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    3. Elizabeth Baio

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    1. Home
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    3. Elizabeth Baio

      People

    Elizabeth Baio

    Partner / Co-Lead, International & Foreign Associate Network IP Team


    • Chicago
    • Office+1 312.425.8684
    • ebaio@nixonpeabody.com

    I'm a 2024 Nixon Peabody Pro Bono Champion.Read more about our Pro Bono program

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    • LinkedIn Profile

    Introduction

    Ela Baio’s practice is dedicated to intellectual property counseling. Ela handles various aspects of patent and trademark counseling, prosecution, and enforcement for a broad range of companies to develop effective intellectual property protection strategies nationally and globally that align with the companies’ business objectives.

    Practice Areas

    Intellectual PropertyEmerging CompaniesPatent Portfolio ManagementTrademark Portfolio ManagementCopyright, Trademark & Media Litigation

    Industries

    Esports & GamingBlockchain & Digital AssetsFood, Beverage & Agribusiness

    /My focus

    I focus my practice on intellectual property, including patent and trademark matters. My experience ranges from prosecuting US and foreign patent and trademark applications, clearance work, due diligence evaluations, and preparing validity and infringement opinions, to client management, licensing, domain name enforcement, and litigation matters.

    With my background in chemical engineering, I have a special emphasis in the mechanical and chemical areas. I have counseled clients regarding patent protection for chemical products and processes; controlled release devices; wagering systems; packaging and storage devices; surgical, medical, and dental products; high-speed manufacturing machinery; biomechanical devices; and consumer products. I have conducted numerous personal interviews at the USPTO and defended patent oppositions before the European Patent Office.

    In the trademark area, I am involved in all stages of trademark prosecution, including developing clients’ brands, developing strategic trademark filing strategies, responding to office actions, submitting post-registration maintenance documents, and participating in opposition and cancellation proceedings. I also assist clients in managing their trademark portfolios, determining the availability of marks, monitoring the use of potentially confusing marks, and enforcing and defending trademark rights throughout the world. I have counseled clients regarding trademark matters in the fields of publishing and printing, insurance, banking, entertainment, healthcare, software, blockchain and cryptocurrency, dental goods, food and beverage, fashion, cosmetics, consumer products, and coin counting.

    /Looking ahead

    Given the ease of accessing, importing, and copying products and services across borders and jurisdictions, it is critical for companies to have a strategic plan to broadly clear and protect their inventions and brands.

    /Insights

    • “Trademarks: Building Your Brand,” Virtual European Innovation Academy, July 20, 2021 (Keynote Speaker)
    • “Trademarks & Branding 101,” Virtual European Innovation Academy, September 23, 2020 (Keynote Speaker)
    • “IP Mechanics: How to Nail Down Your Patents and Trademarks,” European Innovation Academy, July 23, 2019, Torino, Italy (Speaker)
    • “IP Mechanics Workshop,” European Innovation Academy, July 24, 2018, Cascais, Portugal (Speaker)
    • “Trademarks: Points and Pitfalls to Ponder,” European Innovation Academy, July 24, 2017, Torino, Italy (Keynote Presenter)
    • ABA - IPL Newsletter, contributing author of summaries of recent developments in IP law (2008-present).

    /In the news

    • Taco John’s crafts its own victory in the ‘Taco Tuesday’ battle

      Chicago Intellectual Property partner Ela Baio is quoted in the following article on Taco John’s decision to give up its rights to the “Taco Tuesday” trademark after Taco Bell filed a legal petition and launched a national campaign calling for its cancellation.

      July 19, 2023
    • QSR Magazine

      Taco John’s to end ‘Taco Tuesday’ trademark

      Chicago Intellectual Property partner Ela Baio is quoted in the following article on Taco John’s decision to give up its rights to the “Taco Tuesday” trademark after Taco Bell filed a legal petition and launched a national campaign calling for its cancellation.

      July 18, 2023
    • QSR Magazine

      Inside the ‘Taco Tuesday’ battle between Taco Bell and Taco John’s

      Chicago Intellectual Property partner Ela Baio is quoted throughout this article, which analyzes Taco Bell’s attempt to cancel trademark registrations for “Taco Tuesday.” Those trademarks have been owned by Taco John’s since 1989 in all states except for New Jersey, where it is controlled by Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar.

      June 6, 2023
    • Law360

      Brand Battles: Instagram empires fight over 'meme' game trademark

      This roundup of recent actions at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board mentions the firm for the work of Chicago Intellectual Property partner Elizabeth Baio and Los Angeles Corporate partner Ellie Heisler for representing game maker Doing Things Media LLC in its trademark dispute with What Do You Meme LLC.
      May 21, 2021

    /Admitted to practice

    Illinois
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

    /Education

    Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D.
    University of Notre Dame, B.S., Chemical Engineering

    /Professional activities

    • Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago
    • International Trademark Association
    • Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global, Board member
    • Notre Dame Club of Joliet, Board and Scholarship Committee member

    /Recognition

    • World Trademark Review 1000—Recommended as a leading Illinois lawyer for trademark prosecution and strategy (2024-2025)

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      April 7, 2025
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      Jan 31, 2024
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      March 16, 2023
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    Professionals in the Practice Area

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    • Seth D. Levy

      Partner / Leader, Intellectual Property Practice
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6161
      • slevy@nixonpeabody.com
      Seth D. Levy
    • Daniel J. Schwartz

      Partner / Deputy Leader, Intellectual Property Practice
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.977.4432
      • djschwartz@nixonpeabody.com
      Daniel J. Schwartz
    • Erica J. Van Loon

      Partner / Team Leader, Copyright, Trademark, & Media Litigation
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6031
      • evanloon@nixonpeabody.com
      Erica J. Van Loon
    • Janet M. Garetto

      Partner / Co-Lead, Food, Beverage, & Agribusiness IP Team
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.425.8514
      • jgaretto@nixonpeabody.com
      Janet M. Garetto
    • Sasha G. Rao

      Partner
      • San Francisco
      • Office:+1 415.984.8345
      • srao@nixonpeabody.com
      Sasha G. Rao
    View All

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