312-616-5600 (phone)
312-616-5700 (fax)
Chicago Office

Related Practices

Education

Indiana University School of Law, J.D., 2000

Indiana University, B.A. in Political Science and French, 1997

Boris Umansky

Associate

Mr. Umansky is involved in several aspects of trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition counseling and litigation. He has substantial experience in the clearance, registration, maintenance and enforcement of trademarks and copyrights, as well as with domain name disputes. Mr. Umansky represents clients in a wide range of industries, such as insurance and financial services, industrial technology products, serious games software, and consumer products. He handles oppositions, cancellations, and ex parte appeals at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board level, and has represented clients before various United States courts.

In addition to his prosecution and litigation practice, Mr. Umansky performs due diligence work on behalf of clients intending to purchase or divest businesses. He negotiates and prepares settlement agreements, co-existence agreements, licenses and assignments, and has instructed clients on proper usage of trademarks and copyrights.

Prior to joining Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Mr. Umansky practiced in the area of intellectual property law at Davis McGrath LLC in Chicago. He also spent approximately two years in the Washington, D.C. area working as a Trademark Examining Attorney with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) where he obtained valuable experience relating to the trademark prosecution and examination process, including successfully defending his decisions through appeal briefs and oral arguments before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Mr. Umansky is the sole author and publisher of IPLegalLounge.com, a web log that reviews decisions rendered within the Seventh Circuit federal and state courts pertaining to trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and related areas. He is active in several legal associations, and is fluent in Russian and conversant in French.

Professional Affiliations

Chicago Bar Association (Director, Young Lawyers Section, 2007-Present; Co-Chair, YLS Intellectual Property Law committee, 2005-2007)
Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC) (Vice-Chair, Internet Law committee, 2006-2007)
American Bar Association (Section of Intellectual Property Law)
Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)

Articles and Publications

"The Intersection of the FDA and Trademark Law", Co-authored with Frances M. Jagla, Leydig, Voit and Mayer.

Representative Matters

American International Group, Inc. v. United Insurance Group Agency, Inc., Opposition Nos. 91179446 and 91180201 (TTAB 2008). Represented opposer in two related trademark cases; both oppositions settled.
American International Group, Inc. v Traverito Traverito, Case No. 1011737 (Nat. Arb. Forum 2007). Represented complainant and secured transfer of the aiginvestment.com domain name.
Biggs v. Bass Pro Outdoor World, L.L.C. et al., Case No. 04-1920 (N.D. Tex. 2006). Represented defendant video game developer, marketer and operator in a copyright infringement suit brought by a photographer; case settled prior to trial.
Dermaide Research Corp. v Melanie Summers, Case No. 649697 (Nat. Arb. Forum 2006). Represented complainant and secured transfer of the dermaide.com domain name.
Swanson Tool Company, Inc. v. United General Supply Company, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-1280 (N.D. Ill. 2005). Represented defendant in a trademark infringement and counterfeiting case involving sales and distribution of tools; case settled prior to trial.
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy vs. Heinz,Case No. 05-0294 (N.D. Ill. 2005). Represented defendant photographer in a copyright infringement suit; case settled prior to trial.

Speaking Engagements and Presentations

"U.S. Trademark Workshop for Paralegals," Half Moon Seminars, Wheaton, IL, June 2009 (Presenter)
"Protecting A Business’ Assets," sponsored by UBS, Chicago, February 2009 (Presenter)
"Basics of U.S. Trademark Practice," Half Moon Seminars, Hyatt Regency, Chicago, July 2006 (Presenter)
"Strategies for Intellectual Property Enforcement for Individuals and Small Businesses," Chicago Bar Association seminar, February 2006 (Moderator)
"Careers in IP," Chicago Bar Association seminar, September 2008 (Panelist), September 2006 (Moderator), September 2005 (Panelist)

Bar Admissions and Registrations

Illinois, 2003
Indiana (inactive status), 2000

Courts

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Languages

French
Russian