Michael O. Warnecke
- Chicago
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Michael's practice focuses on major patent litigation cases, including international patent, technology licensing and other intellectual property matters.
Michael Warnecke is of counsel in the firm's Patent Litigation practice. He has been a partner from 2007 to 2016 and has served as firmwide co-chair of the Patent Litigation practice from 2009 to 2015. He has been first chair on numerous patent litigation cases in which he represented companies such as Caterpillar Inc., Brunswick Corporation, MetLife and Mitsubishi Corporation. In one of the most significant cases of his career, Michael obtained successful damages and injunctive relief for Rockwell International on a major trade secret matter. The case was later affirmed on appeal where it garnered substantial national media attention for its innovative use of computer graphics to present evidence.
More recently, in August 2010, Michael was lead trial counsel in the Riddell v. Schutt case. This patent infringement case involved Riddell's significant football helmet technology developed to reduce concussions. The jury award of $30 million was the largest in Wisconsin history for a patent case.
In the 1990s, Michael was selected by the People's Republic of China trade delegation, led by Vice Premier Li Lanqing, to host a two-day seminar for American automotive and after-market companies, as well as the Chinese delegation on the legal aspects of doing business in China.
At the request of the Chinese government, he also provided advice on the redrafting of the 1984 Patent Act. Similarly, in 1993, he provided advice on the Unfair Competition Act, which was adopted in 1994.
Michael's extensive experience has led him to be retained as an expert witness in many litigation matters.
Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Michael was the chair of the Intellectual Property practice at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw in Chicago.
Education & Credentials
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 1967
- Purdue University, B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1963
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Illinois
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Trial Bar of the Northern District of Illinois
Related Employment
- Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, Chicago, IL, Partner, 1996-2007
- Keck, Mahin & Cate, Chicago, IL, 1991-1996
- Neuman, Williams, Anderson & Olson, Chicago, IL, 1967-1991
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Patent Examiner, Group 350, Washington, D.C., 1963-1967
Additional Languages
- Japanese
Professional Recognition
Listed in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Intellectual Property, 2014-2024
Ranked by Chambers USA, as "Senior Statespeople," 2021-2024
Listed in Chicago Magazine as Top Attorneys In Illinois, 2016
Named the Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Patent, 2016
Listed in Chambers Global, "America's Leading Lawyers," 2014-2018
Recognized as an IP Star by Managing IP, 2013, 2014, 2016
Listed in Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000, 2012-2019
Listed in Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000, Litigation Silver Band, 2012-2014
American College of Trial Lawyers
Listed among the top ten Illinois 2008 Super Lawyers as published by Law & Politics
Listed in the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Network as Illinois Leading Lawyer
Arbitrator for American Arbitration Association, Chicago
Mediator, Patent Infringement
Arbitrator, Patent Infringement, 1997
Arbitrator, Trade Dress Infringement, 1994
Participated as Chairman of arbitrator's panel for complex beer distributorship contract arbitration, 1989-1990
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2006-2021: Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent; Patent Law; Trademark Law
Listed as a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2005-2024
*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
- American Arbitration Association, Panel of Arbitrators
- American Bar Association
Section of Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights
Arbitration & Other Alternative Procedures, Judiciary, and Inequitable Conduct & Antitrust Matters Committee - American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Bar Associations for the Seventh and Federal Circuits
- Chicago Bar Association
Section of Antitrust Law Committees: International & Foreign Law Committee
Former Chair, Patent, Trademark & Copyright Committee - International Patent and Trademark Association (AIPPI)
- Patent Law Association of Chicago
Federal Rules & Practice Committee
Trial Skills Subcommittee - American College of Trial Lawyers, Member