Overview
Jennifer M. Mikulina focuses her practice on trademark and copyright counseling, prosecution, licensing and enforcement. She counsels companies in a wide variety of industries, including consumer goods, food products, digital currency, healthcare services, insurance, hospitality and restaurant services, and software and online services. Jennifer delivers a client-first approach to legal work and has been praised by clients and market-leading publications. According to one client quoted in World Trademark Review, “She provides top-notch service, which is both timely and extremely efficient; I wouldn’t go to anybody else for assistance.” Another client recognized Jennifer as “one of the most knowledgeable, humble, compassionate and patient trademark professionals anywhere. She is an excellent listener and problem solver with a unique ability to break down complex IP concepts into bite-sized, manageable pieces.”
Jennifer works with domestic and international companies to register, maintain, protect and license trademarks, service marks, domain names and other key brands, and she assists clients with the development and implementation of international brand management strategies and enforcement programs. She also advises clients on copyright matters related to various works of authorship, including print publications, data compilations, software, online content and online databases.
Jennifer works closely with members of the Firm’s corporate advisory, health law and tax practice groups on the intellectual property aspects of transactions, including strategic alliances, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and complex intellectual property license structures for public and privately held companies. Jennifer also counsels clients on a variety of information technology matters, including software licenses, software audits, and agreements related to software development and customization and data analytics, including a significant number of engagements in the digital health space.
Jennifer is the head of McDermott’s IP Transactions Practice Group. She is the former head of the Firm’s global Trademark Prosecution Practice Group, the former chair of the Firm’s Gender Diversity Committee, and a member and past chair of the Firm’s Chicago Pro Bono and Community Service Committee. Jennifer provides pro bono services to a variety of clients.
While in law school, Jennifer was an intern for the Honorable Barbara B. Crabb, Chief US District Court Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Results
- Counseled companies in the selection, clearance and protection of trademarks in the United States and abroad
- Worked with clients and US Customs and Border Protection officers on the seizure of counterfeit goods
- Represented clients in numerous opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in Uniform Domain Name Dispute Proceedings before the National Arbitration Forum
- Represented a consumer goods company in a trademark infringement, unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, counterfeiting and design infringement lawsuit against a major retailer for sales of unauthorized and defective goods
- Defended a consumer services company in trademark infringement litigation regarding company name used in over 2,000 stores across the United States
Recognitions
- Chambers USA, Intellectual Property, 2020-2024
- Legal 500 US, 2016-2024
- Super Lawyers, Top 50: Women Illinois Super Lawyers, 2022-2023
- Super Lawyers, 2018- 2023
- Managing Intellectual Property, Patent Star, 2020-2024
- World Trademark Review Global Leaders, 2020-2023
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Thomas R. Leavens Award, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America, Trademark Law, 2016-2021, 2025
- Expert Guides, Women in Business Law, 2020-2021
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, 2014 Top Women Lawyers in Leadership (one of six attorneys to receive this honor)
- World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2012-2023
- National Association of Women Lawyers, 2020 Outstanding Member Award
- McDermott Will & Emery Award for Outstanding Commitment and Service to the Community, Chicago (2011), Firm wide (2006)
- International Trademark Association, Individual Pro Bono Volunteer Service Award, 2015
Community
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Leadership Development Committee, member (2024-2025)
- Law Firm Committee, chair (2022-2023) a vice chair (2021-2022)
- Chairman’s Task Force on Law Firms of the Future, member
- Pro Bono Committee, former member
- Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Board of Directors, former board vice president
- Lawyers for the Creative Arts
- Board of Directors, vice president (2024-present), former secretary
- Chicago Women in Intellectual Property
- National Association of Women Lawyers
Credentials
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, JD, 2001
University of Wisconsin – Madison, BS, with honors, 1998
Admissions
Illinois
Wisconsin
Courts/Agencies
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
