Wendi E. Sloane

Wendi concentrates her practice on intellectual property law and false advertising, including FDA and FTC regulatory compliance relating to beauty-related products.

As the co-chair of the Firm’s Intellectual Property Group, Wendi has extensive experience in all areas of non-utility patent intellectual property. Wendi combines her skill and experience as a trial attorney with her knowledge of copyright, trademark, design patent, and trade secret law to service the Firm’s diverse clientele. She actively assists clients in identifying, protecting, valuing, and preserving their intellectual property assets in the United States and internationally. Wendi counsels high profile clients on international trademark filing strategies and clearing new global brands in multiple jurisdictions, registering marks with the relevant trademark offices, and policing marks against infringers or defending a client’s use of a mark from threat of attack. She also handles the intellectual property aspects of U.S. and international corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, persona licenses, and trademark licenses. In addition, Wendi has extensive experience in evaluating the risks associated with advertising claims and advertising campaigns to minimize the risk potential litigation and regulatory enforcement actions, and to ensure compliance with the FDA and FTC rules and regulations that apply to beauty products, including cosmetics, sunscreen, and over the counter supplements. She has handled false advertising claims and claims under the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act when they arise. Wendi has litigated a wide variety of intellectual property cases across the country, including trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, counterfeiting, domain name issues, false advertising, right of publicity, copyright infringement, and design patent infringement. She has also handled a number of opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Wendi is well-versed in alternative dispute resolution, both as a litigant handling mediations and arbitrations, and as a member of the Panel of Neutrals for the International Trademark Association and a mediator at ARD Systems in Chicago. She is a frequent speaker at a variety of IP industry seminars and meetings, and a guest lecturer at Northwestern Law School and the University of San Diego Law School.

In 2017, Wendi received an Award of Excellence in Pro Bono Work from the Northern District of Illinois. In 2009, Wendi was honored as a Corporate Woman of Achievement by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO Chicago Chapter) for her contributions to advancing the success of women in the field of law. She was a member of the Trademark Reporter Committee from 2014-2018 and a member of the International Trademark Association Bulletins Committee from 2018-2019. She is an active member of Trademark, and Copyright committees of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and is the Vice Chair of the Trademark Litigation Committee.

Wendi is proficient in French.

Activities & Honors

• Selected, Illinois Super Lawyers (2013-2021)
• Selected, World Trademark Review 1000, The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals (2020)
• Member, International Trademark Association (INTA) Trademark Mediators Network
  
  • Member, Bulletins Committee (2018-2019)
  • Member, Trademark Reporter Committee (2014-2017)
• Recipient, Award of Excellence in Pro Bono Work, Northern District of Illinois (2017)
• Recipient, Corporate Woman of Achievement by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO Chicago Chapter) (2009)
• Intellectual Property Mediator, ADR Systems of America, LLC
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association ("AIPLA")
  • Vice Chair, Trademark Litigation Committee (2020-2022 term)
    
    • Member, Committee Review of AIPPA-US Study Question on Standing to Litigate (2020)
    • Liaison with the AIPLA Amicus Committee
  • Member, Trademark Law Committee
    • Member, Working Group, Trademark Modernization Act (2020)
    • Member, Working Group on proposed Right of Publicity Legislation
  • Member, Copyright Law Committee
  • Member, Trademark Internet Committee
  • Member, Topics Subcommittee