Richard P. Beem

BEEM PATENT LAW FIRM, CHICAGO, IL, USA, TEL. 312-201-0011

Richard P. Beem

Richard P. Beem - Patent Attorney and Principal

Richard P. Beem
Patent Attorney

Focused, competitive and innovative are terms used by contemporaries to describe Richard P. Beem as a patent attorney. Clients have expressed satisfaction in the work delivered by Rich Beem and his colleagues in two decades of patent practice. He has brought together a group of dedicated professionals specializing in patent law and representing clients in patent matters.

Beem states that patent law is a unique specialty, requiring a B.S. in engineering or science, in addition to a thorough working knowledge of patent law and practice. He is experienced in every facet of the patent process and dedicated to mastery of the field. Rich Beem, formerly a Wisconsin state champion wrestler, says, "There's more to advocacy than fighting," citing Lincoln the lawyer as a model of persuasion. A member of the trial bar, Beem also is a certified mediator.

Beem was privileged to serve for two years as Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward S. Smith, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Washington, D.C. During his tenure he assisted the Judge in hundreds of appeals, including many landmark decisions in patent cases. Upon completing the Federal Circuit clerkship, Mr. Beem entered the private practice of patent law in Chicago.

His educational accomplishments included graduating, cum laude, University of Houston Law Center, where he served as Editor of the Houston Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He worked as an engineer for Amoco Oil Company (now BP) in refinery operations and in technical sales for Nalco Chemical Company prior to attending law school. His professional career began in 1976 as an associate engineer with Grain Processing Corporation in Muscatine Iowa, as part of the engineering co-op program at Iowa State University, graduating with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.

Beem's leadership at the bar is shown by active representation of clients and years of service to the profession and the public. Beem currently serves as Co-Chair of the Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law and as a member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).

REPRESENTATIVE PATENT LITIGATION:

Air Products v. Commisioner of Patents, Won summary judgment against U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks resulting in reinstatement of client's patent application. (D.D.C.).

Colt Industries v. Index-Werke, Briefed patent infringement appeal in Federal Circuit (turning machings).

GlaxoSmithKline v. Torpharm, Warner-Lambert v. Torpharm, and Abbott v. Torpharm, Patent infringement litigation, discovery and motion practice. (N.D. Ill.) (pharmaceuticals)

Heat-N-Glo v. Heatilator, Patent infringement and trade secret litigation involving direct vent fireplaces (S.D. La.) (won motions and partial dismissal en route to settlement).

James River v. Hallmark Cards, Paper plate patent litigation (E.D. Wis.).

MCI v. AT&T, Telecommunications software patent infringement litigation (E.D. Pa.).

Mentor v. Inamed, McGhan Medical, and Cox-Uphoff, Patent infringement litigation and appeals in Central District of California (Los Angeles), U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Central District of California (Santa Barbara) (received commendation from Court for litigation results and favorable settlement), Northern District of Texas (Dallas), Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court.

Phillips Petroleum v. U.S. Steel et al., Team member for Federal Circuit appeal affirming district court judgment of patent infringement, culminating 30 years of litigation and interferences over Nobel prize-winning invention of crystalline polypropylene.

Presto Industries v. Dazey Corporation, Design patent and trade dress litigation (N.D. Ill.).

Rite-Hite Corporation v. Serco Corporation, Four-week jury trial (N.D. Tex.) (jury found both parties' patents valid and not infringed).

Torpharm v. Genpharm & Novopharm, Briefed and argued Federal Circuit appeal and prepared and filed petition for certiorari to U.S. Supreme Court.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE:

Richard P. Beem is the founder and principal of the Beem Patent Law Firm. He has two decades of experience in patent law and litigation, including discovery, depositions, motions, hearings, trials and appeals. His experience includes partnership in large general practice law firms, Lord Bissell & Brook and Jenner & Block, and patent law firms, Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery and Leydig Voit & Mayer.

Mr. Beem served for two years as Law Clerk to the Hon. Edward S. Smith, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in Washington D.C.

PROFESSIONAL:

Admitted: 1985, Texas; 1986, District of Columbia; 1987, Illinois; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (including trial bar); also pro hac vice in other district courts including Central District of California (Los Angeles); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Seventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Certified mediator (DePaul 2001).

Member: American Bar Association (Sections on IP Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution) (Co-Chair, Committe on Amicus Curiae Briefs, 2002--; Chair, Committee on Patent Legislation, 1998-1999; Chair, Committee on International Patent Treaties and Laws, 1996-1998); American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI); Chicago Bar Association (Chair, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Committee, 1997-1998); Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (Secretary 1992-1994); Engineering College Industrial Advisory Council, Iowa State University (2000--); Union League Club of Chicago.

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS:

Meaning and Effect of Supreme Court IP Disputes on Practice, Policy and Business: Patent Prosecution and Litigation In View of Festo v. SMC and Holmes v. Vornado (Panel Discussion) (John Marshall Law School 47th Annual Conference on Developments in IP Law, Feb. 28, 2003)

Recovering Attorney Fees and Damages When Defending Against Bad Faith Patent Litigation (Chicago Bar Association, September 1997)

Patent Developments in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, 78 Journal of the Patent & Trademark Office Society 483 (1996) (presented to ABA Intellectual Property Section, June 1995)

Preparing the Patent Specification for Filing in the U.S. (presented to the 9th International Congress of AIPPI-MIE in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 1994)

Federal Circuit Patent Law Decisions (AIPLA 1987-92 ed.);

Candor in Prosecution (AIPLA 1985).

EDUCATION:

J.D., cum laude, 1985, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Order of the Coif; Editor, Houston Law Review; Clerkships: Vinson & Elkins, Houston; Arnold, White & Durkee (now Howrey Simon Arnold & White), Houston; Richards, Medlock & Andrews (now Sidley & Austin), Dallas.

B.S. Chemical Engineering, 1979, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Engineering Co-op Program, college wrestling