Tara Kurtis
- Chicago
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Tara is an advocate for her clients' patent interests across all stages of litigation.
Tara Kurtis draws on her time spent as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to inform trial and appellate strategy. With a deep understanding of appellate practice and procedures, Tara helps clients identify and navigate difficult legal issues to achieve their objectives.
Tara has experience spanning prelitigation strategizing through appellate and en banc review. At the trial stage, Tara has managed discovery teams, prepared witnesses for trial, conducted direct and rebuttal examinations, devised claim construction plans, argued motions, drafted expert reports and post-trial motions, and advised trial teams, all with an eye toward preparing the best appellate record possible. At the appellate stage, she has critically reviewed trial court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decisions to identify the optimal appealable issues, drafted appeal briefs, mandamus petitions, and petitions for en banc review, and successfully presented her clients' cases at oral argument before the Federal Circuit. Tara has represented clients in a range of technology areas, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, LEDs, industrial roofing, database systems, video compression, website operations, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, Admissions Editor, University of Illinois Law Review; Co-Editor-In-Chief, Illinois Bar Journal Law Update Column, 2016
- Yale University, B.S., Biomedical Engineering, 2013
Bar and Court Admissions
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Illinois
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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Related Employment
- Schiff Hardin LLP, Chicago, IL, Associate, 2016-2019; Summer Associate, 2015
Clerkships
- Hon. Richard G. Taranto, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Professional Recognition
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Intellectual Property Law; Litigation - Patent, 2022-2025
Named to the Illinois "Rising Stars" list by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2025
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Federal Circuit Bar Association — Regional Programs Committee, Vice Chair
- Chicago Women in IP — Scholarship Committee Member
- The Richard Linn American Inn of Court — Member
