Marcus Thymian, Co-Founder & Attorney
+1.312.761.1150
thymian@growip.com
Personal LinkedIn
Marcus Thymian is a founder of GrowIP Law Group LLC. Marcus helps clients to obtain, enforce, and defend against patents involving a range of technologies. His past work has spanned many technologies, including medical devices, semiconductors, electronic trading software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data communications, cables and connectors, 3D printing, photocatalytic chemical reactors, LED light fixtures, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and unmanned aerial vehicles, among others. His clients have ranged from small start-ups to Fortune 100 multinational corporations.
In addition to formulating IP portfolio strategies to protect companies’ most valuable products and services, Marcus prepares and prosecutes utility and design patent applications to help build patent portfolios. He also advises on other forms of IP, including trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. He enjoys working closely with company executives and in-house counsel to ensure that his clients are positioned to meet business goals and objectives, whether they relate to competitive strategies, international markets, or financial outcomes.
Marcus’ litigation practice includes representing both patent owners and accused infringers. In addition to his work in the courtroom, Marcus spends much of his time helping clients to resolve disputes before they reach trial. He has negotiated numerous case-ending settlements involving licensing arrangements, lump-sum payments, and other more creative solutions. However, when parties aren’t ready to settle, Marcus aggressively litigates to put his clients in the best position to win.
Prior to founding GrowIP, Marcus worked alongside his co-founder Kirsten as an equity partner at a prominent IP boutique in Chicago. In addition to his time spent serving clients, Marcus also serves as a mentor in a number of Chicago-area startup incubators, including 1871 (digital startups) and the Chicago Connectory (IoT startups).
In his spare time, Marcus enjoys spending time with his family participating in a multitude of “silent sports,” including cross country skiing, mountain biking, road biking, running, hiking, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing. A firm believer in the work-hard/play-hard philosophy of life, Marcus can often be found in far-off lands building friendships with business partners and colleagues while engaging in active adventures.
Credentials
Education
B.S., University of Minnesota, Electrical Engineering
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, Cum Laude
Bar Admissions
Illinois
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Thought Leadership
“International IP Practice Virtual Seminar – Patents, Trademarks, Designs,” Center for Intellectual Property, Information & Privacy Law, UIC John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, October 16, 2020.
“Nuts and Bolts of Early-Stage Funding: IP Considerations,” Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SOPE), Chicago Chapter, March 5, 2020.
“International IP Practice Seminar – Patents, Trademarks, Designs,” Center for Intellectual Property, Information & Privacy Law, UIC John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, November 4-5, 2019.
“Overview of the Graphene Patent Landscape,” Global Graphene Expo & Conference, Austin, Texas, October 15-17, 2018.
“Patent and Trademark Searching for Startups,” Lunch & Learn Event, 1871 Digital Startup Incubator, Chicago, Illinois, January 24, 2018.
“Recent Developments in Intellectual Property: Patent, Trademark & Trade Secret Law,” Breakfast Briefing, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Oak Brook, Illinois, October 27, 2017.
“Basics of Patent Law,” Lunch & Learn Event, 1871 Digital Startup Incubator, Chicago, Illinois, September 21, 2017.
“IP Basics for Start-ups: How to Scale Your IP Investment As You Grow,” Lunch & Learn Event, 1871 Digital Startup Incubator, Chicago, Illinois, April 20, 2017.
“IP Law & 3D Printing,” Intellectual Property Law Society, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, April 4, 2017.
“Design Patent Construction in the post Apple v. Samsung Era,” Eleventh Annual Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property (JTIP) Symposium, Northwestern Law School, Chicago, Illinois, March 10, 2016.
“Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in Technology Development with Federal Assistance,” National SBIR/STTR Conference, Reno, Nevada, November 4, 2009.
Recognition:
IAM Patent 1000
Best Lawyers
Leading Lawyers Network