Michael G Babbitt

Practice Areas

Michael G. Babbitt is a partner in the firm's Litigation and Intellectual Property Departments in Chicago. Michael focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and counseling involving patents and technology.

Michael has deep experience leading high-profile patent and technology disputes, including those involving competitors and strategically significant technologies. He has a proven record of success in scores of patent litigations, appeals, and Patent Office proceedings and trials. He regularly argues before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and Federal Circuit as lead counsel. Michael also has experience with matters involving trade secret, non-disclosure agreement, contract, antitrust, privacy, and trademark issues, among others. He was recognized as a Notable Rising Star in Law by Crain’s Chicago.

Utilizing his background in electrical and computer engineering, Michael advises clients in the areas of consumer electronics, industrial machines, food processing systems, power distribution systems, data centers, wireless networks, semiconductors, video and audio technology, and automotive/vehicle systems, as well as many other technologies. He is a registered patent attorney before the US Patent Office.

Michael is the pro bono coordinator for the Chicago office and is strongly committed to the firm’s nationally recognized pro bono practice, focusing on civil rights, voting rights, and gender equality issues. He won a verdict of not guilty as lead trial attorney for a young woman falsely accused of attempted murder in Chicago. He has also argued a direct criminal appeal before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and has represented clients in numerous prisoner rights matters.

Michael received a JD from the University of Illinois in 2008. Michael graduated from the University of Illinois in 2005, where he earned a BS in Computer Engineering.

Professional Memberships

Michael is a member of the PTAB Bar Association’s Board of Directors and has served as a sponsor in the USPTO Legal Experience and Advancement Program. He is a Trustee of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. He has served as an adjunct professor for the John Marshall Law School Intellectual Property Trial Advocacy Program. He has also been a mentor for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program. Additionally, Michael served on the Associate Board for Mercy Home Children's Charity.

Awards