park Ridge Park District Board of Commissioners (2009 – 2017) (elected)
  • Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board (2017 – Present) (elected)

Professional Memberships

Member:

  • International Trademark Association (INTA)
  • American Bar Association – IPL Section (ABA-IPL)
  • Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
  • The Justinian Society of Lawyers
  • The Wine Institute
  • Family Winemakers of California
  • American Craft Spirits Association

International Trademark Association:

  • U.S. Legislation Subcommittee – 2006 – 2009; 2018 – Present
  • Pro Bono Committee – 2012 – 2014; Vice Chair – 2014 – 2016; Chair – 2016 – 2018
  • Madrid System Subcommittee – 2010 – 2012
  • National 2005; ADR Programs Subcommittee – 2004 – 2006
  • Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition, Bench Memo Committee – 2001, 2002, 2003

American Bar Association – Intellectual Property Law Section:

  • Chair – Trademarks Division – 2018 – Present
  • Vice Chair – Trademarks Division – 2016 – 2018
  • Chair, Trademark Litigation Committee – 2012 – 2016
  • Vice Chair, Trademark Litigation Committee – 2010 – 2012
  • Editorial Board, Landslide – 2013 – 2018
  • CLE Board – 2015 – Present

Law Review Articles

  • The Intersection of First Amendment Commercial Speech Analysis and the Federal Trademark Dilution Act: A Jurisprudential
    Roadmap, International Trademark Association, The Trademark Reporter, July-August 2001, Vol. 91, No. 4., page 867.

Representative cases

  • Academy Ltd. v. CWGS Group, LLC and Gander Outdoors, LLC, (SD TX) (Trademark and trade dress infringement) (Defendants’ Counsel)
  • Aguila Records, Inc., et. al. v. Nueva Generacion Music Group, Inc., et. al. (USDC NDIL) (Trademark and copyright infringement) (Defendants’ Counsel)
  • Aguila Records, Inc., v. Sergio Federico, et. al. (USDC NDIL) (Trademark and copyright infringement) (Defendants’ Counsel)
  • American RV Centers, LLC v. American RV World LC, Inc. and Robert Maese, Sr., (USDC NM) (Unfair competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Artland, Inc. v. Midnight Cellars, Inc., (USDC DNJ) (Declaratory Judgment) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • The Butcher Company v. Ecolab, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Candyland, Inc. v. Cornfields, Inc., (D. Minn.) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • CKE Restaurants, Inc. v. Jack In The Box, Inc., (CD Cal.) (False advertising) (Plaintiff’s counsel)
  • Columbia Insurance Company v. Midland International Tileworks, (TTAB) (Trademark Cancellation) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Cornfields, Inc. v. Adeena Weiss, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Opposer’s Counsel)
  • CWI, Inc. v. S&S RV Centre, Inc., (ND IL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • DIRECTV, Inc. and Hughes Electronics Corporation v. United Online, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiffs’ Counsel)
  • DIRECTV, Inc. v. Skyvision, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Extended Stay America, Inc. v. Matrix Lodging, LLC, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • FirstGroup America, Inc. v. School Bus Safety Company, et. al. (SD Ohio) (Copyright Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Fleetguard, Inc. v. Baldwin Filters, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Passing Off) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc. v. Joe Menchaca d/b/a/ El Menchaca Restaurant, (D South Carolina) (Declaratory Judgment – Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • HealthCalc.Net, Inc. v. Healthcare Quality Insights, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Cancellation) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Jaguar Cars Limited v. Jag Auto Group, Inc., (ND Illinois) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution, Unfair competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Joe Menchaca d/b/a El Menchaca Restaurant v. Carolina Food Systems, Inc. and Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc., (Court of Common Pleas, South Carolina) (Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition) (Defendants’ Counsel)
  • JohnsonDiversey, Inc., et. al., v. Maxill, Inc., (Canada) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • JohnsonDiversey, Inc. v. SumaScrub, LLC, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Land Rover v. Landrunner, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Midnight Cellars, Inc. v. Canandaigua Wine Company, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Cancellation) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The North Face Apparel Corp. v. CWGS Group, LLC, et al., (D Del) (Trademark Infringement) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Pacific Rim Winemakers, Inc. v. Brutocao Vineyards, Inc., (WD Wa) (Declaratory Judgment – Trademark Infringement) (Counsel for Brutocao Vineyards)
  • Persis International, Inc. and Edward Richards v. Burgett, Inc., (USDC ND IL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiffs’ Counsel)
  • Persis International, Inc. and Edward Richards v. America Sejueng, Inc. ,et. al, (USDC ND IL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiffs’ Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. 1&1 Mail & Media, Inc., (USDC D. PA) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution and Unfair Competition)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Izquierdo, (US DC ND IL) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution and Cybersquatting) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. American Principle Bank, (CD Cal.) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Blair Russell, (WIPO – UDRP) (Domain Name Dispute)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. U.S. Nursing Corp., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Continental Properties Company, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. OptimumPortfolio.com, LLC, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principal Capital Ltd., (ED NY) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. PFResources, LLC, (D NV) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principle Equity, LLC, (SD TX) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principle Capital Partners, LP and Principle Capital Management, LLC, (USDC SD FL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principal Construction Corp., (ND Ill.) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principal Insurance Group, Inc., (SD FL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principal Lending, Inc. (D NJ) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principals-Only, Inc. (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principal Real Estate, LLC (ND IL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Richard Booy and Safe Financial Strategies LLC (ND IL) (Trademark Counterfeiting) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. MBNA America Bank, NA, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Washington Mutual, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. HostMonster, Inc., (WIPO – UDRP) (Domain Name Dispute)(Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Moniker Online Services, LLC, (WIPO – UDRP) (Domain Name Dispute)(Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • BIG Finance and Insurance, Inc. v. Principal Financial Services, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Cancellation) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. BIG Finance and Insurance, Inc., (S.D. Iowa) (Trademark infringement and unfair competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Principal Funding, (E.D. Wisc) (Trademark infringement and unfair competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Pioneer Kabushiki Kaisha v. Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Backyard Ventures Management, LLC, et. al., (USDC SD) (False Advertising) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Poli-Tron, Inc., (USDC SD) (False Advertising) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Spiral Matrix (WIPO – UDRP) (Counsel for Rainbow Play Systems, Inc.)
  • Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Robin Milford (WIPO – UDRP) (Counsel for Rainbow Play Systems, Inc.)
  • RE/MAX International, Inc. v. CBS Corporation, et. al., (D. Colo.) (Trademark Dilution, Defamation Resulting In Business Reputation Injury) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Road Less Traveled, Inc. v. Consumer Products Design, Ltd., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition)
  • Roll Rite Corporation v. Automated Integrated Systems, (USCA 6th Cir.) (Appeal) (Trade Dress Infringement) (Plaintiff-Appellant’s Counsel)
  • River West Brands, LLC v. Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc. (TTAB) (Trademark Cancellation) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. v. Accuscan Health Imaging, LLC, (D. Utah) (Trademark Infringement, Dilution and Unfair Competition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Snee Chemical Company v. The Butcher Company, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Strong Industries, Inc. v. Jannic, Inc., (MD FL) (Trademark Infringement) (Plainitff’s Counsel)
  • Trus Joist Macmillan, L.P. v. Shaw Industries, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Defendant’s Counsel)
  • Trustmark Insurance Company v. Principal Financial Services, Inc., (ND IL) (Trademark 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)
  • Universal Beauty, Inc. v. Summit Laboratories, Inc., (Cir. Ct. Cook Cty.) (Trade Secret Misappropriation) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Whitaker Corporation v. E-Net, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Whitaker Corporation v. Steve Marks, (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Whitaker Corporation v. Pepsico, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Whitaker Corporation v. Superconductor Technologies, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Whitaker Corporation v. Amp’d Mobile, Inc., (TTAB) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • The Whitaker Corporation v. United Global W & C Inc., (Canada) (Trademark Opposition) (Plaintiff’s Counsel)
  • Challenge of Advertising – Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Solowave Design Corporation, (NAD) (Counsel for Rainbow)
  • Challenge of Advertising – The Stanley Works v. American Saw & Manufacturing Co. d/b/a Lenox and Irwin Industrial Tool Company, (NAD) (Counsel for American Saw)
  • Challenge of Advertising – NAD v. Sanford Corporation, (NAD) (Counsel for Sanford Corporation)

Richard B. Biagi

Member

rbiagi@nealmcdevitt.com
T: 847.881.2455
F: 847.441.0911

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Richard B. Biagi