Firm News

Neal Gerber Eisenberg Intellectual Property Practice Places Six Attorneys in World Trademark Review 1000

Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) is pleased to announce that six attorneys from the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group have been ranked in the 2024 edition of World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals (WTR 1000). Partner Andrea Stein Fuelleman joins Ian J. Block, Lee J. Eulgen, Michael G. Kelber, Thomas C. McDonough and Antony J. McShane as individually recognized practitioners. In the “Individuals: Prosecution and Strategy” category, Kelber earned gold band status, with Eulgen and McShane earning silver band status, and McDonough, Block and Stein Fuelleman earning bronze. In the “Individuals: Enforcement and Litigation” category, Eulgen, Kelber and McShane all garnered silver band status.

The Intellectual Property practice group once again received gold band status in the 2024 edition, making it one of only five IP practices in Illinois to achieve this top level ranking. NGE has achieved gold status for seven straight years and has been ranked consistently in the WTR 1000 every year since 2013.

WTR 1000 noted that “Neal Gerber & Eisenberg boasts one of Chicago’s strongest teams when it comes to trademark work, offering up a strong presence on both sides of the contentious/non-contentious divide.” WTR describes Michael Kelber as “extremely personable and able to break down complex issues. He and his team are very client focused and provide timely and practical risk assessments.” Thomas McDonough “has a knack for developing sophisticated protection strategies for both patent and trademark portfolios.” Antony McShane provides “savvy counsel and strategy grounded in a comprehensive approach to intellectual rights.” Lee Eulgen is a “deeply experienced practitioner who takes on a wide range of trademark assessments, from portfolio management through transactions to dispute work.” Ian Block “focuses on assisting clients to build and protect their brands.” Andrea Stein Fuelleman is “a skilled portfolio manager and brand enforcer. A growing part of her practice comprises enforcement on social media platforms and the securing and protection of domain names through UDRP proceedings.”

The firm launched its Intellectual Property practice group in 2002 with just three attorneys. Today, the group consists of 35 IP attorneys supported by five paralegals, a docket team of five IP professionals and a dedicated IP operations director. The practice is responsible for managing, prosecuting, and enforcing global patent and trademark portfolios for some of the most cutting-edge technology and Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, it has obtained significant litigation victories for its clients in Chicago and beyond. 

A team of full-time WTR 1000 analysts conducted qualitative research over four months, including in-person interviews with trademark specialists across the world. This year the 14th edition features more than 87 countries and U.S. state-specific chapters analyzing local trademark legal services and profiling the firms and individuals designated as leaders in their respective fields based on depth of expertise and market presence, alongside positive peer and client feedback.