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.