Raymond I. Geraldson, Jr. (Retired)
Raymond I. Geraldson, Jr. has served as principal trademark counsel to industry leading national and international companies for more than thirty years. Describing his approach to practice, he notes “We partner with our clients. We treat our relationship with clients as a long-term investment, not a short-term opportunity.”
With a practice encompassing litigation, transactions, mediation, and counseling on trademark, copyright and unfair competition law throughout the United States and abroad, Geraldson is widely recognized as one of the leading trademark attorneys in the world.
Having litigated hundreds of cases on behalf of domestic and international corporations, Geraldson’s intellectual property career and practice mirrors the sea change in global commerce through the years. Today, in addition to numerous traditional businesses, he represents many clients in high-technology and biotechnology fields. His practice covers a range of 21st Century disputes over, not only trademark infringement, but trade dress, false advertising claims, trademark dilution and Internet cyberpiracy.
Geraldson brings his wealth of international brand portfolio experience to bear in strategic planning and counseling on brand selection, clearance, registration, and acquisition of intellectual property rights, as well as protection and enforcement issues. “By working together in the selection of a company name and brand names, we help establish assets that will be invaluable to the long-term success of the client. Then we help implement business practices to protect those assets over the life of the business,” he adds.
For more than a decade, Geraldson has been selected by his peers for listing in The Best Lawyers in America for intellectual property law. He is also listed in the Guide to the World’s Leading Trade Mark Practioners and in 2009 was again listed in the publication’s Best of the Best USA as one of the Top 25 Trademark Practioners in the United States. He has been recognized by The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers in the field of intellectual property law, including the designation of a “pre-eminent lawyer.” Since the inception of this honor, he has been selected as an Illinois “Super Lawyer” in the field of intellectual property. He is also listed in the Guide to the World’s Leading Trade Mark Practioners, and was selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois.
His clientele, years of experience in the trademark bar community, and history of sophisticated litigation matters have gained Geraldson respect among clients and adversaries alike. “I try to be respectful of people, even if we do not agree,” he continues. “In the end, I find that this approach benefits our clients. I’m proud of the fact that significant matters have been referred to me by opposing counsel.”
Geraldson has served as president of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC) and on the Board of Directors of the International Trademark Association (INTA). He also was a founding member of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, which provides pro bono representation to the arts community. He served on its Board of Directors and as its President. In November 1998 he was awarded the Thomas R. Leavens Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts in Illinois.
Academia has also been a part of Geraldson’s professional life for decades. He taught LLM-level courses in trademark and unfair competition law as an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School for over 25 years, and now serves on the Law School’s Intellectual Property Center Board of Advisors.
Geraldson has been active in civic and community organizations throughout his career, including service for 10 years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Kendall College, Chicago, Illinois.
- Automobiles & Components
- Consumer Durables & Apparel
- Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
- Media
- Retailing
- Food & Drug Retailing
- Household & Personal Products
- Energy
- Banks
- Diversified Financials
- Health Care Equipment & Services
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
- Transportation
- Software & Services
- Technology Hardware & Equipment
- Materials
- Telecommunications Services
- 2019 Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register : AV® Rated Preeminent Lawyer
- 2012 World Trademark Review 1000 : Raymond I. Geraldson, Jr. is described as "a dean of the Illinois trademark Bar"
- 2011 Best Lawyers in America 2008 Edition : A "Best Lawyer in America" for 10 years or longer in intellectual property law
- 2011 World Trademark Review 1000 : Raymond I. Geraldson, Jr. is described as "a great practitioner"
- 2011 The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers : Recognized
- 2010 Leading Lawyers Magazine, Business Edition : Selected as a "Top Business Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law in Illinois"
- 2010 Chicago's Best Lawyers : Selected as one of Chicago's Best Lawyers in Intellectual Property Law
- 2010 The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2010 : One of the world's leading Business lawyers
- 2010 Law & Politics : An Illinois "Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Law
- 2010 Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition : An Illinois "Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Litigation
- 2009 Managing Intellectual Property : Selected as a "World's Leading Trade Mark Practitioner"
- 2009 Chicago Lawyer Magazine : Selected as a "Top Intellectual Property Lawyer in Illinois" by Leading Lawyers Network
- 2009 Best of the Best USA : One of the top 25 trademark lawyers in the United States
- 2009 Leading Lawyers Network Magazine : A "Leading Lawyer" in Intellectual Property
- 2009 The International Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers 2009 : One of the Leading Trademark Attorneys in the World
- 2008 Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers : Recognized for his trademark work
- 2008 Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register : AV® Rated Preeminent Lawyer
- 2008 Who's Who Legal: Illinois 2008 : An "Illinois leading lawyer in Trademark law"
- 2008 Best Lawyers in America 2006 Edition : A "Best Lawyer in America" for 10 years or longer in intellectual property law
- 2008 Law & Politics : An Illinois "Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Litigation
- 2007 Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers : A "world's leading practitioner" in intellectual property law
- 2007 Marquis Who's Who in American Law, 30th Anniversary Edition : Recognized
- 2007 Informa plc, the publisher of Trademark World, Patent World and Copyright World : Identified as a "Luminary" within the field of intellectual property
- 2007 The International Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers 2007 : Recognized
- 2007 Leading Lawyers Network Magazine : Named a "Leading Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Law
- 2006 Who's Who Legal, The International and U.S. Who's Who of Business Lawyers : A "world's leading practitioner" in intellectual property law
- 3COM Corp. v. Magitech, Inc., Case No. 5:2001-cv-20446 (N.D. Cal. 2001, Judge Ware) (General)
- SWIMC, Inc. v. Jack Schwartz Shoes, Inc., Case No. 1:09-cv-526JFF (D. Del. 2009, J. Farnan, Jr.) (Trademark Infringement)
- 3Com Corporation v. Intellijax Corporation, Opposition No. 91190831 (TTAB 2009) (Trademark)
- World Wide Sales, Inc. v. Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Case No. 1:2008-cv-01198 (N.D. Ill. 2009, Judge Kennelly) (granting summary judgment for defendant on trademark infringement and fraud claims) (Trademark Infringement)
- Kenosha Lumber & Manufacturing Company, Inc. v. PDS Electronics, Inc., Opposition No. 91188662 (TTAB 2009) (Trademark)
- Bayer Corporation v. Dairy Management Inc., Opposition No. 91157755 (TTAB 2009) (Trademark)
- Phillips Performance Nutrition, LLC v. Bayer Healthcare, LLC, Case No. 1:2007-cv-01982 (D. Colo. 2009, Judge Brimmer) (Trademark Infringement)
- Bayer Healthcare, LLC v. BioRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Opposition No. 91184031 (TTAB 2009) (Trademark)
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc. v. Qiagen GmbH, Opposition No. 91169930 (TTAB 2008) (Trademark)
- SWIMC, Inc. v. Hy-Tech Thermal Solutions LLC and Hy-Tech Distributors, Inc., Case No. 1:08-cv-0084-SLR (D. Del. 2008, J. Robinson) (Trademark Infringement)
- Reliant Technologies, Inc. v. Downtown Medical, LLC and Mark K. Sachs, Case No. 08-22882-CIV-Jordan/McAiley (S.D. Fl. 2008; J. Jordan) (Trademark Infringement)
- Reliant Technologies, Inc. v. Robert L. McDaniel, Case NO. C 3:08-cv-2515 MMC (N.D. Ca. 2008, J. Chesney) (Trademark, ACPA)
- Bayer HealthCare LLC v. Bortec Biomedical Ltd., Cancellation No. 92046818 (TTAB 2008) (Trademark)
- Hospira Inc. v. Texas International Property Associates, NAF Case No. FA0704000959934 (NAF 2007) (Domain name transferred to client) (Internet, E-Commerce and Computer Technology)
- Bayer Corp. v. Germaine Laboratories, Inc., Cancellation No. 92046832 (TTAB 2007) (Trademark)
- Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation v. Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, 2007 WL 2875232 (N.D. Ill. 2007, Judge Kendall) (Trademark Infringement)
- Credo Technology Corporation v. IQ Management Corporation, Case No. D2007-0833 (WIPO 2007) (Domain name transferred to client) (Internet, E-Commerce and Computer Technology)
- 3COM Corp. v. 3COM Services, LLC, Case No. 3:2006-cv-02997 (N.D. Ohio 2007, Judge Carr) (Trademark)
- Spansion LLC v. Esalk LLC, Case No. D2007-1237 (WIPO 2007) (domain transferred) (ADR, arbitration, Mediation, and Expert Witnesses)
- Hamedani v. Bayer Corp., Case No. 3:2005-cv-02781 (N.D. Cal. 2006, Judge Jenkins) (General)
- SWIMC, Inc. v. Fine Paints of Europe, Inc., Case No. 1:2006-cv-00194, (D. Del. 2006, Judge Farnan, Jr.) (Trademark)
- BSH Home Appliances Corp. v. AJ Madison Corp., Case No. 1:2005-cv-04127 (E.D.N.Y. 2006, Judge Vitaliano) (Trademark Infringement)
- FF Acquisition Corp. v. Pacific Cycle L.L.C. and Torpedo Sports USA, Inc., Case No. 1:2003-cv-00257 (N.D. Miss. 2005, Judge Davidson) (Trademark Infringement)
- Nike Inc v. La Porte Holdings Inc., Case No. 2:2005-cv-01350 (C.D. Cal. 2005, Judge Cooper) (Internet, E-Commerce and Computer Technology)
- Darden Corp. et al (Olive Garden) v. IHOP Corp., Case No. 6:2004-cv-00149 (M.D. Fla. 2005, Judge Sharp) (on behalf of Plaintiff, use of offending mark halted; confidential settlement) (Trademark Infringement)
- BSH Home Appliances, et al v. Distribution Direct, et al, Case No. 2:2002-cv-00306 (D. Utah 2005, Judge Benson) (Trademark Infringement)
- Bayer Healthcare LLC v. Nagrom, Inc., 2004 U.S. Dist. Lexis 19454, 72 U.S.P.Q.2d 1751 (D. Kan. 2004, Judge Vratil) (Trademark Infringement)
- Nike Inc. v. Circle Group Internet Inc., 318 F.Supp.2d 688 (N.D. Ill. 2004, Judge Gettleman) (Internet, E-Commerce and Computer Technology)
- BSH Home Appliances Corp. v. Big John's Health Center, Case No. 4:2003-cv-00138 (D. Idaho 2004, Judge Winmill) (Trademark Infringement)
- The John Marshall Law School : Adjunct Professor, teaching L.L.M. degree courses in trademark and unfair competition law and trademark litigation (1972-2001); presently serving on Board of Advisors
- International Trademark Association : Member, Board of Directors (1985-1987)
- Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago : Past President (1991-1992); Board of Directors (1984-1986, 1992-1993)
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Chicago : Board of Directors 1974 to present; President (1976-1978)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association : Member
- American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section : Member
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association : Member
- Illinois State Bar Association : Member of Council, Section of Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, 1978-1982; Chairman, 1980-1981
- Chicago Bar Association : Member
- Lawyers Club of Chicago : Member
- "Maximizing the Value of Mediation," Co-author, INTA Bulletin (May 2009)
- Chapter on "The Quest for Coherence in United States Trademark Dilution Law," co-author (with Uli Widmaier) in Festschrift fuerJochenPagenberg, (Munich 2006).
- Chapter on "Evolution of Nontraditional Marks into the United States," co-author (with Matthew A. Griffin) in Harmonization of the Trademark Law, Anniversary Publication for Alexander von Mühlendahl (2005).
- "Review of the 1991 Trademark Decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit," Co-Author, The American University Law Review (Spring 1992).
- "Developments in Trademark and Unfair Competition Law," 24:1 The John Marshall Law Review (1990).