About Carolyn M. Passen

Carolyn Passen focuses her practice on intellectual property (IP) litigation and counseling, with a concentration in trademark, copyright and trade secret matters. She is also a skilled litigator, representing clients in complex commercial disputes, including high-profile defamation cases involving major media corporations.

Helping clients protect and enforce their most valuable assets

Described by clients as "strategic, persistent and very aware of client needs" (Chambers USA 2026), Carolyn guides clients through the full lifecycle of IP — from clearance and protection to enforcement and high-stakes litigation. She combines deep litigation experience with a business-minded approach to counseling, helping clients identify and mitigate risk early while building strong positions for resolution when disputes arise. Carolyn, praised as "a fantastic lawyer and asset on any case (Chambers USA 2026)," represents companies ranging from emerging brands to Fortune 100 businesses across a variety of industries, including fashion, hospitality, media and technology. In 2026, World Trademark Review 1000 named Carolyn among the world's leading trademark professionals based on peer and client feedback. She has also been consecutively recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the area of Trademark Law for the last three years, along with numerous rankings by Chambers USA.

Beyond her IP practice, Carolyn brings extensive litigation experience to complex commercial disputes, including defamation cases stemming from statements made during public broadcasts or in the press.

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Practice Focus

  • Trademark, copyright, trade secrets and unfair competition
  • Brand clearance, prosecution and global portfolio strategy
  • Enforcement, including TTAB proceedings and federal litigation
  • False advertising, media and complex commercial disputes

Representative Experience

  • Ivy Coach Inc. v. Crimson Consulting Limited, No. 1:25-cv-05906 (S.D.N.Y. 2026)
  • PMA Financial Network, LLC v. InvestCloud, Inc., No. 1:25-cv-00907 (N.D. Ill. 2026)
  • James MacDonald v. Matthew Erich “Mancow” Muller, et al. (Cook Cty. Cir. Ct. 2025)
  • Visier, Inc. v Google LLC (N.D. Cal 2022).
  • The Breakfast Klub, Inc. v. 1600 Breakfast Club, LLC (C.D. Cal. 2024)
  • Theory LLC v. Young Man Moving Productions, Inc., Opposition No. 91275050 (TTAB 2024)
  • Adidas America, Inc., et al. v. Forever 21, Inc., 3:17-cv-00377 (D. Or. 2023)
  • Peter Ludlow v. Sun-Times Media LLC, et al., 14 L 1529 (Ill. App. Ct. 1st Dist. 2015).

News

Publications

Practices
Industries
Education
  • DePaul University College of Law, JD, with honors, DePaul Law Review Editor
  • Miami University, BA, with honors
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Professional & Community Involvement
  • American Bar Association
  • The Chicago Bar Association
  • International Trademark Association
  • Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Chambers USA
    Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets, 2022–2026
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Trademark Law, 2023–2026
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2026
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars
    Illinois, 2009–2010, 2014
  • World Trademark Review 1000
    Illinois, 2025-2026
Award Methodologies