Clay Andrew Tillack brings an unusually diverse skill set to his practice. While he initially concentrated his practice on commercial litigation, once he discovered intellectual property and franchise law he made them the substantive focus of his work.
This experience mix allows Clay to provide clients with insights that others might miss in regard to both the transactional and litigation aspects of high-stakes matters. His clients include individuals, private and public organizations and real estate, restaurant and hospitality franchisors.
Clay’s clients benefit from his deep well of experience and knowledge. For example, in the field of trademarks, Clay provides nuanced counseling when clients consider adopting a new mark, helping them prosecute the mark to registration.
Aware of the litigation threat and opportunities posed by the intellectual property a client has chosen to adopt, Clay can take the same trademark he registered and then protect it against misuse. And when others claim that the client’s use of a mark infringes their own trademarks, Clay prepares the response best suited to his client’s needs.
Singularly focused on his clients’ needs, Clay constantly asks himself, “Am I getting this right for them?” Clay’s clients place their trust in him because he knows he needs to re-earn it with every new assignment.
EXPERIENCE:
- For over 18 years, Clay has represented one of the world’s most famous athletes on issues relating to his intellectual property, including his trademarks and his right of publicity. In addition to managing the client’s trademark portfolio, Clay’s representation has included prosecuting federal court claims for the misuse of trademarks and publicity rights in advertising.
- Clay led the rebranding of one of the country’s largest foodservice providers, which included the adoption and registration of a new company name, logo and trademarks for the goods and services provided by the client.
- Clay represented a major motion picture studio in its successful efforts to stop the unauthorized use of iconic images from two of the most famous movies and one of the most famous cartoon duos in history.
- When the same studio faced a copyright claim arising out of the alleged infringement of a copyright in a tattoo used on a movie character’s face, Clay launched a successful defense.
- Clay arbitrated claims made against a client, a major franchisor in the field of real estate services, arising out a dispute over key provisions in its license agreement.
- Clay manages numerous trademark portfolios of private and public organizations in a wide variety of industries.
- Working with the ACLU on behalf of a gay couple, obtained a ground breaking Order from the Illinois Human Rights Commission, which adopted the report and recommendations of an administrative law judge finding that the Illinois Human Rights Act was violated when our clients were denied equal access to a bed and breakfast to celebrate their civil union.
EDUCATION:
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1982
- Dartmouth College, B.A., 1979
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
- American Bar Association, Forum on Franchising, Diversity Caucus
- Chicago Bar Association
- International Trademark Association, Schiff Hardin Member Designee
Cost
Rate : $$$