Biography
Jonathan Hughley focuses his practice on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications involving mechanical, electromechanical, optical, and software-enabled technologies. His experience spans advanced manufacturing and process-control systems, industrial equipment and automation, consumer products and packaging, medical devices and drug-delivery systems, telecommunications and fiber-optic infrastructure, photonics and imaging systems, transportation technologies, renewable energy systems, sensing and connected products, and thermal-management technologies. He prepares and prosecutes domestic and foreign utility and design patent applications, manages global patent portfolios, and provides patentability and infringement opinions for innovative companies worldwide.
At Marshall Gerstein, Jonathan serves as Chair of the firm's Industrial & Mechanical Technologies Patent Prosecution Practice Group. In that role, he leads a group of attorneys and patent professionals with similar engineering and technical backgrounds. He works with practice group members and firm leadership to identify and execute strategic initiatives that strengthen client service, support professional development and operational excellence, expand market opportunities, and further the firm's growth.
Jonathan is a former participant in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellowship Program, a leadership development initiative for high-potential attorneys. He has been recognized as an “Emerging Lawyer” since 2017, a distinction awarded to fewer than 2% of attorneys licensed in each state. Since 2020, Super Lawyers has selected Jonathan for its Illinois Rising Stars® list for intellectual property law. He was also selected for The Chicago Committee for Advancing Minorities in Large Law Firms' inaugural Pathway to Partnership Fellowship program. Profiles in Diversity Journal recognized Jonathan on its inaugural Black Leaders Worth Watching list, and Crain's Chicago Business recognized him on its 2021 Notable Rising Stars in Law list.
Jonathan strives to extend his practice beyond intellectual property law by representing clients on a pro bono basis in conjunction with local legal service providers. His pro bono work has included successfully obtaining clemency for a client whose petition was among a limited number granted on the final day of Governor Rauner's term.
In addition to his client-focused work, Jonathan is an active member of the Economic Club of Chicago. He serves on the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Finance Committee, and Recruiting Committee, and is a former member of the firm's peer-elected Associates Committee. When he's not working, Jonathan enjoys serving at his church, cooking for his family, building toys and gadgets with his sons, building and riding bicycles, and fishing.
Representative Experience
Inventors and in-house counsel rely on Jonathan’s experience to assist them in developing appropriate patent protection strategies. Jonathan takes the same approach when managing the intellectual property of all his clients: first identifying the client’s needs and then developing a practical protection strategy that helps achieve those objectives.
- Prepared and prosecuted domestic and foreign utility and design patent applications for global companies.
- Conducted wide-ranging patentability, validity, and infringement analyses for industry leaders.
- Completed M&A intellectual-property portfolio review, analysis, and due diligence to support acquisitions and mergers.
- Assisted a startup company in obtaining patent protection that contributed to a successful appearance on Shark Tank.
- Led patent-prosecution strategies for sophisticated domestic and international patent portfolios.
- Advised clients on coordinated utility and design patent strategies covering mechanical, manufacturing, optical, consumer-product, communications, and medical technologies.
Jonathan’s work spans a variety of industries, including:
- Agricultural equipment
- Aircraft components and equipment
- Automotive components and drive systems
- Autonomous driving systems
- Building construction materials and tools
- Consumer products and goods
- Fitness and sporting-goods equipment
- Food processing and packaging
- Heavy-duty machinery
- Household appliances
- Illumination technologies
- Imaging systems
- Industrial control systems
- Manufacturing systems and machinery
- Medical devices
- Nanotechnology
- Oil and gas systems
- Portable electronic devices and accessories
- Sound attenuation technologies
- Advanced manufacturing and process-control systems
- Drug-delivery systems, sterilization, and healthcare manufacturing
- Energy harvesting, renewable energy, and wireless power systems
- Fiber-optic networks, broadband, and telecommunications infrastructure
- Photonics, optical systems, and MEMS devices
- Product packaging, dispensing, and applicator technologies
- Thermal-management and cooling systems
Background and Credentials
Jonathan understands clients. Prior to joining Marshall Gerstein, he worked in numerous engineering and legal capacities at International Truck & Engine Corporation and Caterpillar, Inc. In law school, he worked as a Commercialization Analyst for the University of Illinois’ Office of Technology Management, where he identified, marketed, and licensed intellectual property developed through university research. Jonathan also worked at the University of Illinois College of Law Patent Clinic, conducting prior-art research and assisting clients with patent applications and related matters. His engineering and industry experience provides firsthand insight into the business, operational, and technical challenges faced by inventors, engineers, product-development teams, and in-house counsel.
Jonathan’s leadership roles include serving as an Associate Board member of The Chicago Committee for Advancing Minorities in Large Law Firms, an organization that seeks racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. He currently serves as the Chair of the Nominations Committee, and is a member of the Partner Roundtable Committee.
Jonathan received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law. Additionally, he holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law, Urbana-Champaign (J.D., cum laude)
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering
Bar Admissions
Publications and Presentations
- “Innovators Must Clear Roadblocks to Launch Extraterrestrial Base Programs,” Engineering News-Record, April 8, 2026.
- "Don't Tell," Smart Shop Essentials, October 10, 2024 (featured quotes).
- "The Role of IP in Modern Manufacturing with Jonathan Hughley”, Podcast, The Manufacturers Network Podcast, September 30, 2024.
- Careers in Intellectual Property and Patent Law," Panelist, Illinois Intellectual Property Alliance (ILIPA) Panel Discussion, April 7, 2022.
- "Managing Today's Fast-Paced IP Department," Co-author, ACC Docket, September 16, 2021.
Access Jonathan's additional publications and presentations.
Community and Professional Involvement
- Economic Club of Chicago
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
- The Chicago Committee for Advancing Minorities in Large Law Firms – Associate Board
- Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- Wills for Heroes Foundation
- Cabrini Green Legal Aid
- Lupus Foundation of America