Biography

Rick Biagi, the Managing 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 and enforcement 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 has been ranked by the World Trademark Review to the WTR 1000 for trademark enforcement and litigation.

Rick represents a wide range of clients from small and mid-sized corporations to some of the most iconic brands.  His clients include large multinational financial services institutions; national trade associations; national and international retailers and QSR’s; manufacturers of well-known consumer brand products, jewelry, food products, apparel, and alcohol beverages; and electronics and technology companies.  Rick also proudly represents a number of local and national not-for-profit organizations in intellectual property matters on a pro bono basis.

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 also is an experienced mediator in the area of trademark law and has served as an expert witness in cases involving trademark law.

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 has served on Council and was the Past-Chair of the Trademarks Division for the ABA-IPL Section, in addition to numerous other leadership roles within the Section.  Rick previously served as the Chair of INTA’s Pro Bono Committee and a member of its Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and U.S. Legislation Subcommittee where he was engaged in the development of trademark legislation and policy on Capitol Hill and in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  Rick currently serves as Chair of INTA’s Trademark Office Practice Committee (TOPC) for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the INTA PAC Capitol Club.

Actively involved in his community of Park Ridge, Illinois, Rick held elected office for sixteen years, from 2009 to 2025. He was twice elected in 2009 and 2013 to the Park Ridge Park District Board of Commissioners.  Later, in 2017, he was elected to the District 64 Park Ridge-Niles School Board where he served as the Board’s President (2019-21) and Vice President (2017-19).  Then, elected in April of 2021, Rick also served as Alderman of Park Ridge’s 6th Ward where he served as Chairman of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee and as Chairman of the City Council’s Finance and Budget Committee.

Rick serves on the Board of Directors of CASA Lake County and Turning Pointe Autism Foundation and is also active in Chicago’s Italian-American business and civic community.  Rick and his wife, Susan, live in the Chicagoland area where they raised their five children.  When he’s not serving his clients or community, you can most likely find Rick on a golf course or at a school, sports or church event with his family.

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.

Professional Accomplishments

  • Ranked by the World Trademark Review to the WTR 1000 for trademark enforcement and litigation each year from 2019-2026.
  • 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 2026 in Intellectual Property Law
  • Named to Leading Lawyers for 2018 through 2026 in Advertising and Media Law and Intellectual Property 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
  • Juris Doctor, 2001, magna cum laude, DePaul University College of Law
    • Order of the Coif (2001)
    • Judicial Extern, Hon. Blanche M. Manning, District Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2000)
  • Bachelor of Music, 1992, trumpet performance, University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign

Outreach

Representative Speaking Engagements:

  • 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

Non-Profit Board Service

Elected Office

  • City of Park Ridge (2021 – Present) (elected)
    • Alderman, Sixth Ward
      • Chair, Public Safety Committee (2023 – Present)
      • Council Liaison – Zoning Board of Appeals (2022 – Present)
      • Member, Mayor’s Advisory Board (2021 – Present)
      • Chair, Budget and Finance Committee (2021 – 2023)
  • Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board (2017 – 2021) (elected)
    • Vice President – 2017-19
    • Board President – 2019-21
  • Park Ridge Park District Board of Commissioners (2009 – 2017) (elected)
    • Board President, Vice-President and Treasurer

Professional Memberships

Member:

International Trademark Association:

  • Trademark Office Practice Committee (TOPC) – 2022 – 2025; Chair – 2026 – Present
  • U.S. Legislation Subcommittee – 2006 – 2010; 2018 – 2022
  • 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:

  • Council Member – 2020 – 2023
  • Chair – Trademarks Division – 2018 – 2020
  • 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 – 2018, 2023 – 2026
  • Membership Board – 2023 – 2026

Representative Matters

U.S. Court of Appeals

  • Roll Rite Corporation v. Automated Integrated Systems, (USCA 6th Cir.) – Appeal before the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on behalf of Roll Rite Corporation in a case involving a claim of trade dress infringement for tractor-trailer roll-off tarp systems.

U.S. District Court

  • Academy Ltd. v. CWGS Group, LLC and Gander Outdoors, LLC, (SD TX) – Negotiated a favorable resolution for Camping World and Gander Outdoors in a trade dress infringement suit.
  • Candyland, Inc. v. Cornfields, Inc., (D Minn.) – Negotiated a favorable resolution for Cornfields in a trademark infringement suit involving the CHICAGO MIX mark for popcorn. 
  • CKE Restaurants, Inc. v. Jack In The Box, Inc., (CD Cal.) – Represented Carl’s Jr. Restaurants in a false advertising case filed by competitor Jack In The Box.
  • Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc. v. Joe Menchaca d/b/a/ El Menchaca Restaurant, (D SC) – Represented Hardee’s in a declaratory judgment action for non-infringement.
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. American Principle Bank, (CD Cal.) – Negotiated a favorable resolution for Principal Financial Group in a trademark infringement action involving use of the AMERICAN PRINCIPLE BANK mark.
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. BIG Finance and Insurance, Inc., (SD Iowa) – Negotiated a favorable resolution for Principal Financial Group in a trademark infringement action involving their PRINCIPAL mark.
  • Principal Financial Services, Inc. v. Richard Booy and Safe Financial Strategies LLC(ND IL) – Successfully litigated a trademark counterfeiting action and assisted the U.S. Attorney in prosecution of defendant involved in a financial Ponzi scheme using a counterfeit PRINCIPAL trademark in connection with fraudulent financial services.
  • Trustmark Insurance Company v. Principal Financial Services, Inc., (ND IL) – Negotiated a favorable resolution in a declaratory judgment action filed by Principal for non-infringement involving he term LIFE EVENTS.
  • Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Poli-Tron, Inc., (D SD) – Negotiated a favorable resolution for Rainbow Play Systems in a false advertising case involving use of the term cedar to refer to wood from the China fir tree.
  • RMR Hole Solutions LLC v. Daniel Farris, (ND IL) – Successfully litigated a copyright infringement action involving software for facilitating property tax appeals.
  • Kotero v. Paisley Park Enterprises, LLC (CD Cal) – Negotiated favorable resolution for Paisley Park Enterprises involving use of the APPOLONIA trademark.

USPTO/WIPO

  • Many additional trademark oppositions, cancellations and other proceedings before the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
  • Numerous disputes before the World Intellectual Property Organization under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).

National Advertising Division (NAD)

  • Challenge of Advertising – Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. v. Solowave Design Corporation – Represented Rainbow in claims involving use of the term cedar by competitors to refer to wood from the China fir tree.
  • Challenge of Advertising – The Stanley Works v. American Saw & Manufacturing Co. d/b/a Lenox and Irwin Industrial Tool Company – Represented American Saw over claims involving razor blades
  • Challenge of Advertising – NAD v. Sanford Corporation – Represented Sanford in claims related to writing instruments.
  • Challenge of Advertising – USA Rice Federation v. Planting Hope – Represented Planting Hope over their use of RIGHTRICE mark

Richard B. Biagi

Managing Member

Admitted in IL and DC
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Neal & McDevitt, LLC
Chicago, IL