Category: News

Marianne Buckley and Jim Flight, Capital Members of Hanley Flight & Zimmerman, recently delivered a continuing legal education presentation titled “Riding the AI Wave: How AI Tools and the USPTO’s Newest AI Policies Can Lift Your Technology Portfolio,” sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Austin chapter. Marianne covered how recent USPTO policy shifts impact patent prosecution, and Jim spoke to leveraging AI to safely build patent portfolios.

Marianne discussed decisions and statements from the USPTO in late 2025 that indicated a policy change on subject-matter eligibility, including updates to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure that remind examiners to avoid overgeneralizing or dismissing elements as mere “generic” computer components. While questions remain in view of how the courts will handle Section 101 attacks on patents, particularly in the AI space, Marianne explained that USPTO policies are favoring applicants who take a mindful, strategic approach to patenting.

The 2026 Patent 300 report published by Harrity Patent Analytics lists five Hanley Flight & Zimmerman clients among the Top 20 U.S. patent earning entities in 2025. HFZ’s representation of 25% of the top U.S. patenting entities demonstrates once again that HFZ is trusted by the best.

Congratulations to all of HFZ’s great clients. We are proud to assist you in protecting your outstanding inventions.

Marianne Buckley, a Capital Member of Hanley Flight & Zimmerman, will be a featured speaker at a continuing legal education presentation sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel, titled: “Riding the AI Wave: How AI Tools and the USPTO’s Newest AI Policies Can Lift Your Technology Portfolio.”

Marianne, along with HFZ and co-founder Jim Flight, will discuss how recent USPTO decisions involving AI inventions can be leveraged with respect to obtaining patents. They will also cover how the USPTO is increasingly using AI in the patent examination process, and how inventors can use AI to strengthen their patent portfolios.

The CLE is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Central time February 18 in Austin, Texas and is hosted by the ACC’s Austin chapter. For more information and to register, click here.

James (Jim) Flight, a founding member of Hanley Flight & Zimmerman, is featured in IAM’s Strategy 300 Global Leaders 2026, a publication that showcases intellectual property professionals whose “approach to intellectual property is regarded by peers as truly strategic in nature.”

Jim was chosen through an editorial process that included peer nominations, research and source interviews. From that group, IAM selected its Global Leaders, acknowledging IP professionals from across in-house, private practice, and service provider roles who merit special attention for their expertise and experience in creating, protecting, managing, transacting, and enforcing critical patent rights.

This is the fourth straight year Jim has been chosen to the Global Leaders list. Also this year, Jim, fellow HFZ founders Mark Hanley and Mark Zimmerman, and the firm were ranked in this year’s IAM Patent 1000, an annual guide to the world’s leading patent law firms and individuals.

Hanley Flight & Zimmerman, LLC is glad to announce that patent attorney Mary Harvey (formerly Vollmar) has become a Non-Equity member.

Mary was elected by the Capital Members of HFZ for promotion based on her excellent skills as a patent attorney, her established pattern of diligent service to HFZ clients, and her character. HFZ expects Mary to continue to advance in a leadership role to the benefit of HFZ and its diverse client base.

We’re proud to congratulate Kate Chwistek, Emmett Russell, and Adam Popper on passing the bar and joining our team as associates! Their hard work and dedication have already made an impact, and we can’t wait to see what’s next as they take this exciting next step in their legal careers.

Each new associate brings a strong technical background and a unique perspective to HFZ. With degrees in mechanical, biomechanical, and electrical engineering, Kate, Emmett, and Adam share a passion for innovation and problem-solving. Their experience in research, product development, and technology positions them to help clients protect their intellectual property and advance new ideas across industries.

Chris George and Michael Lenisa, HFZ capital members, recently returned from the IPO Annual Meeting in San Diego, where both attorneys made connections, shared their IP knowledge, and gained valuable insights.

On the first day of the conference, Chris helped lead a joint session of the AI and the Software-Related Inventions Committees. Chris is vice chair of the IPO’s Software-Related Inventions Committee, which focuses on judicial decisions, proposed legislation, and regulatory practices in the United States, Europe and other countries and geographies as well as recommends changes to the laws governing software.

Throughout the event, Chris and Mickey connected with other IP professionals to discuss AI innovation protection, usage of AI, international IP comparisons, and next steps in protecting quantum and other emerging technologies.

Hanley Flight & Zimmerman has been recognized as one of the top intellectual property law firms in Chicago in the 2026 Chambers Spotlight Guide for Illinois released today.

Chambers Spotlight, published by Chambers USA, an independent legal research organization, is an honor awarded to small and medium-sized law firms “that have demonstrated strong expertise in their respective practice areas.” According to Chambers, the firms ranked in the guide were selected based on independent and in-depth market analysis, coupled with an assessment of their experience, expertise and caliber of talent. More information is available here.

The Chambers Spotlight ranking is the latest honor for HFZ and its patent attorneys.

Recently, HFZ and firm co-founders Mark Hanley, James Flight, and Mark Zimmerman were ranked for the third straight year in the IAM Patent 1000, an annual guide to the world’s leading patent law firms and individuals. Mark Hanley and Mark Zimmerman were for the third straight year honored as “Patent Stars” in the annual IP STARS guide to the top intellectual property attorneys in Illinois and nationwide in the United States. And Jim Flight was selected for the fourth straight year to the IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists and was also honored in the Strategy 300 Global Leaders 2025 publication.

Four Hanley Flight & Zimmerman attorneys are included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

James Flight and Michael Zimmerman were honored as Best Lawyers for patent law, placing them among the top lawyers with more than a decade of experience in the Chicago area. In addition, Justin Lizalek and Mary Vollmar were honored as “Ones to Watch” for intellectual property law. “Ones to Watch” are recognized attorneys with less than 10 years of private practice experience.

Every year Best Lawyers analyzes more than 13 million lawyer evaluations to compile its rankings, which are based on peer review and feedback. More information about Best Lawyers’ methodology is available here.

James (Jim) Flight, a founding member of Hanley Flight & Zimmerman, was selected for the fourth straight year to the IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.

The 2025 IAM Strategy 300 identifies “individuals who are leading the way in the development of strategies that maximize the value of IP portfolios.” The list includes leaders from a variety of arenas, including service providers, corporations, research institutions and universities.

The roster of honorees was compiled through an editorial process based on peer nominations, plus independent research and source interviews with members of the global IP community. More information on the methodology is available here.

IAM has also honored Jim in its Strategy 300 Global Leaders 2025 publication, which acknowledges leaders from across in-house, private practice and service provider roles in IP. Jim and the firm were also recommended in the latest IAM Patent 1000 rankings.