Jon Nelson has practiced in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., for more than thirty-five years. Throughout that time he has been involved in the procurement of patents, trademarks and copyrights, advisory counseling, opinion preparation, contract negotiation and preparation, and extensive litigation related to patents, trademarks and copyrights. Mr. Nelson is known for his innovative approach to intellectual property problems.

He has served as lead trial counsel in jury and bench trials in a number of cases relating to such diverse matters as computer chips, biotechnology, and automotive repair equipment. He has presented oral arguments before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and before Appellate and District Courts throughout the United States. Mr. Nelson has assisted clients with respect to foreign patent litigation and has extensive experience before the International Trade Commission. He has spoken at numerous conferences and seminars.

Mr. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from Purdue University, a Masters of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois. He is admitted to practice before the Bars of the State of Illinois, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, numerous Federal District and United States Appellate Courts and the Supreme Court. He is licensed to practice before the Patent Office and the International Trade Commission.

Jon Nelson is a co-founder and was an officer of the Northwestern University/Evanston Research Park in Evanston, Illinois, and was Chairman of the Board of the Technology Innovation Center, Inc., in Evanston, Illinois, a small business incubator that houses multiple sixty technology oriented companies.

Mr. Nelson was elected by the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors to the 2016 Class of Distinguished Counsellors. This title is conferred annually upon ISBA members who are completing their 50th year of practice. He is listed in Euromoney’s “Guide to the World’s Leading Patent Law Practitioners,” and “Guide to the World’s Leading Trademark Law Practitioners,” and named one of the “World’s Leading IP Strategists” by Intellectual Asset Management magazine. Mr. Nelson was also featured in Chicago’s Legal Leaders “Top Rated Lawyers.” Mr. Nelson was named to the 2005-2017 Illinois Super Lawyers lists, which represent the top 5 percent of attorneys in each state. Mr. Nelson was named to 2010-2017 Best Lawyers lists. Best Lawyers is considered the oldest and one of the most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Mr. Nelson 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.

Mr. Nelson is a co-author of the Thomson Reuters published book “Intellectual Property Law 2012: Top Lawyers on Trends and Key Strategies for the Upcoming Year,” and the Aspatore published book “Intellectual Property Law 2010: Top Lawyers on Trends and Key Strategies for the Upcoming Year.”

Mr. Nelson served as an Alderman in Evanston, Illinois, from 1977 to 1993; and is a founding Director of First Bank and Trust of Evanston, Evanston, Illinois.

Mr. Nelson practices in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.