Sandra Frantzen

Partner

For over 25 years, Sandra Frantzen has practiced a broad range of intellectual property law, focusing on patent, trademark, and copyright litigation and client counseling. Sandra has extensive litigation and consulting experience in various industries and with a variety of technologies, but has particular expertise in the medical device, pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, and consumer goods industries. Sandra received the 2023 Chicago Vanguard award from the Chicago Bar Association, was recognized by the Chicago Law Bulletin as a “Top Woman in Law,” and is recognized on the IAM Patent 1000 list of top patent practitioners. Sandra’s work has been featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.

Sandra is a trial attorney and litigator who focuses on assisting clients with resolving worldwide intellectual property disputes. Serving as lead counsel on behalf of a wide range of clients, including both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies, Sandra’s work has ranged from small cases to cases involving damages in the billions of dollars. Sandra participates in all aspects of dispute resolution, from pre-litigation consultation to trial and appellate work. Her work includes assessing and reviewing the legal issues surrounding clients’ technologies, including invalidity and infringement analyses, managing infringement lawsuits on behalf of both patent/IP owners and accused infringers, appearing and arguing in U.S. district courts and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals as lead counsel, conducting jury trials and arbitration proceedings, including as lead trial counsel, and spearheading mediation and settlement sessions. Sandra has also managed worldwide litigations alongside OUS counsel. One client from an international biotechnology company stated, “Sandra was absolutely instrumental in the successful defense and resolution of this case that was, quite literally, ‘bet-the-company’ litigation. This experience led my company to work with Sandra on multiple other matters, and she has never failed to deliver. Having worked with and against some of the best lawyers our profession has to offer, I can unequivocally say that Sandra is among the elite of the elite. As a client and as a professional colleague, this is one lawyer that I definitely want on my side of the table.”

A member of the Patent Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office, Sandra is well-versed in handling proceedings with the U.S. Patent Office and has been lead counsel in several inter partes review proceedings. Sandra has received numerous favorable decisions from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, including after full trials on the merits.

Sandra also regularly advises clients on strategic IP development, acquisition, protection, and enforcement with a focus on value. Among other things, she has experience evaluating patents and patent portfolios, drafting and negotiating license and manufacturing agreements, consulting regarding licensing matters, performing due diligence review and analysis of intellectual property rights for corporate acquisitions and mergers, and assisting clients in obtaining patents, copyrights, and trademark registrations. Sandra has also served as lead IP counsel assisting clients in corporate acquisitions.

Sandra graduated from Iowa State University with high distinction with B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Environmental Science. She received her law degree from The University of Chicago Law School in 1999, where she also graduated with honors.

• President and Founding Member of the National Arab American Bar Association

• Past President and Board Member of the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois

• Executive Committee, Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening

• Co-Chair of the Judicial Evaluations Committee of the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois

• Former Vice Chair, Patent Trial and Appeal Board Bar Association Diversity Committee

• Participated as member of the Women’s Advisory Council for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer

• Participated as Advisory Board for the Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance

• Intellectual Property Owner’s Litigation Subcommittee

• Participated in the McAndrews’ Professional Development Committee and the firm’s Recruiting and Diversity Committees

• University of Chicago, J.D., with honors, 1999

• Iowa State University, B.S. Chemistry, B.S. Environmental Science, with highest distinction, 1996