Brian C. Bianco

Brian C. Bianco is a registered patent lawyer and Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He focuses his practice on high-stakes intellectual property litigation and strategic IP counseling. With a background in electrical engineering, Brian represents clients in complex patent, trademark, and trade dress disputes in U.S. federal courts nationwide. His technical knowledge spans medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications, GPS, wireless systems, software, and internet protocols.

Brian holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law. He is licensed to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Brian has secured favorable outcomes for clients such as AT&T, Covidien, and major international semiconductor manufacturers. His litigation experience includes dismissals of patent claims, defense against economic tort allegations, and successful resolutions in infringement matters. He also assists clients through all phases of the product life cycle—guiding IP strategy from conception to commercialization, including freedom-to-operate analysis, data privacy compliance, and trade secret protection.

In addition to litigation, Brian manages patent portfolios, advises on licensing and acquisitions, and conducts due diligence reviews. He has prosecuted numerous patent applications before the USPTO and routinely advises on cross-border IP risk.

Brian C. Bianco’s professional honors include recognition by Best Lawyers (2023–2025), Managing IP as a Patent Star, and repeated listings in Super Lawyers and Crain’s Chicago Business for IP leadership. He is actively involved in the legal community through the American and Chicago Bar Associations, AIPLA, and the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. Brian is known for combining legal insight with technical precision to deliver practical, business-aligned IP solutions.

Law Office Affiliations

• Chair, Intellectual Property Practice Group, Akerman LLP
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Member, The Chicago Bar Association
• Member, Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
• Volunteer, Illinois Supreme Court, Commission on Professionalism, Mentoring Program
• Member, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar Pro Bono Program

Licensed State

• Illinois

Education

• University of Illinois College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Illinois
  BS in Electrical Engineering

Awards & Badges