Overview
Dennis litigates complex, high-stakes, intellectual property disputes, with a primary focus on patent litigation and cutting-edge technology. He brings to each case a business-focused approach, counseling his clients with a litigation and IP strategy designed to drive successful business outcomes.
Dennis litigates in patent-heavy forums across the country, including for example, the District of Delaware, the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the International Trade Commission, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Eastern District of Michigan. He has defended and challenged patents as lead counsel in IPR proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Dennis also regularly handles IP appeals at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He argued and won a patent appeal at the Federal Circuit that was deemed “one of the “Biggest Patent Rulings of 2019” and one of “5 Patent Cases To Watch In The Second Half of 2021” by Law360.
Dennis was previously a litigator at Kirkland & Ellis and a patent examiner at the USPTO. He clerked for the Honorable Timothy B. Dyk at the Federal Circuit. He graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern Law, and holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Services
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented auto-supplier Neapco in patent litigation against competitor American Axle & Manufacturing in a high-profile case that has been ongoing since 2015. Dennis argued a critical appeal in the case, securing affirmance of key portions of a finding of invalidity due to unpatentable subject matter.
- Represented OEM auto-maker as defendant in multiple patent infringement cases, coordinating closely with joint defense groups, and securing multiple early-case dismissals for client.
- Represented defendant DaVincia in a patent dispute against competitor Enco Systems, securing a dismissal of the case on a motion to dismiss finding the asserted patent invalid. Handled the appeal at the Federal Circuit, securing complete affirmance.
- Represented Curt Manufacturing in successful IPR challenge of patent asserted in co-pending litigation, and securing affirmance of invalidity on appeal at the Federal Circuit.
- Represented plaintiff B&P Manufacturing in trade secret misappropriation case, securing appellate win at the Sixth Circuit, and litigating on remand to a successful resolution.
Prior Experience
- Kirkland & Ellis, Partner, 2013-2018, Associate, 2008-2013
- United States Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Examiner, 2001-2003
Clerkships
- Honorable Timothy B. Dyk, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2007-2008
Credentials
Education
- magna cum laude
- Order of the Coif
- Northwestern Journal of Technology & Intellectual Property, Articles Editor
- Mechanical Engineering
- cum laude
Admissions
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- Illinois
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Recognition
Awards
- Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS, Rising Star, 2023-2024
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2014-2015, 2017-2019