Carolyn M. Passen

Carolyn M. Passen concentrates her practice in the area of intellectual property litigation and counseling. Ms. Passen has represented clients in a variety of complex intellectual property disputes involving claims of copyright, trademark and patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, false advertising, and unfair competition, pending in courts throughout the country. Ms. Passen has also represented clients in proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and before the United States International Trade Commission. She is experienced in trademark clearance and policing, and has assisted clients in reclaiming numerous domain names.

Ms. Passen is a member of the American Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. In 2009 and 2010, she was recognized as a “Rising Star” in Illinois Super Lawyers magazine. 

Ms. Passen has authored the following articles:

• “Article Review: Private Ownership of Public Image: Popular Culture and Publicity Rights,” DePaul IP Digest (2004).
• “Suing the Osbournes: Intellectual Property Protection for Creative Merchandise,” DePaul Art and Entertainment Law Journal (2003).

Ms. Passen graduated cum laude from Miami University in 2001 and obtained her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in 2004.  While at DePaul, Ms. Passen served as an editor of the Law Review and earned a certificate in Intellectual Property. She was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 2004 and, since that time, has been admitted to practice in federal courts throughout the country.