Kara E. F. Cenar, Esq.

Director

Bryan Cave, LLP
Chicago, IL

Ms. Cenar has been practicing intellectual property litigation for more than 20 years. Her practice primarily focuses on federal and state litigation, including jury trials, bench trials, preliminary injunction hearings, hearings on emergency temporary restraining orders, seizure and impoundment orders, Markman hearings, pre-trial litigation, including discover and pre-trial motions, mediation before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and other venues, arbitration proceedings and proceedings before the International Trade Commission.

Ms. Cenar has represented individuals and domestic and international companies of all sizes in the enforcement of their intellectual property rights and the defense of alleged violations of the intellectual property rights of others. This work spans the areas of patent infringement litigation; trademarks, trade dress and copyrights; copyright, trademark and trade dress infringement; unfair competition, passing off, trademark dilution and false advertising; trade secrets; and more.

Some of Ms. Cenar’s accomplishments include: a more than $17 million jury verdict, permanent injunction, plus an ongoing royalty payment during transition period in patent infringement litigation involving four touch screen user interface patents for hemodialysis machines and related disposable products in the Northern District of California; as well as a judgment of non-infringement (affirmed by the Federal Circuit) in patent infringement bench trial litigation involving methods of making inserts and transducer activated tools for ultrasonically activated tooth cleaning tools in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Cenar is a frequent speaker on topics that range from “Managing the Mediation Process – Effective Tools for In-House Counsel” to “Rise Above the Competition, Use an Intellectual Property Strategy.” Additionally, she is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association, fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and past president of NAWBO Chicago—to name just a few. Ms. Cenar has also received numerous honors, including 2005-2009 Illinois Super Lawyer for Intellectual Property Litigation and 2009 Advancement Award for Advancement of Diversity, Chicago High Achievers.