Michael D. Adams

“Adams is a tried and tested hand, and one of the industry’s most respected leaders…”

Michael D. Adams, a partner in Mayer Brown's Chicago office and a member of the Global Brand Management & Internet practice, has over 15 years of experience practicing intellectual property law. He represents clients in a wide range of IP matters, including trademark litigation and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings; national and international advertising campaigns; international brand management including trademark clearance, filing, prosecution, maintenance, and portfolio management; domestic and international licensing, franchise agreements, and related recordation requirements; mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances involving intellectual property assets; securitization of intellectual property assets; and Internet-related intellectual property matters including federal Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) actions. In addition, clients have recognized Michael for his client service. "Michael excels at effective client relations and is the best of all our outside counsel." – ILO Client Choice Guide - International 2013 and . . . “With more than 20 years’ experience in the field, Adams is a tried and tested hand, and one of the industry’s most respected leaders, especially in cyber-squatting and UDRP issues,” World Trademark Review 1000 2023.  

Michael’s IP counseling experience includes structuring and performing due diligence in corporate mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, internal and external licensing programs, and strategic alliances involving intellectual property assets. He regularly advises clients in matters regarding ecommerce transactions, trademark and domain portfolio management and enforcement, and Top-Level Domain applications, and compliance.

Michael's trademark prosecution experience includes all aspects of US and foreign trademark clearance, filing, and maintenance. Michael manages the US and international trademark portfolios of numerous clients including major banking, telecommunications, software, real estate, cosmetic, and food industry corporations. His advice to these and other corporate clients encompasses trademark availability, procurement, protection, and monetization. In his corporate counseling, Michael also develops world-wide trademark protection and enforcement programs that include trademark use manuals. His work also involves all aspects of documenting the requirements for protecting intellectual property in domestic and international licensing and franchising agreements. For financial institutions, Michael offers guidance regarding the securitization of IP assets as loan collateral and performs related recording requirements in these transactions. His intellectual property-related advice to clients regarding national and international advertising campaigns involves selecting and clearing advertising slogans and logos, reviewing advertisements to ensure claim substantiation and proper incorporation of regulatory disclaimers and notices, and negotiating vendor and ad placement agreements.

Michael is also very active in advising clients regarding the use of brands on the Internet, including the counseling of financial services, specialty retail, and e-commerce organizations on their applications for generic Top-Level Domains. In addition, Michael undertakes domain name enforcement litigation under the federal ACPA legislation and UDRP forums, and is actively involved in enforcement actions against the importation and distribution of counterfeit goods. In related Internet counseling, Michael advises on the proper use of materials on web sites, and assists with domain name portfolio management and protection.

Michael currently serves as a UDRP panelist with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Michael served as vice president and counsel for Diners Club International. Michael is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.