He has served as lead trial counsel in jury and bench trials in a number of cases relating to such diverse matters as computer chips, biotechnology, and automotive repair equipment. He has presented oral arguments before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and before Appellate and District Courts throughout the United States. Mr. Nelson has assisted clients with respect to foreign patent litigation and has extensive experience before the International Trade Commission. He has spoken at numerous conferences and seminars.
Mr. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue University, a Masters of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois. He is admitted to practice before the Bars of the State of Illinois, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, numerous Federal District and United States Appellate Courts and the Supreme Court. He is licensed to practice before the Patent Office and the International Trade Commission.
Jon Nelson is a co-founder and was an officer of the Northwestern University/Evanston Research Park in Evanston, Illinois, and was Chairman of the Board of the Technology Innovation Center, Inc., in Evanston, Illinois, a small business incubator that houses multiple sixty technology oriented companies.
Mr. Nelson is listed in Euromoney's "Guide to the World's Leading Patent Law Practitioners," the "Guide to the World's Leading Trademark Law Practitioners," and was named one of the "World's Leading IP Strategists" by Intellectual Asset Management magazine. Mr. Nelson was named to the 2012, 2011 and 2010 Best Lawyers list. Best Lawyers is considered the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. The Best Lawyers list is based on an annual peer-review survey, lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed. Mr. Nelson 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.
Mr. Nelson served as an Alderman in Evanston, Illinois, from 1977 to 1993; and is a founding Director of First Bank and Trust of Evanston, Evanston, Illinois.
Mr. Nelson practices in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.