Laura M. Schaefer

Associate

Laura M. Schaefer

Overview

Laura Schaefer is a trademark attorney with experience in trademark litigation and prosecution, as well as policing and enforcement. She has served as counsel for national and international clients in federal court litigations, where she has managed all aspects of discovery, including deposing fact and expert witnesses, drafting and filing a number of dispositive motions, as well as pretrial preparation. Further, Ms. Schaefer has worked closely with experts, including those with expertise in trademark surveys, damages, and pharmaceuticals. She also has significant experience in complex inter partes proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), including through trial. Ms. Schaefer has significant experience with ICANN proceedings relating to domain name disputes and takedown procedures before various social media websites.

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Ms. Schaefer also counsels clients with respect to IP asset purchasing involving trademark portfolios, including drafting and advising on assignment and licensing agreements. Further, Ms. Schaefer advises client on advertising issues such as claim substantiation, comparative advertising, and puffery claims. She has been active with respect to domestic and international trademark clearance searches.

In addition to Ms. Schaefer’s trademark practice, she has experience with patent litigation as well as design patent prosecution before the USPTO.

Ms. Schaefer received a JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she served as a Student Articles Editor for The Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. While in law school, Ms. Schaefer interned as an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 law student at the Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM) where she represented clients in various family law matters. Prior to this, she received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business with a minor in German.

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2015
    • Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Student Articles Editor
  • University of Iowa, B.B.A. in Economics

Admissions

  • Illinois, 2015

Courts

  • Northern District of Illinois
  • Third Circuit

Professional Affiliations

  • Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
    • Secretary, 2022-Present
    • Co-Chair, Women in IP Committee 2019-2022
    • Member, 2017-Present
  • International Trademark Association (INTA), Famous and Well-Known Marks Committee
  • Chicago Women in IP (ChiWIP)

Articles, Publications & Lectures

  • “IP License Compliance Reviews and Audits,” Federal Bar Association CLE Webinar, February 15, 2023
  • “IP License Compliance Reviews and Audits: How to Protect IP Rights, Double Royalty Income or Pay No Royalties,” Strafford CLE Webinar, December 14, 2022
  • “Trademark Modernization Act (“TMA”) and Changes to Identity Verification”, IPO Spring Summit, March 10, 2022
  • “Navigating Personal Development in the Workplace”, Joint ChiWIP / IPLAC Webinar, November 10, 2021
  • “Copyright laws of the jungle: Suing only fit for homo sapiens,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, May 9, 2018

Outside The Office

When not in the office, Ms. Schaefer enjoys spending time with her husband and children.

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2015
  • Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Student Articles Editor
  • University of Iowa, B.B.A. in Economics

Admissions

  • Illinois, 2015

Courts

  • Northern District of Illinois
  • Third Circuit