Janice Mitrius has a broad range of experience in several areas of intellectual property law. Her focus is on patent, trademark and trade dress litigation as well as commercialization, and enforcement of patents, trademarks, trade dress and copyrights. Ms. Mitrius has litigated patent, trademark, trade dress and copyright cases in wide ranging technologies and businesses including, for example, coolers, drinkware, convenience store services, merchandise display shelving, adult protective underwear, adult incontinence products, internet sales methods, injection molding equipment, diapers, feminine hygiene products, instant messaging, athletic shoes, personal care products, steam turbine engines, food processing, plastics processing and extrusions, voting machines, railroad cars, and rapid prototyping.

Ms. Mitrius has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation including developing strategies for discovery and trial or for early resolution. She has prepared and successfully argued motions before the court, including motions for summary judgment, for claim construction, entry of default, temporary restraining orders, orders of seizure, to compel discovery and the award of attorneys’ fees. She has conducted several proceedings before the court including preliminary injunction and arbitration hearings and jury and bench trials. Ms. Mitrius has been extensively involved in discovery matters, Markman hearings, pretrial matters, and trial. She has also successfully negotiated and drafted settlement agreements in patent, trademark, and trade dress infringement suits.

Ms. Mitrius has a broad range of appellate experience including developing strategies for briefing, preparing briefs, and arguing before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition, Ms. Mitrius has represented clients as lead counsel before both the Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Ms. Mitrius has significant experience in obtaining design patents and has also prepared utility patents in the mechanical field, including tooling and biomedical devices. She also is experienced in intellectual property counseling and patent opinion preparation. Ms. Mitrius has significant experience in preparing trademark opinions and obtaining registrations. In addition, she has also been involved in negotiating and drafting various agreements, including joint development agreements, trademark purchase agreements and assignments, trademark licenses, and merchandising agreements.

Ms. Mitrius earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. After completing her undergraduate degree, she gained over five years of practical engineering and business experience as a project engineer with AlliedSignal Engines (now Honeywell). She concentrated on product design and development for auxiliary power gas turbine engines for regional jet and executive aircrafts. She was involved in all aspects of the engineering process including problem identification, design and analysis of solutions, verification through testing, customer communication, and production incorporation. During her five years at AlliedSignal, she earned a Masters of Business Administration degree. She received her degree of Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Arizona State University.

Ms. Mitrius is an active member of the ABA and currently serves (since 2016) in a leadership role as a member of the Section of Litigation’s Council. In addition, Ms. Mitrius is a Managing Director Designate for the 2019-2020 bar year. Prior to being elected to a Council position, Ms. Mitrius Co-Chaired the Section of Litigation’s Sound Advice Committee (2015-2016). She also served in numerous other leadership roles in the Section of Litigation as the Director of Division VII (2013-2015), Co-Chair for the Section’s 2013 Annual Conference (2011-2013), Co-Chair of the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program Committee (2008-2011), Co-Chair of the Technology for the Litigator Committee (2005-2008) and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation Committee (2002-2005). Ms. Mitrius is also a member of the Leading Lawyers Network. Based upon peer nominations and approval by the network’s Advisory Board, only the top lawyers are nominated and eligible for membership in the Leading Lawyers Network. Ms. Mitrius was listed in Illinois Super Lawyers from 2008 to 2019, and named in its list of Top 50 Women Lawyers from 2009 to 2011. In addition, Ms. Mitrius has taught as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University College of Law since 2007. She teaches a class on Intellectual Property Pretrial Practice.

Ms. Mitrius currently serves on the Board of Directors and previously served as President of the firm. She practices in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.