Departments

Phone: 312.873.3670
Fax: 312.819.1910

John A. Leja

Shareholder
John A. Leja is a shareholder in the Intellectual Property Litigation and Commercial and Business Litigation practice groups.

Mr. Leja has a wide range of experience representing corporations and individuals in matters involving intellectual property and complex commercial litigation in courts throughout the country including preliminary injunction hearings, claim construction, summary judgment and trial (bench and jury). He has counseled numerous companies and major manufacturers concerning patent and copyright litigation, unfair competition, intellectual property licensing, risk management, product liability, consumer transactions and negotiation strategy.

Mr. Leja has been the lead counsel in mediations, arbitrations and trials in a variety of matters. He was co-counsel before the International Trade Commission in a patent dispute involving adjustable work support systems.  He also settled patent disputes involving flexible re-closeable packaging, laminated card stock, and foundry technology. With respect to commercial matters, he has defended consumer class actions (reward points, early termination charges), construction claims (steel structures, concrete foundations, excavation, etc.) and wrongful franchise termination claims seeking in excess of $1.5 million. He also argued on behalf of his client in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in a matter of first impressions involving the adequacy of Truth in Lending Act disclosures.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Northwestern University School of Law Bluhm Legal Clinic, Center of Wrongful Convictions
    • Executive Committee Member, Advisory Board

Distinctions

  • Recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer "Rising Star," Law & Politics, 2009

Experience

  • Illinois Tool Works Inc. v. Pactiv Corporation, et al. (patent - S.D. IN)
  • Illinois Tool Works Inc. v Hormel Foods Corp., et al. (patent - S.D. IN)
  • Pliant Corp. v. Illinois Tool Works Inc. (patent - S.D. IN)
  • S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., et al. v. Illinois Tool Works Inc. (patent - E.D. WI)
  • DISA Industries v. Thyssen Krupp Waupaca (patent - E.D. WI)
  • Cooperstown Bears v. Action Performance, et al. (patent - N.D. IL)
  • Axis International Marketing v. Made Smart, Inc. (patent - N.D. IL)
  • Illinois Tool Works Inc., d/b/a CFC Int'l. Corp. v. Waytek Ind., Inc. (patent - N.D. IL)
  • MapQuest, Inc. v. Civix-DDI, LLC (patent license - N.D. IL/Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division)
  • In re certain Adjustable Keyboard Support Systems and components thereof, International Trade Commission, Investigation No. 337-TA-670
  • Humanscale Corp. v. CompX International (patent - E.D. VA)
  • Trading Technologies, Int'l., Inc. v. Cunningham Trading Sys., LLC. (patent - N.D. IL.)
  • Essociates v. Blue Whaler, et al. (patent - C.D. CA)
  • In re Elastomeric Gel, International Trade Commission, Investigation No. 337-TA-732