Jonathan la phillips

Jon is an experienced litigator of intellectual property issues, commercial disputes, and internet law issues. His experience also extends to securing and managing intellectual property rights and public utility infrastructure matters.

Regardless of the practice area, Jon believes inventive and well-developed strategies, aggressively implemented from the outset generally yield the best, and most cost effective, results for our clients.

A versatile litigator, Jon has handled contested matters at federal trial and appellate courts across the country, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the World Intellectual Property Organization, Illinois’ state trial and appellate courts, the Illinois Commerce Commission and other Illinois administrative agencies.

Jon’s clients range from the individual, start up businesses of all sorts, to companies with tens of millions of dollars in revenue. Odds are, he has helped someone like you or your company.

Background

Jon attended Bradley University, earning a bachelors of science in chemistry. Thereafter he earned his juris doctor and certificate in intellectual property law from DePaul University College of Law. Not only practicing the law, he also teaches Intellectual Property and the Entrepreneur at Bradley University. Jonathan was also a founding board member of Startup Peoria, an organization aimed at assisting entrepreneurs and facilitating growth of a startup community in the Peoria, Illinois area. He continues to be active in the Illinois startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem through assisting similar organizations and representing startups and entrepreneurs. Otherwise, he travels the world and spoils his dog.

Leadership & recognition

Jon is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. He is current Chair of the IP section counsel. He is a former chair of both the Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation Section Council, a member of its Federal Civil Practice section council, and its Standing Committee on AI. Like all members of the Firm, Jon is a member of the International Trademark Association. He is also a member of the Copyright Society, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Federal Bar Association for the Central District of Illinois.

Leading Lawyers has repeatedly named Jon as an Emerging Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law; Public Utilities Law: Gas/Water/Electric; Energy Law; and Commercial litigation. Only two percent of lawyers under 40 earn this recognition.

Publications

With Jon a recognized leader in his practice areas, legal organizations regularly publish article he prepares.

  • Intra-Third-Party Squabble Results in Sixth Circuit Opinion Applying Lanham Act to Political Marks, Intellectual Property, Vol. 64, No. 2, Illinois State Bar Association (Dec. 2024)

  • Report to President Shawn Kasserman [Re: use of AI in legal proffession], Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, Vol. 67, No. 1, Illinois State Bar Association (Sept. 2023) (with other committee members)

  • FTC Takes on Fake Consumer Reviews and Auto-Renewal Subscriptions, Intellectual Property, Vol. 63, No. 1, Illinois State Bar Association (Sept. 2023) (with other authors)

  • New Illinois Law Bans Third Parties from Using Merchant Marks Without Permission, Intellectual Property, Vol. 62, No. 1, Illinois State Bar Association (Feb. 2023)

  • SCOTUS Maintains a Waiting Game for Copyright: Resolving a Circuit Split, SCOTUS Requires Registration of Copyright Before Suit, Intellectual Property, Vol. 58, No. 3, Illinois State Bar Association (Apr. 2019)

  • Recent Legislation Impacting Illinois Solar Developments, Energy Utilities, Telecommunications & Transportation Law, Vol. 53, No. 1, Illinois State Bar Association (Jan. 2019)

  • Will the Northern District of Illinois’ Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot Program End Copyright Trolling in the District?, Intellectual Property, Vol. 56, No. 2, Illinois State Bar Association (Sept. 2016) [Note: It didn’t]

  • Copyright & the Artist, InterBusiness Issues (Oct. 2013)

  • No Hope for Reverse Payments, Update, Food and Drug Law Institute (May 2010)

  • Physical Properties of Monoestolides with Varying Chain Lengths (Abstract Only), Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (2005) (with other authors)

WHere jon practices—nationwide

Jon is licensed in Illinois. But, given the primary nature of his practice is federal in nature (not state courts), he practices throughout the United States. There is a good chance he can assist you, regardless of where you are located. And, if he cannot help, he is happy to help you find the assistance you need.

Licensed / Member of bar

  • Supreme Court of the United States

  • State of Illinois, trial and appeal courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

  • United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois General Bar

  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Practices before these administrative bodies

  • United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office

  • Illinois Commerce Commission

  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

  • Illinois Department of Labor

  • Illinois Department of Human Rights

Has also practiced before:

through temporary pro hac vice admissions, Jon has practiced in courts such as the

  • United States District Court for the District of Arizona

  • United States District Court for the District of D.C.

  • United States District Court for the Central District of California

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida

  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

  • United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

  • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee

  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

  • Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County, Ohio