Daniel J. Lueders

Dan focuses primarily in litigation, licensing, mediation and IP portfolio evaluation and clearance. As a patent and trademark attorney, Dan helps clients protect their ideas and market share in the U.S. and internationally. He has represented clients in a variety of matters, including those involving industrial, medical, surgical and pharmaceutical technologies, automotive and trucking devices, wireless phone technology, computerized systems, website content, industrial chemicals, and packaging technologies. His experience includes drafting patent opinions, advice regarding lawfully designing around patents, license drafting and negotiation, merger and acquisition due diligence regarding intellectual property, and trademark searching and opinions.

Dan has served as lead trial counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants in both bench trials as well as jury trials. To protect their interests in multi-million dollar cases, clients rely on Dan to build and manage their litigation teams. He has served as lead counsel for appeals of intellectual property cases and/or given oral argument before the Indiana Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal, Seventh and Ninth Circuits. Dan has also served as an expert witness in patent and trade secret lawsuits.

As a registered mediator, Dan specializes in the resolution of intellectual property disputes. He leverages his litigation experience to help inform disputes in matters involving patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark ownership, infringement, and licensing.

Dan has earned the respect of his legal colleagues and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®, Best Lawyers’ 2022 Litigation – Intellectual Property Lawyers of the Year and 2024 Trade Secrets Lawyer of the Year, Indiana Super Lawyers®, and IP Stars. Dan is a former professor of law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law teaching patent and trade secrets law, trademark law, and patent litigation. He is also a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacey Executive Leadership Series, and a former volunteer deputy prosecutor.

Representative Experience

• Expert Witness regarding trade secrets: Buckley v. Weston, No. 02301-9401-CP-28, in Allen County, Indiana Superior Court (1995) (trial testimony).
• Expert Witness regarding trade secrets: Buckley v. Rich, No. 94-20876-CK, in the Circuit Court for the County of Ottawa, Michigan (1996) (trial testimony).
• Expert Witness regarding trade secrets: Thermodyne v. McDonald’s, No. 95 C 6747, in United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (1996) (deposition testimony).
• Expert Witness regarding patents: Acco Brands USA LLC. v. Noble Security, et al; No. 03 C 1820 etc., in United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (2008) (deposition testimony).
• Expert Witness regarding trade secrets: Press-A-Dent v. Spoor, No. 02C01-0809-PL-000122, in the Allen County Circuit Court, Indiana (2011) (trial testimony).
• Expert Witness regarding trademark ownership: Recycling and Processing Equipment, Inc. et al. v. Johann Schmidt, Hartl Crushtek, LLC, et al.; No. 52C01-0608-CC-00421, in the Miami Circuit Court, Indiana (2011) (trial testimony).
• Represented Indianapolis Bar Association as Amicus Curiae in oral argument and briefing before the Indiana Supreme Court in the trade secret case Amoco Production Co. v. Laird, 622 N.E.2d 912 (1993).

Attorney News

Professional Affiliations

• Indiana State Bar Association
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section

Speaking Engagements

• Program Chair, Advanced Issues in Patent Litigation, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, July 15, 2016
• Faculty member, “’You Really Should Settle This Case’ – Do the Courts Practice What They Preach?” , IP Midwest Intellectual Property Symposium, 2009
• Guest Lecturer: Trade Dress Protection and Infringement Issues, Indianapolis Bar Association, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Section
• Guest Lecturer: Copyright and Trademark Issues for Public Speakers, National Speakers Association, Indiana Chapter
• Panel Member: Copyright Issues for Photographers, American Society of Media Photographers, Indiana Chapter
• Guest Lecturer in Patent Law class, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

Publications

• “Intellectual property mediation: Inverted divorce mediation,” The Indiana Lawyer, September 27, 2023.
• Co-Author: Indiana Chapter of INTA Treatise: State Trademark and Unfair Competition Law
• Refining Cybor – Partial Deference for Claim Construction Analogous to Contractual “Usage of Trade” Standard of Appellate Review, Intellectual Property Today, November 2006.
• Book author of: Parent’s Guide to College Football Recruiting, Copyright 2015; ISBN-10: 0986292702

Civic & Community Involvement

• Zionsville Cub Scout Pack 358

  Cub Master, 1999-2001

• Boy Scouts of America, Central Indiana Council

  Fund raising activities

• Cathedral Arts
  • Board Member; Midsummer Festival Co-chairman, 1994, 1995
  • Peaches & Cream Co-chairman, 1997, 1998
• Zionsville Youth Football League

  Board Member, President, Coach, 2002-2013

• Zionsville Boys & Girls Club

  Board Member, 2007 to 2008