People: Michael R. Levinson, Partner

Michael R. Levinson

Partner

Chicago
Direct: (312) 460-5868
Fax: (312) 460-7868
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Biography

Mr. Levinson is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, focusing his practice on litigation, with particular experience in large intellectual property and commercial lawsuits, including patent and trade secrets litigation and motor vehicle dealer disputes.   He has handled cases in federal and state courts and in private arbitrations throughout the country, involving sporting goods, financial services and products, electronics, and food products, among many others.  Mr. Levinson has extensive bench trial, jury trial, and appellate experience.  He has spoken and written frequently on a variety of issues, including patent damages, protecting trade secrets, and expert witnesses.

Mr. Levinson is the former chairman of Seyfarth’s national Litigation Department and is a member of the firm’s Administrative and Compensation Committees.  He is also a former member of the CPR Dispute Resolution Distinguished Panels of Neutrals.  Mr. Levinson has been selected as both an Illinois Super Lawyer and an Illinois Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property and has been recognized by Legal 500.  Mr. Levinson has served as an arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers in numerous proceedings brought by and against NASD members.

 

Mr. Levinson is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, focusing his practice on litigation, with particular experience in large intellectual property and commercial lawsuits, including patent and trade secrets litigation and motor vehicle dealer disputes.   He has handled cases in federal and state courts and in private arbitrations throughout the country, involving sporting goods, financial services and products, electronics, and food products, among many others.  Mr. Levinson has extensive bench trial, jury trial, and appellate experience.  He has spoken and written frequently on a variety of issues, including patent damages, protecting trade secrets, and expert witnesses.

Mr. Levinson is the former chairman of Seyfarth’s national Litigation Department and is a member of the firm’s Administrative and Compensation Committees.  He is also a former member of the CPR Dispute Resolution Distinguished Panels of Neutrals.  Mr. Levinson has been selected as both an Illinois Super Lawyer and an Illinois Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property and has been recognized by Legal 500.  Mr. Levinson has served as an arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers in numerous proceedings brought by and against NASD members.

 

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School (1979)
  • M.B.A., University of Chicago (1987)
  • B.S., Claremont McKenna College (1976)
    summa cum laude

Admissions

  • Illinois

Courts

  • United States Supreme Court
  • Illinois Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal, Sixth and Seventh Circuits
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois (Trial Bar: Northern District)
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Affiliations

  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Representative Engagements

  • Philip L. Kile v. Cumberland International Trucks, Inc., 08-1733-I, Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee, Davidson County (2011) (breach of contract--jury trial).
  • Astleford International Trucks, Inc., et al. v. Navistar, Inc., et al. 27 CV 10-511, State of Minnesota, District Court, County of Hennepin, Fourth Judicial District (2011) (motor vehicle dealer, breach of contract--jury trial).
  • Roberts v. Claymore Group, JAMS, Chicago, Illinois (2009) (executive compensation--arbitration).
  • Equipoise PM LLC v. International Truck and Engine Corporation, et al., 05 C 6008, Federal District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2008) (motor vehicle dealer--jury trial).
  • Miken Composites, L.L.C. v. Wilson Sporting Goods Co., 06-1628, U.S. Court of Appeals for the  Federal Circuit (2008) (patent infringement baseball bats).
  • Shannon Clemmons v. Ron Smith; Smith Management Partners, LLC; Precious Moments, Inc. and Precious Moments Family of Companies, Inc., 08-811, Federal District Court, Middle District of Tennessee (2008) (copyright infringement childrens products, web marketing--jury trial).
  • In The Matter of: Certain Semiconductor Chips With Minimized Chip Package Size and Products Containing Same (IV), 337-TA-649, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. (2008) (patent infringement semiconductor chips--bench trial).
  • Kile International Trucks, Inc. v. International Truck and Engine Corporation, 3:04 1069, Federal District Court, Middle District of Tennessee (2006) (breach of contract, motor vehicle dealer--jury trial).
  • Wilson Sporting Goods v. Hillerich & Bradsby Co., 05-1103, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2006) (patent infringement baseball bats).
  • Precise Equipment Company v. Precor, et al., 04-419 RT (RCx), Federal District Court, Central District of  California (2005) (patent infringement exercise equipment).
  • William W. Toy v. E*Trade, et al., 02-1318 (JCL), Federal District Court, District of New Jersey (2004) (patent infringement trade notification system).
  • Unisource Worldwide, Inc. v. Carrara, et al., 03-1015, Federal District Court, Central District of Illinois (2003) (trade secrets).
  • Wilson Sporting Goods Co., et al. v. Babolat North America, Inc., et al., 03 cv 4108 (GEB), Federal District Court, District of New Jersey (2003) (patent infringement tennis racquets).
  • Moore North America v. Walz Postal Solutions, et al., 99 C 3086, Federal District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2002) (patent infringement certified mail forms).
  • O’Keefe-Henry Direct, Inc. v. O’Keefe Direct Marketing, 01 C 8698, Federal District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2002) (trademark infringement--bench trial).
  • Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.  v. Wilson Sporting Goods, Co., 98 CV 2855, Federal District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2001) (patent infringement golf balls).
  • Benetton Sportsystem USA, Inc. v. Wilson Sporting Goods Co., 94-1726 (GEB),  Federal District Court, District of New Jersey (2000) (patent infringement tennis racquets--jury trial).

Presentations

  • “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws But Were Afraid To Ask,” In-House Legal Department Presentation (November 17, 2011)
  • “What Lawyers Look For in an Expert Witness; Hiring and Working with Experts,” Effective Expert Testimony Conference, Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois (September 25, 2007)
  • “Protecting Trade Secrets When Key Employees Join or Leave Your Company,” North Shore General Counsel Forum, Vernon Hills, Illinois (May 16, 2006)
  • “IP, Technology & Non-Competition Issues in Employment Law,” Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois (September 22, 2005)
  • Co-chair, “Calculating and Proving Patent Damages:  Developments in the Law,” Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois (April 20, 2005)
  • “Trade Secret Protection & Litigation,” Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois, (November 18, 2004)
  • “Avoiding Pitfalls When Key Employees Join or Leave Your Company,” Navigant Consulting Legal Roundtable, Chicago, Illinois (November 10-11, 2004)
  • Co-chair, “Calculating and Proving Patent Damages,” Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois, (April 23, 2004)
  • “Restrictive Covenants,” Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago 14th Annual Trade Secrets Seminar (December 4, 2003)
  • “Trade Secrets:  Protecting and Extracting Value,” Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois (November 13, 2003)
  • Co-chair, “Calculating and Proving Patent Damages,” Law Seminars International, Chicago, Illinois, April 22, 2003
  • “Protecting Trade Secrets in the Electronic Age,” Price Waterhouse Coopers General Counsel Forum (May 2002)
  • “TRO and Preliminary Injunctive Relief,” Chicago Bar Association (November 2001)
  • “Recent Developments in Trade Secrets and Non-Compete Law,” Chicago Bar Association (November 2001, November 2000)

 

Publications

  • “Legal Lore: Full Steam Ahead,” Litigation, Vol. 37 Number 1, Fall 2010
  • "Legal Lore: Clear and Present Danger During World War I,"  Journal of the Section of Litigation, Volume 35 Number 4, Summer 2009
  • Co-author, “Restrictive Covenants/Post-Employment Restraints,” Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Treatise on Intellectual Property Law, 2008, 2005
  • Co-author, “Law Firm Security:  Preventing Theft,” National Law Journal, August 16, 2004
  • “Stop and Go Secrets,” IP Law and Business, December 2003
  • “Protecting Speech, Trade Secrets,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, November 18, 2003
  • “In-Term Uses of Trademark Remedies in Franchise Relationships,” Franchise Law Journal, Vol. 23, Number 2, Fall 2003
  • “The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act:  A Powerful New Way to Protect Information,” The Computer & Internet Lawyer, Volume 19, No. 9, September 2002
  • “Inevitable Disclosure in Illinois,” Chicago Bar Record, Summer 2002
  • “The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act:  A Powerful New Way to Protect Information,” American Bar Association, Section of Intellectual Property Law Newsletter, Volume 20, No. 3, Spring 2002
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