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Jennifer leads Reed Smith’s Chicago office as its managing partner. She is an experienced trial lawyer who successfully litigates hard-fought, bet-the-company intellectual property cases involving claims for trade secret misappropriation, trademark, patent and copyright infringement, as well as false advertising and unfair competition.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Obtained verdict and $66 million damages award, and worldwide permanent injunction, for LED industry leader, Lumileds LLC, in prosecution of trade secret misappropriation claim involving LED technology following four-week jury trial – named as a “top verdict” in California in 2019. Lumileds LLC v. Elec-Tech International Co., Ltd. (Cal. Superior Ct., Santa Clara County, 2015-CV-278566).
Obtained jury verdict for Philips North America following four-week trial involving claims for trade secret misappropriation, violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and successfully defended antitrust counterclaims. Philips North America LLC v. TEC Holdings, Inc. (W.D.N.C. 3:20-cv-00021-MOC-DCK).
Represents Philips North America in multiple matters prosecuting claims for violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Successes include obtaining evidentiary sanctions for defendant’s spoliation of evidence in Philips North America LLC v. Advanced Imaging Services, Inc. (E.D. Cal. 2:21-cv-00876), and obtaining default judgment of liability in Philips North America LLC v. Radon Medical Imaging Corporation – WV (S.D. W. Va. 2:21-cv-298).
Trade Secret Misappropriation / Copyright Infringement
Obtained verdict and $66 million damages award, and worldwide permanent injunction, for LED industry leader, Lumileds LLC, in prosecution of trade secret misappropriation claim involving LED technology following four-week jury trial – named as a “top verdict” in California in 2019. Lumileds LLC v. Elec-Tech International Co., Ltd. (Cal. Superior Ct., Santa Clara County, 2015-CV-278566).
Obtained jury verdict for Philips North America following four-week trial involving claims for trade secret misappropriation, violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and successfully defended antitrust counterclaims. Philips North America LLC v. TEC Holdings, Inc. (W.D.N.C. 3:20-cv-00021-MOC-DCK).
Represents Philips North America in multiple matters prosecuting claims for violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Successes include obtaining evidentiary sanctions for defendant’s spoliation of evidence in Philips North America LLC v. Advanced Imaging Services, Inc. (E.D. Cal. 2:21-cv-00876), and obtaining default judgment of liability in Philips North America LLC v. Radon Medical Imaging Corporation – WV (S.D. W. Va. 2:21-cv-298).
Obtained jury verdict and punitive damages for software start-up HotSamba, Inc. in prosecution of copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation and breach of a software license claims. HotSamba, Inc. v. Caterpillar Inc. (N.D. Ill. 01 C 5540).
Trademark Infringement/Unfair Competition
Successfully protects and defends clients’ trademarks and trade dress through pre-litigation cease and desist letters and in litigation.
Obtained defense jury verdict for Whirlpool in Lanham Act and Illinois Consumer Fraud Act claims, defeating $83M damages claim, and obtained judgment as a matter of law post-trial on Deceptive Trade Practices Act claim. LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. v. Whirlpool Corporation (N.D. Ill. 08 C 242).
Defended Real Chemistry, Inc. in trademark infringement matter. BluDahlia, LLC. v. Real Chemistry, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 3:23-cv-00662).
Defended Mattress Firm, Inc. in Lanham Act false advertising and state law unfair competition claims, and obtained pre-trial ruling striking bulk of plaintiff’s asserted damages. Select Comfort Corporation v. Mattress Firm, Inc. (D. Minn. 13-cv-02451-DWF-SER).
Defended Positec and RW Direct in retrial of trade dress and trademark infringement claims. Black & Decker Corporation v. Positec USA Inc. (N.D. Ill. 1:11-cv-05426).
Patent Infringement
Obtains favorable resolution of matters asserted by non-practicing and other entities for numerous clients, both pre-litigation and in litigation.
Obtained voluntary dismissal of complaint against GE MDS, LLC, after filing motion to dismiss amended complaint, in case involving GE’s industrial cellular routers. Hydro-Net LLC v. GE MDS, LLC (D. Del. 1:21-cv-00788-MN).
Defended CenturyLink in claims involving various aspects of its telecommunications networks and products. Sycamore IP Holdings LLC v. CenturyLink Communications, LLC et al. (E.D. Tex. 2:15-cv-589); Network Congestion Solutions LLC v. CenturyLink Communications LLC (D. Del. 14-cv-899-SLR); Phoenix Licensing, LLC v. CenturyLink, Inc. (E.D. Tex. 2:14-CV-00965-JRG-RSP); Relay IP, Inc. v. Savvis, Inc. (D. Del. 13-780-GMS).
Defended Positec and RW Direct in claims involving string trimmer motor mount. Black & Decker Inc. v. Positec USA, Inc. (N.D. Ill. 1:13-cv-3075).
Defended Nintendo in claims involving the Wii gaming system. Motion Games v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (E.D. Tex. 6:12-cv-00878-LED) (patent invalidated in concurrent inter partes review proceedings); Martin v. Nintendo of America, Inc. (N.D. Ill. 08 C 1398).
Defended Qwest Communications in claims involving Qwest’s telecommunications networks. GlobeTecTrust, LLC v. Qwest Communications Company, LLC (D. Del. 13-952-RGA) (patent directed to multiprotocol label switching in fiber optic networks); Alberta Telecommunications Research Centre d/b/a TR Labs v. Qwest Communications Company, LLC (D. Colo. 1:12-cv-581-WJM-CJS; D. N.J. 3:12-cv-06199) (patents directed to path restoration in fiber optic networks); Red River Fiber Optic Corporation v. Verizon Services Corporation (N.D. Tex. 3:11-cv-01010-L-BD) (patent claiming end-to-end fiber optic network; obtained transfer of venue from the Eastern District of Texas by writ of mandamus).
Other Matters
Represents individuals seeking asylum in the United States in conjunction with the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Serves as co-chair of Reed Smith’s Trial Training Program.
Recognitions
Named a Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s Chicago Business, 2024 and 2026
Named a Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney by Crain’s Chicago Business, 2025
Named a Women In Law: Leaders Leaning In honoree by Law Bulletin Media, 2025
Credentials
Education
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2000, J.D., summa cum laude
- Indiana University, 1990, B.A.
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
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