Intellectual Property Counsel • Chicago, Illinois

Protecting
what you have
built.

Strategic patent, trademark, and global IP counsel for founders, inventors, and innovators. From your first disclosure to your international portfolio.

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● Patent Strategy ● Trademark Protection ● PCT International Filing ● Madrid Protocol ● Prior Art Analysis ● IP Portfolio Management ● Global IP Coordination ● Startup Counsel ● Inventor Representation ● Patent Strategy ● Trademark Protection ● PCT International Filing ● Madrid Protocol ● Prior Art Analysis ● IP Portfolio Management ● Global IP Coordination ● Startup Counsel ● Inventor Representation
The Firm

Counsel built on
expertise and trust.

The Banks Law Firm is a Chicago-based intellectual property and business law practice representing inventors, entrepreneurs, and innovators at every stage of protecting and commercializing their ideas.
River Point — 444 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois — The Banks Law Firm, 17th Floor
River Point
444 West Lake Street  ·  17th Floor  ·  Chicago
River Point — 444 West Lake Street, Chicago  ·  Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Donnya N. Banks
Founder & Principal — IP & Innovation Counsel
Illinois State Bar
Intellectual Property Law
Federal Civil Litigation
Business & Startup Law

Founded by Donnya N. Banks, the firm brings together deep legal expertise and genuine strategic counsel to help clients build, protect, and leverage their intellectual property assets. The firm’s IP practice covers the full lifecycle of protection — from the first invention disclosure and prior art analysis through patent prosecution, trademark registration, and global portfolio coordination.

We work with Registered Patent Practitioners to ensure that all patent prosecution work meets the highest professional and technical standards, while Attorney Banks handles strategy, business counsel, and the full scope of non-prosecution IP services.

We are a boutique practice by design. We limit our caseload to ensure that every client receives focused, attentive, and responsive representation. When you retain The Banks Law Firm, you work directly with the firm’s principal — not a junior associate or a call center.

“We do not just advise on what the law allows — we help clients understand what it means for their business, their investment, and their future.”
1:1
Direct attorney access
150+
PCT countries
130+
Madrid trademark
17th
Floor, Chicago Loop
Core Practice

Intellectual Property
from first idea to
global protection.

Our IP practice is built around a structured, phased approach that protects your rights at every stage — before any filing, through prosecution, and into international markets.

01
Patent Strategy & Prosecution
From preliminary prior art analysis and invention disclosure through provisional and nonprovisional patent applications. We coordinate with Registered Patent Practitioners to ensure technically precise, strategically positioned filings across all invention categories — apparatus, software, medical, wellness, clothing, and consumer products.
Provisional Nonprovisional Design Patents Continuation CIP Office Actions
02
Trademark & Brand Protection
Comprehensive trademark clearance, intent-to-use and use-based applications, USPTO prosecution, and international filing through the Madrid Protocol. We advise on the critical timing decisions that protect your brand before and after launch — including the 24-to-72-hour public disclosure window that makes trademark strategy inseparable from product strategy.
Clearance Search ITU Applications USPTO Prosecution Madrid Protocol Opposition
03
Global IP Coordination
U.S.-based strategy and coordination for international patent and trademark filings. PCT international application strategy and timeline management, Paris Convention priority analysis, foreign counsel identification and liaison, national phase entry coordination, and ongoing deadline monitoring across 150+ jurisdictions.
PCT Strategy National Phase Entry Foreign Counsel Annuity Management
04
IP Transactional & Agreements
Drafting and negotiation of NDAs, invention confidentiality agreements, IP assignment agreements, and licensing arrangements. We ensure that every relationship involving your intellectual property — with investors, partners, contractors, and co-inventors — is properly documented before any disclosure occurs.
NDA Drafting IP Assignment Licensing Co-Inventor Agreements
05
Pre-Filing Strategy & Analysis
Before any patent application is filed, we conduct a structured preliminary phase — securing your disclosures with NDAs, conducting prior art research, preparing a business-oriented IP strategy assessment, and delivering a written technical prior art summary. This phase defines the scope of your rights before committing to prosecution costs.
Prior Art Search IP Assessment Disclosure Protection Filing Strategy
06
Startup & Founder IP Counsel
Comprehensive IP counsel for funded startups and early-stage companies — from formation-stage IP audits and ownership structure advice through investor due diligence preparation, portfolio strategy, and ongoing protection as the company scales. We understand the relationship between IP rights, investment, and company valuation.
IP Audit Due Diligence Portfolio Strategy Investor Readiness
How We Work

A structured approach
from day one.

Every engagement begins with a clear, phased process designed to protect your rights before any costs are committed and to ensure the scope of representation accurately reflects your specific situation.
01
Confidential Consultation
We begin with a protected consultation to understand your invention, your business goals, and your timeline. Nothing is shared, nothing is committed, and everything is privileged from the first conversation.
02
Preliminary Phase
We execute all necessary NDAs, conduct a comprehensive prior art search, prepare a business-oriented IP strategy assessment, and deliver a written technical analysis — before any filing decisions are made.
03
Strategy & Agreement
Based on the preliminary findings, we present a tailored IP strategy and a fee agreement that defines the exact scope of prosecution work. No surprises. No scope creep. A clear plan before any filing begins.
04
Execution & Protection
We execute the filing strategy — patent applications, trademark registrations, international coordination — with ongoing communication and clear milestones at every stage through to grant, registration, and portfolio management.
Who We Serve

Built for
serious inventors
and founders.

We work with clients who are building something real and want to protect it properly — from the first disclosure to a global portfolio. Our clients range from individual inventors with a breakthrough idea to funded startups preparing for institutional investment.

We are not the right firm for every matter. We are the right firm when the stakes are high, the invention is significant, and the client needs more than a filing service — they need a strategic partner.

Client Access
The Banks Law Firm primarily accepts new clients through trusted referrals. We occasionally consider matters outside our referral network when the engagement aligns with our expertise and capacity. Inquiries are always welcome.
Individual Inventors
Individuals with patentable inventions across all technology categories — apparatus, software, medical devices, wellness formulations, clothing and wearables, and consumer products.
Funded Startups & Founders
Early-stage and growth-stage companies where IP protection is directly linked to valuation, investment terms, and competitive positioning.
Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
Business owners seeking to protect proprietary products, processes, and brand identity as they scale and enter new markets.
Creative & Technology Professionals
Designers, developers, engineers, and creative professionals with IP-intensive work products who need strategic counsel on protection and commercialization.
Athletes & Entertainment Clients
High-profile individuals building personal brands, product lines, and licensing portfolios who require sophisticated IP and business counsel.
Additional Services

Beyond IP —
comprehensive counsel.

Business & Startup Law
Entity formation, operating agreements, shareholder arrangements, commercial contracts, and general business counsel for founders and established businesses.
Contract Drafting & Negotiation
Drafting, review, and negotiation of commercial agreements — licensing, distribution, partnership, vendor, and employment agreements.
Entertainment & Sports Law
Representation for entertainers, athletes, and public figures on IP, brand, endorsement, licensing, and personal rights matters.
Federal Civil Litigation
Federal court representation in civil matters, including pre-suit strategy, demand letters, and enforcement of intellectual property and commercial rights.
Appellate Practice
Appellate representation in federal courts, including briefing, oral argument, and strategic review of trial court decisions.
Mediation
Alternative dispute resolution services for commercial, IP, and business disputes — an efficient, cost-effective path to resolution outside litigation.
Our Approach

Boutique by design.
Strategic by nature.

"We limit our caseload because your matter deserves the full attention of the attorney whose name is on the door."

The Banks Law Firm is a boutique practice by deliberate choice. We do not grow for growth's sake. We accept the matters we can handle with the depth and attention they require — and we decline the ones we cannot.

Our clients work directly with Donnya N. Banks. Not an associate, not a paralegal handling intake. The attorney who signs the engagement letter is the attorney who reads your documents, prepares your strategy, and answers your calls.

Privilege First
Every engagement is structured to protect the attorney-client privilege from the first conversation. NDAs are in place before any third party hears about your invention. Confidentiality is not a feature — it is a foundation.
Strategy Before Filing
We do not file for the sake of filing. Every patent and trademark application is preceded by analysis, strategy, and a clear rationale for why this filing, in this form, at this time, is the right decision for your business.
Transparent Fees
Our engagement agreements are written in plain language. Flat fees are earned at defined milestones. Refund terms are clear. There are no billing surprises and no scope disputes.
Global Reach
We coordinate international patent and trademark protection in 150+ countries through established relationships with qualified foreign counsel — managed from Chicago with the same strategic rigor as every domestic filing.
Get in Touch

Begin a confidential
consultation.

The Banks Law Firm
Intellectual Property & Business Counsel
A
444 West Lake Street
17th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606
T
312.366.3399
E
[email protected]
W
thebankslawfirm.com
All inquiries are held in strict confidence. Communications with the firm are protected by the attorney-client privilege from your first contact. A member of the firm will respond within one business day.
Send a Confidential Inquiry
By submitting this form, you understand that your inquiry is confidential and protected. Submission does not create an attorney-client relationship. The firm will contact you to discuss your matter before any representation is undertaken.