Jennifer M. Kurcz

Partner

Chicago
T +1.312.416.6282
F +1.312.416.6201

Overview

Jennifer Kurcz leads BakerHostetler’s Intellectual Property team for the Chicago office and is a patent litigator with over 18 years of experience representing technology companies. Jennifer’s experience is heavily concentrated on district court litigation, federal appeals and PTAB proceedings. She works with clients to provide insightful and practical advocacy, often drawing on her depth of knowledge and experience in computer science litigation.

Select Experience

  • Obtained a jury verdict of infringement and award of $15.8 million on behalf of software company in a patent infringement suit.

  • Defended a leading wireless audio company against infringement claims where the plaintiff sought significant damages. Obtained a walkaway settlement.

  • Obtained complete dismissal of multi-patent infringement case filed against international computer company in the District of Delaware, where co-defendant’s motion to dismiss was denied.

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Experience

  • Obtained a jury verdict of infringement and award of $15.8 million on behalf of software company in a patent infringement suit.

  • Defended a leading wireless audio company against infringement claims where the plaintiff sought significant damages. Obtained a walkaway settlement.

  • Obtained complete dismissal of multi-patent infringement case filed against international computer company in the District of Delaware, where co-defendant’s motion to dismiss was denied.

  • Obtained a multimillion-dollar jury verdict (and affirmance on appeal) for patent infringement on behalf of a Chicago-based software company.

  • Represented a patent owner in asserting an extensive patent portfolio to obtain licenses and more than 20 settlements.

  • Developed and protected comprehensive branding strategy in the medical field.

  • Enforced patents against financial services industry, obtaining jury verdict finding infringement, upholding validity and awarding $6.6 million in damages.

  • Defended a Fortune 200 pharmaceutical company in an infringement suit, obtaining favorable claim construction and settlement.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2019 to Present)
    • Illinois: Patent Law
      • Lawyer of the Year (2023)
  • Illinois "Super Lawyer" (2018 to Present)
    • Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2016 to 2017)

Memberships

  • ChIPs, Chicago Chapter: Co-Chair
  • American Bar Association: Intellectual Property Section
  • Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
  • PTAB Bar Association

Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Registration No. 54,481
  • Illinois

Education

  • J.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law, cum laude; Order of the Coif; Nebraska Law Review, Executive Editor
  • B.S., Biochemistry, minor in Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa

Blog

In The Blogs

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IP Intelligence: Insight on Intellectual Property
Federal Circuit Requires Prior Art Be Analogous for Anticipation of Design Patents
By Jennifer M. Kurcz
October 12, 2021
Design patents offer valuable protection in a patent portfolio, including conferring different strategic advantages compared to those of utility patents. For example, design patents allow for recovery of “total profits” — not just lost...
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