Read Genna's Full Bio
Genna’s legal career reflects her diverse background in science, literature, and business, applied with an earnest desire to provide superior quality and accessible legal representation to her clients. A cum laude graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law, in 2013 Genna founded Hibbs Law, LLC, an intellectual property boutique law firm serving the greater Chicago area and Southern Wisconsin. With a particular interest in intellectual property and regulatory compliance law, Genna is a member of the Illinois bar, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She deeply enjoys applying her legal knowledge (affectionately known as “practicing legal wizardry”) to address the unique needs of her clients.
Genna is a multi-faceted legal professional, with small-business roots and a background in both hard science and research/writing. Inspired by the collaborative accomplishment of the Human Genome Project and impassioned by her mother’s struggle with Parkinson’s Disease in the US healthcare system, Genna became fascinated with the potential of biotechnology and genetic research in treating and preventing illness, and focused on the potential for regulatory mechanisms to increase patient access to cutting-edge healthcare technology.
Genna took her first job at 16, working for small businesses, large corporations, and government agencies throughout high school and college. After completing her undergraduate degrees, Genna excelled for three years as the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Laboratory Technician for a biomedia processing facility in Lenexa, Kansas. She also spent a year in Yoshino Village, Tokushima, Japan, teaching English to junior high school students.
In law school, Genna took all courses related to Health Law and Intellectual Property, and competed in relevant moot court events. Additionally, she interned for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Torts Division, and held two judicial clerkships: for the Honorable Annette S. Plese of the Spokane County Superior Court in Spokane, Washington, and for the Honorable William R. Fairchild of the Douglas County District Court in Lawrence, Kansas.
Returning to the Midwest, Genna chose the Chicago area to establish her legal career. She has fallen in love with the regional diversity, passion, and pride for supporting local businesses. She also discovered a need for affordable intellectual property and commercial legal services, specifically tailored to small business owners and individuals. On January 1st, 2013, she formed Hibbs Law, LLC.
Since beginning her practice, Genna has:
- Registered trademarks and copyrights, handled TTAB proceedings
- Assisted entrepreneurs through entity formation
- Drafted a range of agreements
- Advised small business owners in maintaining and enforcing their intellectual property
- Navigated FDA regulatory compliance for medical device , food facility, and dietary/nutritional supplement manufacturers, as well as new hemp/cannabis regulations
- Navigated HIPPA compliance and evaluated insurance agreements for healthcare providers
- Litigated federal infringement actions for intellectual property clients
- Negotiated settlements and licenses for intellectual property clients
- Acquired registration as a patent attorney.
Genna’s professional achievements as an attorney are consistently met with satisfaction by her clients, approval by her peers and mentors, and a sense of accomplishment personally and professionally.
When she’s not working, Genna enjoys bicycling, taking her dogs for runs in the countryside, cooking meals from her garden, reading Sci-Fi with a cat on her lap, writing fiction and poetry, painting figurines, and playing a variety of tabletop, RPG, and video games. In the warmer months, Genna can be found on her hobby-farm with her retired father where veggies, berries, and chickens make for pleasant and tasty agrarian pursuits. She also supports her loving spouse in his pursuit of creating a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling increased internet access to McHenry County. Genna finds strength and fullness of spirit in the turning of seasons and the beauty of the Earth.
BAR MEMBERSHIP:
Illinois
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
United States Patent and Trademark Office
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Chicago Bar Association
Woodstock Chamber of Commerce
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago
National Association of Patent Practitioners
Illinois State Bar Association
COMMITTEE/PROGRAM WORK:
Chicago Friendly Lawyers, Conference Programming Committee 2017-2019
Chicago Bar Association Intellectual Property Committee CLE presenter, March 2013: Myriad-Go-Round: the current state of gene patents; 2018
Northern District of Illinois Settlement Assistant Program Volunteer
NAPP – Conference Planning Committee, PR Committee, Chicago Local Chapter Liaison
EDUCATION:
Gonzaga University School of Law
Juris Doctor conferred, Cum Laude, May 2011
International Trademark Association’s Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition: Western Regional Third Place Winner, Ninth Place Nationally, and Fifth Best Brief Nationally, 2010 – 2011
National Health Law Moot Court, 2010 – 2011
CALI Awards: Property I, International & Comparative Intellectual Property, and Admiralty
Dean’s List, Fall & Spring 2010
Health Law Society President, 2010 – 2011
Lee & Hayes Intellectual Property Scholarship, 2009 – 2010
Finalist of GU Linden Cup Appellate Oral Competition and GU Negotiation Competition, 2009 – 2010
University of Kansas
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Genetics, December 2004
Bachelor of General Studies in English Literature, December 2004
Mathew Perrone
Attorney, of Counsel
IN MEMORIAM
We regret to share that Mathew R.P. Perrone, Jr. passed away on October 23, 2019 after a long illness. Mat’s impact on all of us is ongoing. He was a wonderful teacher, a practiced orator, a gentleman, a funny fellow who was quick with a joke, and a kind soul. We learned so much from Mat as professionals in the law and as fellow humans. He overcame societal hurdles despite his physical disabilities in a time when the world was not very accommodating, and was never bitter. We are proud to continue his tradition of providing the highest quality services at affordable rates, to support our community, and to serve the intellectual property legal needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Chicago area and beyond. Mat, you will be missed.
The Law Offices of Mathew R.P. Perrone Jr. joined Hibbs Law, LLC. in the spring of 2019.
Mathew Perrone was a Patent Attorney who specialized in intellectual property law over the course of his 54-year career. Self-employed since 1978, Mat received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Catholic University of America Law School in Washington, D.C.
Prior to starting his law practice, Mat worked as a patent trainee for a Fortune 500 company, a patent examiner and a patent classifier for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a civilian patent attorney for the United States Navy, and patent attorney for another Fortune 500 company.
Mat was a frequent speaker on intellectual property law topics, with audiences ranging from Cub Scouts to college engineering seniors to bar associations to the general public. A Toastmasters member since 1972, he held the Distinguished Toastmaster award from Toastmasters International. Toastmaster Offices held include every club office, area governor and District 30 secretary. Since the District 30 of the Toastmasters clubs for Chicago and some surrounding counties has a district parliamentarian, Mat was appointed to that position for one year.
Mat was active in community organizations. As chairman or president, he chaired meetings for his church, a local YMCA, his Toastmaster clubs, and the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce. His knowledge of parliamentary procedure comes from being in one or more Toastmasters Clubs since 1972, and receiving the Distinguished Toastmaster award. His blood donations exceeded 130. Among his many activities were playing the part of the bailiff in the Kane County Bar Association’s production of INHERIT THE WIND, in 2008.
Additionally, Mat was chairman of the paralegal advisory committee at Elgin Community College and taught intellectual property law for a class in the paralegal department at Elgin Community College.
Since admission to the United States Supreme Court Bar requires the signatures of two members, Mat and Judge Gene Notolini signed for the first group of Kane County Bar Association members admitted as part of a Kane County Bar Association trip to Washington, D.C.
Mat was also active with Prairie State Legal Services for McHenry County and Administer Justice. He served additionally as a CASA attorney for Kane County. The Prairie State Legal Services of McHenry County Bar Association presented him with an award for pro bono service.
Active bar association memberships included the McHenry and Kane County Bar Associations. KCBA committee chairmanships included Public Relations and Intellectual Property Law. He was also on the Judicial Evaluation Committee and a director for the KCBA. Other bar memberships include the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, and the Patent and Trademark Office Society.
Mat is survived by Diane, his wife of over 53 years and their three children and four grandchildren.
Since admission to the United States Supreme Court Bar requires the signatures of two members, Mat and Judge Gene Notolini signed for the first group of Kane County Bar Association members admitted as part of a Kane County Bar Association trip to Washington, D.C.
Mat was also active with Prairie State Legal Services for McHenry County, and Administer Justice. He served additionally also as a CASA attorney for Kane County. The Prairie State Legal Services of McHenry County Bar Association presented him an award for pro bono service.
Active bar association memberships include the McHenry and Kane County Bar Associations. KCBA committee chairmanships included Public Relations and Intellectual Property Law. He was also on the Judicial Evaluation Committee and a director for the KCBA. Other bar memberships include the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, and the Patent and Trademark Office Society.
Diane, his wife, and Mat have been married for over 53 years and have three children and four grandchildren.
BAR MEMBERSHIP:
Illinois
Retired from Maryland and District of Columbia Bar Associations
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Kane County Bar Association
McHenry County Bar Association
Patent and Trademark Office Society
EDUCATION:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois BS with a Chemistry major
Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C., Doctor of Jurisprudence with a major in intellectual property law.
Read Gouthami's Full Bio
A graduate of the John Marshall Law School, Gouthami launched a successful legal career in the telecom industry in Chicago. Her deep interest in intellectual property law inspired her to join Hibbs Law, LLC in 2018. As an associate attorney, Gouthami enjoys helping her clients at Hibbs Law resolve their unique and interesting intellectual property legal issues, including trademarks, patents, cannabis IP, business formations for both LLCs and non-profits, and a variety of fun state and federal regulatory compliance matters. When she is not working, Gouthami enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and binge watching Doctor Who.
Gouthami brings a breadth of experience, diversity, and a commitment to excellence as an attorney with Hibbs Law. Since childhood, Gouthami dreamt of becoming an attorney. She emigrated to the U.S. from India in 2008 and began her journey to becoming a lawyer at William Rainey Harper Community College in Palatine. While she initially planned to get a business degree before attending law school, Gouthami quickly discovered a passion for chemistry. Combining that passion with her interest in business management, she graduated with two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Upon receiving the Dean’s Scholarship, she went on to attend The John Marshall Law School.
In law school, Gouthami chose the path of studying Patent Law, and aspired to become a well-rounded attorney upon graduation. To accomplish her goals, she interned at an IP firm and gained valuable experience in FDA, FTC, and EPA compliance matters. In order to understand the judicial process, she externed for Hon. Judge Lyons at the Circuit Court of Cook County. To gain practical experience with patent prosecution, she externed at the UIC John Marshall Law School’s Patent Clinic, where she worked on utility patents under the direct supervision of her professors. She also interned at the Chicago Housing Authority to gain litigation and negotiation experience.
Upon graduation from law school, Gouthami taught Expert Learning – Torts to first semester law students at the John Marshall Law School. She also worked as an Attorney Law Clerk for the City of Chicago, where she honed her negotiation and litigation skills. She went on to work in the telecommunications industry as a Legal and Regulatory Specialist. In that role, she resolved complex leasing issues pertaining to communication towers and negotiated master attachment agreements on behalf of telecommunications carriers. Gouthami researched, interpreted, and advised on zoning and permitting laws at the city and county level for new cellular tower construction. She also assisted the telecom carriers in completing the necessary paperwork for regulatory matters like FAA, FCC, NEPA, to name a few.
Despite achieving an exciting career in the telecom industry, Gouthami maintained a deep interest in intellectual property law. In 2018, she made the transition to join Chicago area IP law firm Hibbs Law, LLC as an associate attorney. At Hibbs Law, Gouthami spends her days working on a number of fascinating issues pertaining to trademarks, patents, cannabis IP, business formations for both LLCs and non-profits, and a variety of fun state and federal regulatory compliance matters. She enjoys helping her clients resolve their unique and interesting intellectual property legal issues. When not working, Gouthami enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and binge watching Doctor Who. Her all-time favorite book is an Autobiography of the late president of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, titled “Wings of Fire,” this book made her dare to dream of becoming an attorney!
BAR MEMBERSHIP:
Illinois
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Chicago Bar Association
Chicago Women in Intellectual Property
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago
National Association of Patent Practitioners
EDUCATION:
The UIC John Marshall Law School
Juris Doctorate, June 2017
Juris Doctorate certificate in Intellectual Property Law (Patent Track), June 2017
Staff Editor, Review of Intellectual Property Law
Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Board and Council
Managing Teaching Assistant — Contracts I MATA Program
Supervising Teaching Assistant — Torts
Dean’s Scholarship 2014–2017
Continuing Education Scholarship 2016–2017
University of Illinois at Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Business Management; Minor in Management Information Systems, August 2013
Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry, August 2013
PUBLICATIONS:
Gouthami Vanam, Impact of Lexmark Case on Patent Exhaustion, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell, Prop. L. 487 (2017)
Read Colleen's Full Bio
Colleen Carrillo is the Legal Assistant and Office Manager at Hibbs Law, LLC. Initially hired in 2016 for an entry level position, she quickly mastered her responsibilities and is furthering her knowledge of legal and office practices by completing associates degree courses. An invaluable asset to the firm, Colleen lends her strengths of being detail-oriented, structured, focused, able to multitask and manage time, and a willingness to learn anything to the office. An amateur photographer who also enjoys being outdoors in nature, hiking, and camping, she lives in McHenry, Illinois, where she enjoys spending time with her extended family. Colleen enjoys and appreciates working at Hibbs Law, LLC and looks forward to growing and learning with her co-workers in service of their clients.