CHICAGO (LAWFUEL) – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, is pleased to announce that Jeffery A. Handelman, a shareholder and chair of Brinks’ Trademark Group, and Christopher A. Harkins, an attorney in the firm’s Chicago office, are recipients of 2008 Burton Awards, which are given in association with the U.S. Library of Congress and Law Library of Congress. The black-tie ceremony was held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and featured keynote speaker Associate Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
Mr. Handelman and Brinks tied for first place in the category of Best Law Firm Compendium for his Guide to TTAB Practice, Volumes 1 and 2, published by Aspen Publishers, a division of the Wolters Kluwer Law & Business Group. Guide to TTAB Practice is a one-of-a-kind, nuts-and-bolts resource written by an expert practitioner that takes the reader step-by-step through the entire process of practicing before the TTAB. This award was sponsored by the Association of Legal Administrators with LexisNexis as a participating contributor.
Mr. Harkins won the 2008 National Award for Excellence in Legal Writing for his article, “Fending Off Paper Patents and Patent Trolls: A Novel ‘Cold Fusion’ Defense Because Changing Times Demand It,” which was published in the Albany Law Journal of Science & Technology (2007). This is the second consecutive year that Mr. Harkins has been recognized for his exemplary contributions to legal writing. He won the 2007 National Award for Excellence in Legal Writing for his article entitled, “Tattoos and Copyright Infringement: Celebrities, Marketers, and Businesses Beware of the Ink,” which was published in the Lewis and Clark Law Review (2006.)
In 1999, a unique national awards program was established to reward legal writing. Founded by lawyer and author, William C. Burton, the Burton Awards program and the Burton Foundation, a non-profit, cultural and academic organization, annually acknowledges concise and effective legal writing by partners in law firms and law students who use plain, clear and succinct language to inform clients or the public about legal issues or topics. Entries must be in written form, rather than disseminated over the Internet, and published during 2007. More information about the Burton Awards can be
found at www.burtonawards.com.
Mr. Handelman is the chair of the Trademark Group at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione. He has specialized in intellectual property law since joining Brinks as an associate in 1984.
His expertise includes trademark law, unfair competition, trade dress, dilution, false advertising, copyright law and licensing matters. Mr. Handelman litigates before the U.S. Court of Appeals and U.S. District Courts around the country and practices extensively before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Mr. Handelman is a prolific writer and frequently invited speaker on intellectual property topics. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Harkins focuses on litigation and patent prosecution. He has litigated in the areas of patent, trade secrets and copyrights and has prosecuted patents in the mechanical arts and medical devices. Mr. Harkins has been cited by the U.S. Congress in support of the then-pending “Patent Reform Act of 2007” seeking to enact the most sweeping changes to the patent statute in 55 years. In addition to his IP practice, his experience has included drafting the firm’s pro bono policy and serving on the firm’s award-winning pro bono program, as well as representing many pro bono clients. Mr. Harkins received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 170 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services. For more information, visit www.usebrinks.com.
