Jared D. Solovay

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Most city dwellers know that to keep a taxi driver honest, you make sure he drives with the meter running. But how do you keep the people who sell parts to the cab company honest?

You start by hiring Jared Solovay.

Solovay and his colleagues recently filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against an auto parts dealer that was selling counterfeit-and potentially defective-parts to taxicab companies. "The lawsuit taught us everything we could ever want to know about pitman arms, ball joints and brake pads," Solovay quipped. "But it also gave us the satisfaction of having done the right thing for our client and for the public."

The case turned Solovay into something of a sleuth. The prosecutor needed our assistance with the criminal charges brought against the counterfeiter, so the case was a fascinating example of the interplay between civil and criminal law.

An accomplished IP lawyer, Solovay focuses on trademark and copyright litigation, anti-cybersquatting and ICANN dispute practice, Trademark Trial And Appeal Board proceedings, acquisition and protection of domain names, and trademark clearance and counseling. He's represented clients in a wide range of industries, from automobiles and consumer goods to software, information services, and music licensing.

Solovay points out that a good IP lawyer must be experienced in counseling and prosecution as well as litigation. The skills are in many ways opposite sides of the same coin, he notes. Good advice in the selection of a trademark helps avoid litigation, while poor advice may precipitate it. And in the midst of litigation, knowing the nuances of trademark prosecution can help an attorney understand the case and shape a favorable outcome.

For Solovay, clients aren't just along for the ride. Solovay works closely with his clients, and says they come to rely on his "solid research and writing, practical advice, and unflinching honesty." He in turn relies on the experience and collaborative spirit of his Pattishall colleagues.

"At Pattishall, a case doesn't 'belong' to the specific lawyers involved. The entire firm is invested in every case." Solovay explains, "With an open-door attitude among the attorneys, the invaluable experience collected here does not exist in isolation, but is shared collectively to deliver a higher-quality end product to our clients."

Solovay also draws on the experience he gained as a law student at Berkeley. He was a member of the Moot Court Board, and also worked as an Articles Editor for the Berkeley Journal Of Employment And Labor Law. In addition, he taught high school through the law school's Street Law program, and volunteered with the Central American Refugee Clinic, East Bay Workers' Rights Clinic, and Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. A recipient of a Public Interest Law Initiative fellowship, he worked with the Cook County Public Defender's Office, second-chairing several felony trials.

When he's not flagging down counterfeiters, Solovay brings this commitment to serving others to his practice at Pattishall, where he serves as co-chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee, and as a member of the Hiring Committee. He also serves as volunteer tutor at Literacy Chicago, and sings with the DePaul Community Chorus.