Nicholas J. Ronaldson

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:

Nicholas represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation, from commercial disputes—such as breach of contract—to intellectual property matters, including trademark, copyright, and patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and right of publicity claims. His trial experience is bolstered by his work in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where he served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall and as an intern for the United States Attorney’s Office while at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Intellectual Property:

Nicholas’ intellectual property practice encompasses trademark, trade secret, copyright, and patent litigation and counseling. He has extensive experience litigating trade secret and patent disputes before the International Trade Commission, handling cases from start to finish. His deep understanding of these fast-paced proceedings is reinforced by his role in editing and researching A Lawyer's Guide to Section 337 Investigations Before the U.S. International Trade Commission, Fifth Edition (2024). Nicholas also advises clients on trademark defense and enforcement, including combating online counterfeiting with Schedule A cases in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Appellate:

Drawing on his experience as a judicial extern for former Chief Justice Anne M. Burke of the Supreme Court of Illinois and Justice Robert E. Gordon of the First District Appellate Court of Illinois, Nicholas helps clients develop strategies for appellate matters. Admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, he assists clients with appeals, amicus briefs, and appellate strategy. He also advises on appeals in administrative proceedings, including matters before the International Trade Commission, as well as petitions to challenge or vacate arbitration awards.

Agency & Administrative Proceedings:

Nicholas is experienced in navigating administrative proceedings, particularly when agencies exceed their constitutional authority. He has a keen interest in the constitutional limits of federal agencies, the impact of their rulemaking on his clients, and the intersection of federal agencies and federal courts. In the wake of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo—overruling Chevron deference—Nicholas advises clients on how to challenge agency actions to achieve better business results.

Pro Bono:

Committed to using his legal skills to serve those in need, Nicholas maintains a substantial pro bono practice. He regularly assists in prisoner litigation involving Eighth Amendment and Section 1983 claims. He also supports clients with asylum matters and intellectual property counseling.

• Represented a broadcasting corporation in a copyright dispute in federal court.
• Represented amici in a constitutional dispute in federal appellate court.
• Represented a technology company in a contract dispute in federal appellate court.
• Represented an international food and drink corporation in a personal injury dispute in state court.
• Represented organic light-emitting diode manufacturers in a trade secret misappropriation investigation in the International Trade Commission.
• Represented toner cartridge suppliers in a patent infringement dispute in the International Trade Commission.
• Represented an artificial sweetener manufacturer in a patent infringement dispute in the International Trade Commission.
• Represented an international food and drink corporation in inter partes review proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• Represented a technology company in a contract dispute in an arbitration proceeding under federal law.
• Represented an international pharmaceutical company in a pre-litigation breach of contract dispute.
• Represented an international automobile manufacturer in a pre-litigation breach of contract, right of publicity, and advertising dispute.