Bio
Louis Klapp helps his clients navigate complex intellectual property issues. He litigates IP disputes, guides strategy on IP development and use, and negotiates key IP contracts. Clients praise his understanding of the law, mastery of the facts, and his ability to convey complicated issues in a straightforward manner.
He has litigated many patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases — including disputes between competitors, with departing employees and their new employers, and with nonpracticing entities. His cases span many federal district and appellate courts, the United States International Trade Commission, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center, and the American Arbitration Association.
In addition to his litigation work, Louis advises clients on intellectual property issues in other contexts, including diligence in private equity deals, negotiation of intellectual property licenses, and acquisition of patents, trademarks, and copyrights. He provides strategic guidance on developing portfolios, avoiding competitor IP, and navigating employment-related IP issues.
Following law school, Louis was a Public Interest Law Initiative Fellow at the ACLU of Illinois. He maintains a pro bono practice focused on civil liberties and civil rights.
Louis is the Deputy Lead of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Team.
Credentials
Education
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 2010, cum laude
Executive Articles Editor, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
Princeton University, M.A., Electrical Engineering, 2004
Cornell University, B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, 2002, cum laude with honors
Bar Admissions
Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
Board of Directors
Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
National LGBT Bar Association
Honors & Awards
Illinois Leading Lawyer in Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, and Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition Law, Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers (2021-2024)
Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives, Crain’s Chicago Business (2021)
Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40, The LGBT Bar (2017)
Mike Gonring Pro Bono Award (2018)