Biography
Stephen Fardy is an equity partner who focuses his practice on intellectual property and complex commercial litigation. Stephen has a national practice representing entities ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. He litigates matters involving trademarks, trade dress, unfair trade practices, copyrights, patents, right of publicity and privacy issues, as well as complex commercial fraud, contracts and other business disputes. Stephen also handles proceedings with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, prosecutes trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and further manages an extensive trademark docket of over 1,000 national and international trademarks. Finally, he handles licensing and provides counseling regarding intellectual property issues.
Stephen has successfully prevailed in intellectual property and commercial trials and arbitrations in Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina, Maryland, Indiana and Nevada and has litigated matters nationally in over a dozen jurisdictions. For example, Stephen, along with partner Peter Skiko, obtained a $61 million trade secret settlement against a Fortune 500 financial services defendant (largest recorded settlement in Illinois in 2014 and ninth largest trade secret settlement ever recorded in the United States). He also recently received a defense verdict in an intellectual property and patent ownership trial in Colorado. Finally, he obtained summary judgment for renowned singer and songwriter, Michael Jackson, in a copyright and trademark dispute.
Stephen received a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award from the Jury Verdict Reporter in 2015. He was featured on the cover of the October 2015 edition of Chicago Lawyer Magazine for his success in his intellectual property practice. He also was named one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” in 2009 by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company and was profiled again in 2019 for Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's "Then and Now" series of previous "40 Under Forty" honorees.
Stephen serves as chair of the firm's Intellectual Property practice group and on a variety of firm administrative committees. In addition, Stephen takes great pride in having served as the 2015 firm co-chair of the Chicago Bar Foundation's Investing in Justice Campaign, in which Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP raised the highest amount in firm history for the Foundation.
Practices
Intellectual Property Litigation and Transactional Services
Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes
Entertainment and Media Law
Data Protection and Information Privacy
Memberships & Affiliations
- International Trademark Association
- Chicago Bar Foundation Investing in Justice Campaign, 2015 Firm Co-Chair
Awards
- Selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers in 2018-2021, 2023
- Profiled for Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's "Then and Now" series at previous "40 Under Forty" honorees, 2019
- Received a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award from the Jury Verdict Reporter, 2015
- Featured on the cover of Chicago Lawyer Magazine for success in Intellectual Property practice, October 2015 Issue
- Named one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” by Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2009
- Named as a “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property by Illinois Super Lawyers, 2008 and 2009
Publications
- "More than just source code qualifies as trade secrets," Intellectual Property Magazine, September 2014
- "Feet of Clay: How the Right of Publicity Exception Undermines Copyright Act Preemption," 12 Tex. Intell. Prop. L.J. 444 (2004)
Representative Engagements
- Business Logic Holding Corporation v. Ibbotson Associates, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc., No. 2009 CH 46687. Obtained a State of Illinois record $61 million trade secret settlement for a plaintiff software company in 2014.
News
October 18, 2023
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partners Sponsor American Heart Association's Counsel for a Cause
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partners John P. Arranz, Ross W. Bartolotta, Steven E. Danekas, Michael W. Drumke, P. Stephen Fardy, George F. Fitzpatrick, Jr., McRay Judge, Timothy G. Nickels, John J. O'Sullivan, David F. Pardys, Gary C. Pinter, T. Allon Renfro, Kristine C. Reveille, Christopher T. Sheean, Robert W. Stephens and Marcie J. Vantine are proud sponsors of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 8th Annual Chicago Counsel for a Cause event on October 19.
May 11, 2023
Fardy and Patterson to Attend the International Trademark Association's 2023 Annual Meeting
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys P. Stephen Fardy and William D. Patterson will attend the International Trademark Association's (INTA) 2023 Annual Meeting on May 16-20 in Singapore.
May 17, 2022
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP at the International Trademark Association's 144th Annual Meeting
On May 1-4, Partners Stephen Fardy and Jonna Reilly attended the International Trademark Association's (INTA) 144th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Chicago, September 3, 2021
Lothson Named to Law Bulletin Media's 40 Under Forty List
According to Lothson's profile, ""Andy has natural instincts beyond his years and is an exceptionally bright and creative attorney."
Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, January 11, 2021
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2021
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.
Chicago, October 5, 2020
Ferrill Named to Law Bulletin Media's 40 Under 40
According to Ferrill's profile, "She will do whatever it takes, leave no stone unturned, until she can get her clients the right result."
Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, February 3, 2020
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2020
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.
Chicago, September 27, 2019
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Highlights Fardy in "40 Under Forty" Look Back
Fardy was chosen from among his fellow "40 Under Forty" Class of 2009 peers for a detailed profile on his career since receiving the honor.
Chicago, September 25, 2019
Clyder Named to Law Bulletin Media's "40 Under Forty" List
According to Clyder's profile, he "has a superior command of the technical issues that often determine outcomes in product liability cases."
Chicago, January 16, 2019
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2019
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommend by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.
Chicago, June 11, 2018
Haddox Named to Law Bulletin Media's "40 Under Forty" List
Haddox was recognized for his work in Contract Disputes, Construction Litigation and Product Liability matters.
Chicago, November 8, 2017
McCaskey Named to Law Bulletin's "40 Under Forty" List
According to "40 Under Forty," to be named to the list, honorees must have intelligence, passion, success in the office, a desire to help the community, and a willingness to work hard.
Chicago, November 22, 2016
Law Bulletin Recognizes Wiegler on "40 Under Forty" List
Wiegler was recognized in the profile for her "refined and thorough competency in the law combined with an absolute civil approach to this practice."
Chicago, July 15, 2016
Fardy, Reilly Represent Convenience Store Chain in IP Dispute
The chain has asked U.S. District Court to allow it to continue referring to its four-sided doughnuts as "square donuts."
Chicago, June 21, 2016
IP Newsletter: How the Defense of Trade Secrets Act Impacts Your Business
The Intellectual Property Litigation and Transactional Services Practice Group has released its June newsletter.
Chicago, October 30, 2015
Skiko, Fardy Recognized at Jury Verdict Reporter Awards
The pair were recognized for obtaining the highest settlement of 2014-2015 on behalf of client Business Logic.
Chicago, October 12, 2015
October's Chicago Lawyer Cover Features Fardy
Chicago Lawyer recognized partners Steve Fardy and Pete Skiko for obtaining the largest settlement in 2014 on behalf of a client.
Chicago, April 6, 2015
Recent Results Highlight Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s Growing Strength in Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property
Long known for its depth in tort defense and trial experience, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s success continues in other litigation areas.
Chicago, September 10, 2014
Fardy, Skiko Author Intellectual Property Magazine Article
The article details a trade secret dispute that settled for over $60 million.
Chicago, July 21, 2014
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Highlights Trade Secret Settlement
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP represent Business Logic Holding Corporation in its $61 million settlement with Morningstar, Inc.
July 18, 2014
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Client Business Logic Obtains $61 Million Settlement
The publicly reported settlement ranks as both one of the largest reported Illinois settlements in recent years and is among the ten largest reported settlements involving trade secret misappropriation, according to Orrick.
January 8, 2014
Fardy Wins IP Bench Trial on Patent Ownership and Fraud Issues
The client won a declaratory judgment on patent ownership issues as well as counterclaims of fraudulent concealment and fraud misrepresentation.
September 4, 2013
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Wins Summary Judgment in Trade Secret Matter
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP won summary judgment on behalf of its client, a California plant propagator, in a sophisticated multi-million dollar trade secret matter involving the licensing, marketing and development of specialized plant lines.
July 19, 2012
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Wins Summary Judgment in IP Case
The firm won summary judgment immediately prior to trial in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
November 3, 2009
Fardy Named One of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” in Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Annual Survey
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that P. Stephen Fardy, an equity partner in its Chicago office, has been selected from a pool of more than 1,000 nominees.
