40 Under Forty 2024

JONATHAN HUGHLEY

AGE 38

FIRM Marshall, Gerstein & Borun

LAW SCHOOL University of Illinois College of Law

AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Industrial and mechanical technologies, patent prosecution

2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

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T he word "thoughtful" comes up frequently when his peers are asked to describe Jonathan Hughley. This attorney in patent law has achieved top results for his clients thanks to his ability to thoughtfully analyze the issues of a case and devise the most effective strategies for his clients. Peter Tamosaitis, Principal with PwC, said that Hughley re- mains one of his closest sounding boards, with the pair often generally sharing their work and legal challenges with each other. "Jonathan is good at identifying issues, assessing options for various solutions, evaluating the pros and cons of those options and developing a well-thought-out path that considers all facets of the problem," Tamosaitis said. "Even though our legal practic- es went different directions, I still call upon those characteristics in our friendship and in navigating our careers." Tamosaitis said that he regularly observed Hughley's strong analytical capabilities throughout his career. Hughley's combi- nation of skillsets, technical from a background in engineering combined with his thoughtful legal analysis, makes him excep- tional at studying advanced inventions in ways not everyone can, Tamosaitis said. "He identifies real opportunities to patent unique innovations while considering commercial viability," Tamosaitis said. Many engineers have the technical capabilities to write patents, but without Jonathan's capabilities, you may face challenges during prosecution." Tamosaitis said, too, that Jonathan is an advisor to his cli-

He identifies real opportunities to patent unique innovations. ”

ents, helping them identify potential challenges and rewards as they think through the manufacturing and commercialization processes. Idris McKelvey, Vice President with the Patent group at The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., learned to appreciate Hughley's skills when Estée Lauder suddenly faced an influx of invention disclosures that threatened to overwhelm the company's inter- nal legal team. Estée Lauder called upon Hughley and his team to handle this surge. McKelvey said that Hughley and his team have improved the company's internal processes and have built a relationship that has served as the ideal model for how Estée Lauder works with outside counsel. "My team often gives me feedback that as we work through new invention disclosures, they appreciate that they can lever- age Jonathan’s deep experience with packaging technologies," McKelvey said. "This area of expertise is beneficial to our inter- nal team. It’s easy to get Jonathan up-to-speed on an invention disclosure, and his efficiencies turn into proactive advice about how we can capture valuable IP relative to that invention."

40 Under Forty 2024

CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN