Amy Ziegler is a shareholder with Greer Burns & Crain in Chicago. Her practice focuses on intellectual property, Internet and technology law, helping clients protect their innovations and build valuable brand portfolios that drive business growth. She routinely handles high-profile trademark, anti-counterfeiting, patent and copyright enforcement matters,securing favorable outcomes that protect clients’ competitive advantages and market positions.

“Amy Ziegler’s litigation prowess in the branding sphere makes her a perfect fit for rights holders, including Fortune 500 companies, in need of bulletproof strategies. Her capacity for high-stake battles is immensely useful when stamping out counterfeiters.”  World Trademark Review list of THE WORLD’S LEADING TRADEMARK PROFESSIONALS 2018

Ms. Ziegler manages global trademark portfolios for a variety of businesses, including companies in the software, data, manufacturing, luxury and consumer goods industries, enabling them to expand into new markets while safeguarding their brand identity worldwide. Through domestic and foreign trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, she has helped clients defend against brand dilution and preserve the distinctiveness of their marks in key jurisdictions.

“’Amy Ziegler is a leader in anti-counterfeiting work nationwide.’ Her extensive experience contributes to her exceptional management of vast trademark portfolios.”  World Trademark Review list of THE WORLD’S LEADING TRADEMARK PROFESSIONALS 2026

Her experience negotiating and drafting agreements that deal with intellectual property rights, including license agreements, has enabled clients to monetize their IP assets, forge strategic partnerships, and minimize legal risk. She is frequently consulted regarding the intellectual property and privacy aspects of mergers and acquisitions, where her counsel helps parties identify IP-related risks and opportunities that can significantly impact deal value and post-transaction success.

On the patent side, Ms. Ziegler’s technical focus lies primarily in the areas of optical, electrical and mechanical devices. This technical expertise allows her to provide strategically sound advice that accounts for both legal and technological considerations, helping innovators secure robust patent protection for breakthrough technologies.

Ms. Ziegler received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a J.D. (with honors) from DePaul University. Prior to attending law school, she operated a superconducting linear accelerator at Argonne National Laboratory and conducted fiber optic research, giving her firsthand understanding of the challenges clients face in bringing complex technologies from laboratory to marketplace.

She was named one of the Top 1000 trademark professionals in the world by World Trademark Review, one of “The Top Women Attorneys in Illinois” by Chicago Magazine, a Super Lawyer by Illinois Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation, DePaul University College of Law’s 2011 Outstanding Young Alumna, and received the Linn Inn Alliance Distinguished Service Medal. She co-leads the team that was recognized as “Anti-counterfeiting Firm of the Year” by the 2023 WTR Global IP Awards in the United States and Canada.

Representative Litigation Matters

• NBA Properties, Inc. v. HANWJH, 46 F.4th 614 (7th Cir. 2022) (affirmed that offer for sale and sale of infringing product to investigator in Illinois established personal jurisdiction).
• Volkswagen AG, et al. v. IMAN36r5-USA., 18-cv-6611 (N.D. Ill. Feb 28, 2020) (summary judgment granted for offer for sale of counterfeit Audi logo light and awarding $75,000).
• Entertainment One UK Ltd. v. 2012shiliang, et al., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74157 (N.D. Ill. May 2, 2019) (summary judgment granted for using Peppa Pig in item title and awarding $100,000 for two represented sales).
• H-D U.S.A., LLC v. Guangzhou Tomas Crafts Co., et al., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 207613 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 18, 2017) (declining to reduce asset restraint, entering summary judgment and awarding $150,000 in statutory damages, noting “the fact that defendant’s counterfeiting took place online favors a higher statutory damages award because online counterfeiting can reach a much wider audience than counterfeiting through a physical store.”).
• Luxottica Group S.p.A. v. Hao Li, et al. and Richemont International SA, et al. v. Luo Liang, et al., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21818 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 15, 2017) (summary judgment and awarding $120,000 in statutory damages and attorney fees for use of WAYFARER in item title and offering to sell earrings bearing a counterfeit VCA Alhambra trademark).
• River Light V, L.P. and Tory Burch LLC v. Zhangyali, et al., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111301 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 22, 2016) (summary judgment and awarding $100,000 for one infringed mark and finding that defendant acted with “reckless indifference to the trademark owner’s rights” by failing to perform due diligence of its product listings).
• Monster Energy Company v. Chen Wensheng, et al., 15-cv-4166 (N.D. Ill. June 30, 2016) (Docket Entry No. 137) (summary judgment and awarding $1 million in statutory damages despite zero represented sales).
• Bulgari, S.p.A. v. Zou Xiaohong, et al., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140606, at *7 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 15, 2015) (summary judgment and awarding $100,000 for three represented sales).

Publications & Press

• Quoted, “Squires And Stewart’s Trademark Office, By The Numbers,” Law360, March 3, 2026
• Co-author, “Litigation Strategies Behind Multiple‑Seller Counterfeiting Cases at the US Federal Courts,”The Trademark Litigation Review 2026, Specialist Chapter, World Trademark Review / Globe Business Counsellors, November 13, 2025
• Quoted, Brown, Elizabeth T., “Founder of New US Bar Association Calls for Greater Platform Liability,” World Trademark Review, August 6, 2025
• Quoted, “Illinois Vs. The Internet: IP Suits Over Online Sales Stir Debate,” Law360, February 14, 2025
• Co-author, “One Action, Many Targets: The Litigation Strategies Behind Multiple‑Seller Counterfeiting Cases,” World Trademark Review, November 25, 2021
• Quoted, Brachmann, Steve, “Amazon’s Counterfeit Problem Is a Big One—for Shareholders, Brand Owners and Consumers Alike,” com, February 27, 2019
• Co-author, “Patenting Cloning and Stem Cell Technology: Controversy and Comparison in the United States and Europe,” Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, April 2005, at 1
• Interview, Chicago Lawyer, December 2004, at 20
• Co-author, “Battling Piracy in the EU: Is the EU following the US lead in cracking down on piracy?” The Patent Lawyer, Spring 2004, at 18
• Co-author, “Status Report on European Directive,” National Law Journal, December 8, 2003, at S1
• Contributor, Federal Circuit Review of Markman Issues, 2002 (IPLAC 2003)
• Co-author, “A Brighter Future for Protecting Computer Software in Europe,” Global eCommerce Law and Business Report, March 2002, at 1
• Contributor, Federal Circuit Review of Markman Issues, 2001 (IPLAC 2002)
• Co-author, “Polarization Control of a Q-Switched, Diode-Pumped, Nd:YAG Laser,” 34 Applied Optics, at 4256 (1995)

Memberships & Affiliations

• Strategic Alliance for Fair Ecommerce, NFP (SAFE), Co-founder and President
• The Richard Linn American Inn of Court, Past President and Board Member
• International Trademark Association (INTA), Current Legislation and Regulation Committee Member, Past Anti-Counterfeiting Committee Member, Midwest Chair, Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition (2007-2009)
• S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Local Patent Rules Committee Member (2012 – 2014)
• Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC), Board Member (2005-2007), Chair, Women in IP Committee (2004-2005), Vice Chair, Women in IP Committee (2003-2004); Founder, Annual Federal Judicial Panel
• Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society
• National Youth Science Camp Alumni Association (NYSCAA)

Civic and Charitable

• University of Chicago Women’s Board Member
• Pro Bono Counsel for A Mighty Girl
• Pro Bono Counsel for St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc. dba Father Joe’s Villages
• Pro Bono Counsel for Bleeding Disorders Alliance Illinois fka the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois
• Pro Bono Counsel for Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization (2006 – 2011)

Experience

• Worldwide trademark prosecution and brand management
• Patent, trademark, anti-counterfeiting, copyright and unfair competition litigation in Federal Courts
• Trademark Opposition and Cancellation proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
• Trademark, copyright and patent enforcement
• Licensing and joint development agreements
• Domain name proceedings
• Internet brand enforcement
• Website and software terms of use and privacy policies
• Settlement negotiation and coexistence agreements
• Nondisclosure, work-for-hire, and independent contractor agreements
• Intellectual property asset transfer
• Intellectual property security agreements

Bar Memberships

• United States Patent and Trademark Office
• Supreme Court of the State of Illinois
• Supreme Court of the State of Georgia
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit