On May 30, 2017, the Supreme Court struck another in a series of blows to patent owners this term and significantly broadened the doctrine of patent “exhaustion,” which bars a patentee from asserting patent rights over an article after an authorized sale of the article. The decision reversed longstanding Federal Circuit precedent permitting patent infringement actions if (1) a sale was subject to clearly communicated, lawful restrictions on post-sale use or resale; or (2) a sale was made overseas. The Supreme Court voided these safe harbors, finding them to be sales that exhausted patent rights, reasoning “patent exhaustion is uniform and automatic.” Slip Op. at 13. The Supreme Court’s decision not only has immediate ramifications for patent licensing and enforcement actions, but also is likely to have a cascading effect on worldwide supply chains, pricing and product availability in some countries.

Congratulations to RSHC Partners, Joseph McCoy and Patricia Brown Holmes, on their recognition in Crain’s Chicago Business inaugural edition of Chicago’s Most Influential Minority Lawyers. They are among 45 female and male lawyers recognized for their impressive achievements and dedication to diversity initiatives.

On December 11, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to decide whether Title VII bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, leaving in place a pronounced circuit court split on the issue.

RSHC proudly recognizes Cory and Joe Cancila, long-time supporters of All Stars Project of Chicago and one of the first 50 families and businesses, who are generously supporting the Founding 50 Challenge campaign. The $500,000 Challenge Fund will help establish a Center for Afterschool Development in the Chicago Loop by 2020.

In the last 30 years, Patricia Brown Holmes has lived a professional career that most attorneys never come close to experiencing. From youngest African-American woman serving as an associate judge in 1999 to special prosecutor in the Laquan McDonald case in 2017, she assesses the circumstances quickly and accurately and then takes appropriate action – skills that also helped her survive cancer.

RSHC Partner, Patricia Brown Holmes, will be honored for her achievements in the legal industry at the annual Chicago Defender’s Newsmakers Awards GALA on Saturday, December 2.

On Tuesday, November 14, Arthur Brown walked out of prison and into the arms of his family after serving over 29 years for a crime he did not commit. In an all too familiar story, Arthur was convicted based solely on a confession he gave after being beaten and choked by police officers. A team of lawyers from RSHC worked to free Arthur and unraveled the State’s case. After a lengthy hearing, RSHC lawyers convinced the Judge to vacate Arthur’s conviction. Kim Foxx and her staff dug into the facts and quickly dismissed the case.

RSHC Partner, Patricia Brown Holmes, will speak at the November 9-10 National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) 13th General Counsel Institute. The panel presentation, Using the Media to Litigate, will discuss the powerful influence of the media on law, both traditional journalism and social media.

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila has been named a Tier 1 firm in Chicago in four practice areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for the Eighth Edition of “Best Law Firms.” The firm also earned a Tier 2 ranking in Chicago for Appellate Practice and a National Tier 1 and 2 ranking in two practice areas.

RSHC Partner, Bob Riley, will moderate a panel of CMOs and industry professionals, who will examine value-based pricing of legal services and evolving approaches to marketing and business development programs, on October 24 at the Metropolitan Club.

RSHC Partner, Jake Kahn, will be leading the afternoon micro session, “Demystifying the Department of Labor’s New Fiduciary Rule as Applied in the Futures Industry,” on November 3 at the 9th Annual Conference on Futures and Derivatives at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

On September 30, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Governor Bruce Rauner announced the formation of an unprecedented 600-person committee of public and private sector leaders to demonstrate Chicago is the best place for Amazon’s second headquarters in North America. Deputy Mayor Robert S. Rivkin, and Deputy Governor Leslie Munger, will lead the bid effort. Patricia Brown Holmes and Ron Safer are proud to be among the select business leaders, who will speak with a powerful and unified voice, to highlight Chicago’s many strengths and the value of doing business in Illinois.

RSHC Partner, Ron Safer, has been selected as one of nine honorees of the 2017 Justice John Paul Stevens Award given by the Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation.

On Friday, September 15, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber enjoined the U.S. Attorney General from imposing new conditions on federal funding. If imposed, the new conditions would threaten the sovereignty of Chicago and undermine its commitment to embracing immigrants within its borders. In awarding preliminary relief against the U.S. Attorney General, the Court found that Chicago will likely succeed in demonstrating that the new conditions are unconstitutional at trial. The preliminary injunction applies nationwide to any jurisdiction seeking funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.

On Monday, September 11, RSHC Partner, Ronald Safer, asked U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber for a nation-wide injunction to stop the Trump Administration from denying law enforcement grants to sanctuary cities

On Friday, September 8, Chicago led 44 cities and counties, in addition to the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court challenging President Trump’s Executive Order banning individuals from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the country and suspending the admission of refugees into the U.S. In their united brief, the municipalities argue that the Executive Order discriminates against Muslims and violates the religious freedom protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The brief was prepared with the pro bono assistance of Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila.

Congrats to the RSHC team for a significant victory in the 7th Circuit.

Eight RSHC partners have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in six areas of selection. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

RSHC is pleased to announce that Matt Fischer, a founding partner, has been awarded the highest overall rating by his peers and named Best Lawyers’ 2018 Chicago Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions–Defendants “Lawyer of the Year.” Matt was previously recognized in 2013 for this honor. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

The City of Chicago has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent President Donald Trump's Justice Department from making a federal crime prevention grant that is critical to public safety efforts conditional on unrelated and unlawful immigration enforcement actions. Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila and WilmerHale are providing their services to the City of Chicago pro bono to assist in this important effort.