Leonard A. Ferber

Leonard A. Ferber is a partner and co-head of the Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP Technology Practice. Mr. Ferber focuses his practice on representing clients in technology transactions. He represents software and other technology-based companies and consulting firms in a variety of transactional matters, including strategic partnering arrangements and joint ventures, sophisticated licensing arrangements (including cross-border transactions) and technology development agreements. As importantly, Mr. Ferber serves as technology counsel to several major corporations in the outsourcing of infrastructure and business functions, and in procurement transactions involving hardware, large-scale software licenses and services ranging from software development, integration and implementation to maintenance and support, disaster recovery and training. He also represents clients in disputes arising from complex technology transactions and counsels many clients on their Internet strategies, privacy policies and related issues.

Among the nationally-known companies Mr. Ferber has represented in technology transactions are Science Applications International Corp. (a Fortune 300 company), Sentry Insurance, American Medical Security Group Inc. (NYSE: AMZ), Solo Cup Company, WMS Industries (NYSE: WMS), LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: LNET; the leading provider of interactive television systems and broadband services to the hospitality industry) and TEAC Corporation (Tokyo Stock Exchange; manufacturer of consumer electronics and supplier of hardware components to the world’s largest PC manufacturers). The Chicago-area technology companies Mr. Ferber has represented include PLATINUM technology, inc., divine, inc., Lante Corporation, Blue Meteor, Inc., Geodesic Systems, Inc., Fieldglass, Inc., Telenisus Corporation and FreeDrive, Inc.

Mr. Ferber is on the Board of Directors of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce (Chicago) and co-chair of its Technology Practice Group, and has been on the Board of Advisors of the Technology Executives Club, the Midwest’s largest organization focusing exclusively on bringing together senior business, IT and technology executives to discuss trends and the effective use of technology in business. In addition, he has spoken before legal and industry groups on technology-related subjects and his technology and e-business related articles have appeared in the on-line edition of the Chicago Tribune. His article, "Scope of Use and Restrictions; Source Code Access and Escrows" was published in The Computer Law Companion, a publication of the Computer Law Association. For several years Mr. Ferber was Co-Chair of the Chicago Software Association’s Annual Members’ Forum and Achievement Awards.

Mr. Ferber received his AB with High Distinction and was Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan. He earned his JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.