The best patent lawyers in Chicago in 2026 include Cook Alex and Greer, Burns & Crain among established IP firms, Wood Phillips for former in-house experience, CHIP Law Group for startups and foreign filing, and the Law Offices of Konrad Sherinian for published cost information.
| Firm | Office | Focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cook Alex | The Loop | Patents and trade secrets | Established businesses |
| 2. Greer, Burns & Crain | The Loop | Patent procurement and enforcement | Companies enforcing patents |
| 3. Wood Phillips | West Loop | Patents from an in-house perspective | Corporate patent portfolios |
| 4. CHIP Law Group | River North | Domestic and foreign patents | Tech startups with overseas plans |
| 5. Law Offices of Konrad Sherinian | The Loop | Patents, search and costs | Independent inventors |
Patent work is specialized, and practitioners need separate registration with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Ask whether the person drafting your application has a technical background in your field. Be careful about public disclosure: US law allows a limited grace period, but many other countries don't, so talk to a lawyer before you launch, publish or pitch without a confidentiality agreement.
Patent and IP firm with two offices.
Cook Alex lists patents first among its services, alongside trade secrets and litigation. Its site says its attorneys have experience in various fields and technologies.
Good to know: Ask who has experience in your technology area.
200 W Adams St, Suite 2004, Chicago, IL 60606
Covers both obtaining and enforcing patents.
Greer, Burns & Crain handles patent procurement and enforcement along with licensing and technology transfer. It also has an office in San Diego.
Good to know: Ask about enforcement costs early.
200 W Madison St, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60606
Lawyers who have sat on the client side.
Wood Phillips says four of its lawyers served as patent and trademark counsel at major corporations, which can help with portfolio decisions rather than single filings.
Good to know: Bring your business goals as well as the invention.
500 W Madison St, Suite 1130, Chicago, IL 60661
Foreign and domestic patent work.
CHIP Law Group offers foreign and domestic patent services, plus searches and opinions, and has a section for entrepreneurs and startups.
Good to know: Ask how much foreign filing would cost before you decide.
505 N Lake Shore Dr, Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60611
Publishes cost information.
The Law Offices of Konrad Sherinian has pages on types of patents, patent searches and costs and fees, which helps an inventor understand the process before calling.
Good to know: Compare at least two written estimates.
1 N State St, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60602
It depends on complexity and the technology, and includes lawyer fees as well as government fees. Ask for a staged estimate covering a search, the application and later correspondence with the patent office.
Usually. A search can tell you whether something similar already exists before you spend money on an application. It's not a guarantee, but it can save you from an expensive surprise.
A lower-cost filing that holds your place in line for 12 months without becoming a full patent. You must file a full application within that time to benefit from it.