Wendi E. Sloane

Wendi concentrates her practice on intellectual property law and complex commercial litigation.

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. 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.

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 she is now a member of the International Trademark Association Bulletins Committee and an active member of the Trademark Litigation and Copyright Litigation Subcommittees of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Wendi is proficient in French.

Activities & Honors

• Selected, Illinois Super Lawyers (2013-2020)
• Selected, World Trademark Review 1000, The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals (2020)
• Member, International Trademark Association (INTA) Trademark Mediators Network
  • Member, Trademark Reporter Committee (2014-2015)
• 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, Trademark Internet Committee
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association Trademark Litigation Committee (AIPLA)

Other Events & Speaking Engagements

• Coordinator, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) 2020 Annual Meeting, Trademark Law and Trademark Internet Committees' "Ready for Liftoff? Brand Launches and the Challenges They Present"
• Table Topic Moderator, 2013 International Trademark Association Annual Meeting, “What Every Trademark Lawyer Should Know About Advertising Injury Insurance”
• Lecturer, Chicago Kent School of Law, Graduate Program in Financial Services, on Director and Officer Liability Issues
• Speaker and author, Chicago Bar Association seminar on Commercial Litigation Discovery Techniques
• Speaker and author, Illinois Bar Association seminar on Contract Damage Issues
• Speaker and Author, Illinois Bar Association seminar on UCC Damage Issues