Overview
John Abramic, managing partner of the Chicago office, is a seasoned litigator who represents clients in complex intellectual property disputes. He serves as lead counsel in intellectual property disputes in forums throughout the United States, including in arbitrations, federal district courts, and the International Trade Commission. John has also represented clients in dozens of post-grant review proceedings and frequently appears before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings on behalf of both petitioners and patent owners. He has successfully argued before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and has represented clients in numerous appeals of patent suits and IPRs.
John litigates matters across a variety of technical fields, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemicals, semiconductors, telecommunications, machinery, and computer software. Clients and peers commend "his confidence and reliability during trial, and his skill as a litigator, as well as his leadership qualities and innovative thinking." He has been recognized as a leading IP trial attorney by IAM Patent 1000 and Illinois Super Lawyers.
John is a founding sponsor in the firm's Talent Sponsorship Program, which is designed to create relationships in which Steptoe partners provide experience, exposure, and professional guidance to diverse associates. He is also a recipient of the Northern District of Illinois Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Service.
- Illinois
- Supreme Court of the United States
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US Patent & Trademark Office
- J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2001, with high honors; Order of the Coif; Chicago-Kent Law Review
- B.S., Illinois Institute of Technology, 1997, with honors, Chemical Engineering
Areas of Work
Speaking Engagements
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"Changes at the PTAB Since the GAO Report on PTAB Oversight of APJ Decision Making," 2024 LES Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, October 22, 2024
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"Anticipating the Impact of AI on Drug Discovery and Future Hatch-Waxman Litigation," ACI's The Hatch-Waxman Practitioners Think Tank on Paragraph IV Disputes, Chicago, IL, October 16, 2024
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"The Effects of Heightened Enablement, Written Description and Patent Eligibility Standards on the Licensing and Commercialization of Life Science Inventions," Licensing Executives Society (LES) 2023 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 16, 2023
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"Understanding the Federal Circuit's Application of the Blocking-Patent Doctrine Post Acorda," ACI's Paragraph IV Disputes Master Symposium, Chicago, IL, October 4, 2019
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"Obviousness at the PTAB," 14th Annual Door County Intellectual Property Academy, Door County, WI, July 11, 2019
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"PTAB Pharmaceutical Patent Invalidity Round-Up: Update on Wins, Losses, Appeals and the Latest Estoppel Considerations and Concerns," ACI's Paragraph IV Disputes Master Symposium, Chicago, IL, October 3, 2018
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"PTAB Pharmaceutical Patent Invalidity Round-Up: Update on Wins, Losses, Appeals and Supreme Court Activity," ACI's Paragraph IV Disputes Master Symposium, Chicago, IL, October 2, 2017
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"Willful Infringement After Halo: Back to the Future?," FCBA, March 15, 2017
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"Deciphering the On-Sale Bar: Clarifying 'Public Use' Under Section 102," ACI, September 19, 2016
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"Patent Litigation 2016: The Courts and the PTAB," FCBA, April 28, 2016
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"Paragraph IV Disputes," ACI, September 30, 2015
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives Ten Individual, Four Practice Mentions in 2025 IAM Patent 1000
June 5, 2025
Press Releases
John Abramic Named Recipient of John J. Schommer Honor I Award by Illinois Institute of Technology
June 4, 2025
Media Mentions
May 13, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures Significant Damages Award on Behalf of Judge Michael Fitzpatrick from MSPB
May 5, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Represents Sisecam in Acquisition of All Remaining Shares from the Ciner Group
January 3, 2025
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives Nine Individual, Four Practice Mentions in IAM Patent 1000
June 6, 2024
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures $4 Million Trial Win for American Axle After Years-Long Patent Battle
February 2, 2024
Press Releases
July 20, 2023
Events
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA, Intellectual Property, IL (2025)
- IAM Patent 1000, Litigation: Illinois (2014-2025)
- Illinois Institute of Technology, John J. Schommer Honor I Award (2025)
- The National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts, 2022
- Super Lawyers, Illinois, Intellectual Property Litigation (2015-2021)
- Super Lawyers, Illinois, "Rising Star" (2014)
- Law Bulletin Publishing Company (LBPC), "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" (2012)
Professional Affiliations
- Pro Bono Program, Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
- Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago