Adjunct Faculty Biographies

Mary E. Dicig

Education:
       Chicago Kent College of Law, JD, Member of the Patent Bar
       University of Illinois, B.S.; M.S.

Professional Profile: 

Following a successful career as a published pharmaceutical scientist, Mary attended Chicago Kent College of Law.  In her first year after graduating from law school, Mary practiced technology licensing and employment law with Burditt & Radzius in Chicago. After becoming a member of the Patent Bar and joining Gardner Carton & Douglas (now Drinker Biddle) in 1994, Mary continued to practice technology licensing and employment law, and added patent prosecution in the areas of biotech, pharma, chemical and software to her practice. Mary took a leave of absence from Gardner to become a Corporate Counsel for Oracle Corporation, followed by General Counsel of Business Logic Corporation and then Spirian Technologies, both in Chicago.  After the successful sale of Spirian to Microsoft, Mary provided outside general counsel services to technology companies through her private practice, and then joined the firm of Schwartz Cooper first as Of Counsel, then as a partner and head of its IP Practice Group. In 2004 Mary left Schwartz Cooper to become Director of the licensing office at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In December of 2007, she transitioned to faculty member in the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and opened the Law Office of Mary Dicig, concentrating in investment due diligence, licensing and general counsel services for technology companies. Since 1999, Mary has taught licensing at Chicago Kent College of Law. 
      
As outside general counsel, Mary represents technology companies in general contract matters, licensing, form drafting, contract negotiations, strategic partnerships, employment issues and private equity transactions. In her due diligence practice, Mary represents venture funds, lenders, companies and angel investors in evaluating the intellectual property of borrowers and acquisition targets. Mary’s IP Management services include cost-effective management of intellectual property portfolios and assistance with corporate IP strategy.