Nixon Peabody LLP

  • People
  • Capabilities
  • Insights
  • About

Trending Topics

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni

    Practices

    View All

    • Affordable Housing
    • Community Development Finance
    • Corporate & Finance
    • Cybersecurity & Privacy
    • Environmental
    • Franchising & Distribution
    • Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
    • Healthcare
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Services
    • Labor & Employment
    • Litigation
    • Private Wealth & Advisory
    • Project Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Regulatory & Government Relations

    Industries

    View All

    • Cannabis
    • Consumer
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing
    • Non Profit
    • Real Estate
    • Technology

    Value-Added Services

    View All

    • Alternative Fee Arrangements

      Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.

    • Continuing Education

      Advancing professional knowledge and offering credits for attorneys, staff and other professionals.

    • Crisis Advisory

      Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.

    • DEI Strategic Services

      Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.

    • eDiscovery

      Leveraging law and technology to deliver sound solutions.

    • Global Services

      Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.

    • Innovation

      Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.

    • IPED

      Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.

    • Legal Project Management

      Providing actionable information to support strategic decision-making.

    • Legally Green

      Teaming with clients to advance sustainable projects, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet.

    • Nixon Peabody Trust Company

      Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.

    • NP Capital Connector

      Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.

    • NP Second Opinion

      Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.

    • NP Trial

      Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.

    • Social Impact

      Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.

    1. Home
    2. People
    3. John C. GatzPeople
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. John C. GatzPeople

    John C. Gatz

    Partner


    • Chicago
    • Office312.425.8515
    • jgatz@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard
    • Share

    Introduction

    John Gatz is a patent attorney who concentrates his practice on patent prosecution, patent counseling and patent litigation. John has extensive experience in the life sciences and manufacturing industries.

    Practice Areas

    Intellectual Property

    My focus

    Patent Prosecution/Counseling

    I prosecute patents and counsel clients in a number of mechanical- and chemical-related technologies including: biomechanical devices, chemical products and processes, sensor-dispensing instruments, analyte meters, test sensors, non-invasive processes, surgical and medical products, lancing devices, closure and closure systems, coin- and currency- processing machines, stretch-film products and processes, epoxy compositions, coatings, foam products and processes, gaming devices, herbicides, silicon-based compositions and methods, window-cleaning apparatuses, packaging devices, and optical devices.

    I really enjoy using my engineering background to help clients in the product development process to avoid competitive patents and to ensure commercial success of new products through effective intellectual property (IP) protection strategies. In many instances, these projects have involved infringement, invalidity and due diligence opinions. I work closely with clients in providing comprehensive patent and patent portfolio review. Understanding my client’s businesses and providing great client service are priorities in my everyday practice.

    Patent Litigation/Other Experiences

    My patent litigation experience includes drafting motions and pretrial documents; arguing motions, including Markman; taking and defending depositions; and all other facets of discovery. I’ve handled cases in a variety of federal district courts and I’ve handled various proceedings before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. I have prepared and filed IPR petitions. I also have experience drafting and negotiating license agreements and trademark prosecution.

    Looking ahead

    I see a constant evolution of IP patent laws both domestically and internationally where our strategies will anticipate and adjust to better obtain the business objectives of our clients.

    Presentations and Publications

    • Board member and an editor of the ABA Landslide Publication (2012-present)
    • Editor of the “Recent Developments in IP Law” column in the ABA-IPL Landslide Publication (formerly the ABA-IPL Newsletter), which is a bimonthly intellectual property publication released by the American Bar Association. Mr. Gatz is responsible for summarizing recent developments in patents, trademarks and copyrights (2003–present)
    • “Recent Developments in IP Law” (contributing author), ABA-IPL Landslide Publication (formerly the ABA-IPL Newsletter) (1996–present)
    • “New PTO Rules-How Will They Affect Your Business,” Nixon Peabody co-speaker, Chicago, Illinois (September 2007)
    • “Willfulness: Make a Bad Situation Worse in Patent Litigation,” Biannual Jenkens & Gilchrist Seminar, Chicago, Illinois (April 2003)
    • “Willfulness Trends of the Federal Circuit and Recommendations to Avoid Willful Infringement” (with Jeremie D. Moll), 14 Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, No. 11, at 7–15 (2002)
    • “Update on Inequitable Conduct,” Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Winter Meeting in East Lansing, Michigan (March 2001)
    • “State Street—Patentable Subject Matter,” Biannual Arnold White & Durkee Seminar, Chicago, Illinois (March 1999)
    • “Economic Espionage Act of 1996,” Biannual Arnold White & Durkee Seminar, Chicago, Illinois (September 1997)

    Admitted to practice

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

    Education

    Michigan Technological University, B.S., Chemical Engineering, cum laude
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, J.D., magna cum laude

    Professional activities

    • American Bar Association (Intellectual Property and Litigation sections)
    • Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Seth D. Levy

      Partner / Leader, Intellectual Property Practice / Co-chair, Life Sciences Practice
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:213.629.6161
      • slevy@nixonpeabody.com
      Seth D. Levy
    • Ravinderjit Braich, Ph.D.

      Counsel
      • Boston
      • Office:617.345.1089
      • rbraich@nixonpeabody.com
      Ravinderjit Braich, Ph.D.
    • Jennette W. Psihoules

      Associate
      • washington-dc
      • Office:202.585.8385
      • jpsihoules@nixonpeabody.com
      Jennette W. Psihoules
    • Janet M. Garetto

      Partner
      • Chicago
      • Office:312.425.8514
      • jgaretto@nixonpeabody.com
      Janet M. Garetto
    • Andrew Y. Choung

      Partner
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:213.629.6166
      • achoung@nixonpeabody.com
      Andrew  Y. Choung
    View All

    Subscribe to stay informed of the latest legal news, alerts, and business trends.Subscribe

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    • © 2023 Nixon Peabody. All rights reserved
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Statement of Client Rights
    • Supplier Diversity Program
    • Nixon Peabody International LLC
    • PAL