Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Debra Bernard focuses her practice on Intellectual Property and complex Commercial Litigation and has worked with businesses ranging from mid-size corporations to FORTUNE 500 companies. She also has substantial electronic discovery experience both domestically and internationally.

Debra's practice encompasses extensive experience in the litigation and arbitration of all types of intellectual property claims including Lanham Act actions, trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright infringement and patent infringement. Debra also has experience in the litigation and arbitration of tortious interference claims, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act claims, unfair competition, non-competition covenants, contract disputes, civil RICO actions, antitrust actions, claims under the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act and fiduciary duty claims. Debra has led teams in formulating discovery plans, motion practice and litigation strategy with the ultimate result of successful summary judgment outcomes and/or settlements.

Debra's electronic discovery experience includes advice and counseling in the legal and practical aspects of domestic and international electronic discovery obligations. She manages substantial electronic discovery matters including handling negotiations as to scope and procedures for electronic discovery, managing the litigation hold process company-wide, vendor evaluation and selection, the identification, preservation and retrieval of active data, the restoration of backup data, and overseeing teams engaged in the electronic screening, review and production of electronically stored data. Debra has experience dealing with the EU privacy directive, blocking statutes, the Hague Convention and other issues raised by the requirements of international discovery.

Areas of Practice

• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Litigation
• Copyright Litigation
• Patent Litigation
• Trade Secrets
• Trademark Litigation
• Arbitration
• Intellectual Property

West Practice Categories

Intellectual Property Law

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1985
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Chicago Bar Association (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)

Education

• Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1985
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Honors: With Honors
• University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1981
  B.S., Bachelor of Science

Address

131 South Dearborn Street
Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60603-5559

Phones

(312) 324-8559

Faxes

(312) 324-9559

Emails

dbernard@perkinscoie.com

Websites

http://www.perkinscoie.com