Christopher A. Bloom
Partner, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP; Chicago

Christopher Bloom concentrates his practice in technology and intellectual property, with particular emphasis in computers and information technology.  Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Bloom was a computer programmer and data analyst.

In over 30 years of practice, Mr. Bloom has counseled technology companies and academic institutions in strategies to develop, protect and enforce intellectual property rights.  He has substantial experience in technology exploitation and technology transfer matters, including strategic alliances, joint ventures and licensing arrangements.  He has also litigated cases involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, licenses and other technology disputes in trial courts, appellate courts and before arbitration tribunals.  He led the team that prevailed in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Qualitex Company v. Jacobson Products Co., Inc., which determined that color alone could be a trademark. 

Mr. Bloom advises computer and information technology companies in areas of intellectual property and licensing matters; data rights; privacy and confidentiality issues; licensing and technology transactions.  He negotiates technology transfer agreements throughout the United States, as well as in the UK, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, Taiwan and China.

Mr. Bloom is a member of the Intellectual Property Advisory Board of Indiana University School of Law.  He is also a faculty member in the e-commerce program of DePaul University School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems.  In 2006 and 2007 he was designated an Illinois “Super Lawyer” in surveys conducted by Law and Politics and Chicago Magazine.