Janice Mitrius has a broad range of experience in several areas of intellectual property law. Her focus is on patent, trademark and trade secret litigation as well as commercialization, and enforcement of patents, copyrights and trademarks. Ms. Mitrius has litigated patent cases in wide ranging technologies including, for example, internet sales methods, injection molding equipment, diapers, feminine hygiene products, instant messaging, athletic shoes, personal care products, steam turbine engines, food processing, plastics processing and extrusions, voting machines, railroad cars, and rapid prototyping. Ms. Mitrius has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation. She has prepared and successfully argued motions before the court, including motions for summary judgment, entry of default, temporary restraining orders, orders of seizure, to compel discovery and the award of attorneys' fees. She has conducted several proceedings before the court including preliminary injunction and arbitration hearings and jury and bench trials.Ms. Mitrius has been extensively involved in discovery matters, Markman hearings, and pretrial matters. In addition, Ms. Mitrius has represented artists in the protection of their rights through contract actions. She has also successfully negotiated and drafted settlement agreements in patent and trademark infringement suits.
Ms. Mitrius has a broad range of appellate experience including developing strategies for briefing, preparing briefs, and arguing before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition, Ms. Mitrius has represented clients as lead counsel before both the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Ms. Mitrius has significant experience in obtaining design patents and has also prepared utility patents in the mechanical field, including tooling and biomedical devices. She also is experienced in intellectual property counseling and patent opinion preparation. Ms. Mitrius has significant experience in preparing trademark opinions and obtaining registrations. In addition, she has also been involved in negotiating and drafting various agreements, including joint development agreements, trademark purchase agreements and assignments, trademark licenses, and merchandising agreements.
Ms. Mitrius earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. After completing her undergraduate degree, she gained five years of practical engineering and business experience as a project engineer with AlliedSignal Engines (now Honeywell). She concentrated on auxiliary power gas turbine engines for regional jet and executive aircrafts. She was involved in all aspects of the engineering process including problem identification, design and analysis of solutions, verification through testing, customer communication, and production incorporation. During her five years at AlliedSignal, she earned a Masters of Business Administration degree. She received her degree of Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Arizona State University.
Ms. Mitrius is an active member of the ABA and currently serves in a leadership role as Co-Chair of the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program Committee for the ABA Section of Litigation. She previously served as Co-Chair of the ABA Section of Litigation Technology for the Litigator Committee and Intellectual Property Litigation Committee. Ms. Mitrius is also a member of the Leading Lawyers Network. Based upon peer nominations and approval by the network's Advisory Board, only the top lawyers are nominated and eligible for membership in the Leading Lawyers Network.
Ms. Mitrius previously served as President of the firm and practices in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
