Maria A. Maras
Professional Profile
Maria A. Maras is an intellectual property partner in Kirkland's Chicago office. Maria is focused on litigation in the areas of patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and false advertising, as well as litigation-related counseling. She has represented clients in federal courts throughout the United States on matters involving a diverse range of technologies, including smartphones, printers, photo software, cameras and hazardous waste treatment. Her experience encompasses all aspects of litigation, such as discovery (including electronic discovery), motion practice and appeals.
Maria is a member of the Firm's Diversity Committee and Gender Subcommittee, as well as the Women's Leadership Initiative planning committee in the Chicago office. Maria is also a member of the Leadership Council of the National Immigration Justice Center and the President of the Harvard Law Society of Illinois. From 2010-2012, Maria served as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Intellectual Property Committee (Young Lawyers Section).
In 2009, Maria accomplished the comprehensive settlement of a federal retaliation case under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In recognition of her work on this matter, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, honored her and the rest of the Kirkland team with an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service on May 19, 2011.
Maria was awarded the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 Pro Bono Service Awards at Kirkland for her work on behalf of pro bono clients. She has won asylum for two applicants in federal immigration court and has also filed successful U-Visa petitions to obtain temporary legal status, work eligibility and a path to permanent residency for victims of domestic violence.
Maria was recognized in 2011 by Illinois Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in Intellectual Property Litigation.
Representative Matters
Mformation Technologies, Inc. v. Research In Motion Limited and Research In Motion Corporation, Civil Action No. 5:08-CV-04990 (N.D. Cal.): Successfully represented defendants in a patent case involving smartphones. The plaintiff dropped one of its two patents from the litigation, and the Court invalidated over half of the claims in the remaining patent. After a three-week jury trial, the Court granted judgment as a matter of law that the defendants did not infringe the asserted claims of the remaining patent. 2012 WL 322237 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 8, 2012). The case was profiled in Law360 and The Am Law Litigation Daily and was selected as a "Top Defense Verdict of 2012" in the Daily Journal.
Terra Materials, LLC and Amtips, Inc. v. Peoria Disposal Company, Civil Action No. 1:09-CV-0101 (S.D. Ind.): Achieved successful resolution for defendant in patent case involving hazardous waste treatment.
Polaroid Corporation v. Hewlett Packard Company, Civil Action No. 06-CV-738: (D. Del.) Achieved successful resolution for plaintiff in patent case involving printers, photo software, and cameras.
Extra Equipamento E Exportação Ltda. v. Case Corporation, Civil Action No. 01-CV-8591 (N.D. Ill.): Successfully represented defendant in fraud and fraudulent inducement case. The Seventh Circuit ultimately affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendant. 541 F.3d. 719 (7th Cir. 2008).
Memberships & Affiliations
American Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Intellectual Property Owners AssociationPublications
"U.S. Supreme Court Monsanto Decision Leaves Patent Exhaustion Questions About Self-Replicating Products Unanswered," Kirkland Alert (May 2013)
Seminars
"The Patent Exhaustion Doctrine: Bowman v. Monsanto Co. and Other Recent Developments," 20th Annual Technology & Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (May 2013)
"To Seed or Not to Seed: A Primer on Patent Exhaustion and Implied Licenses," ABA Litigation Section's IP Litigation Committee Roundtable Discussion, Chicago, IL (April 2013)
"Northern District of Illinois Local Patent Rules: An Overview on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Rules," Chicago Bar Association - Intellectual Property Committee (Young Lawyers Section) (October 2011)
"The Inequitable Conduct Landscape After Therasense, Inc. et al. v. Becton, Dickinson And Co., et al.." 18th Annual Technology & Law Seminar, Chicago, IL (June 2011)
"Negotiation Skills and the Female Lawyer," Women's Leadership Initiative Panel Discussion, Chicago, IL (May 2011)
"Northern District of Illinois Local Patent Patent Rules: An Overview," Chicago Bar Association - Intellectual Property Committee (Young Lawyers Section) (January 2010)
Courts
Illinois Supreme Court
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
