Jim began his Intellectual Property career as a Patent Examiner for four years in the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. Next, Jim was an in-house patent counsel at AT&T Corporation.
After moving back to the mid-west, Jim joined the Chicago based law firm which is now known as Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery, where he spent the bulk of his career. Jim has extensive background in patent prosecution and litigation in the mechanical arts, both in the United States and in foreign countries.
At the Fitch firm, Jim represented leading companies in patent and licensing matters involving printing processes, printing and coating equipment, packaging materials and equipment, automotive devices and medical technology. He was patent counsel for the Illinois Institute of Technology Research and Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. In addition, he has comprehensive experience in U.S. and foreign trademark and copyright matters.
Jim served as both Chairman and on the Board of Directors (1991-1993) for the Patent Office Practices Committee for the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. This experience combined with that as a former U.S. Patent Examiner was a valuable intellectual resource for the firm. Jim was sometimes tasked with rescuing stalled patent applications for his law partners at the Fitch firm. He would draft new patent clauses and arguments, and/or travel to the U.S. Patent Office to work directly with the Patent Examiner in order to move such application toward grant. Jim's mentor role included educating other firm lawyers on Patent Office interview techniques. He was also responsible for educating the firm on the latest rule and practice changes from the United States Patent Office.
Jim's role, as a senior partner at the Fitch firm, broadened to include firm management. He chaired the firm's in-house educational meetings for nearly thirty years. For more than twenty years, Jim was a member of the executive committee, which was responsible for the law firm's day-to-day operations, as well as the semi-annual partnership meetings.
In 2007, Jim left the Fitch firm to join his son, Mark Hamill, in order to assist him with the growth in the Intellectual Property practice at the Law Offices of Mark A. Hamill P.C. Jim is excited by the opportunity to take on a new role at a new professional home.
Jim has served as a village prosecutor for the Village of Hoffman Estates and President of the Board of Trustees of William Rainey Harper Community College. Jim was elected to the District 59 School Board serving Schaumburg and Palatine Townships. He also served as volunteer Athletic Director and on the School Board for St. Theresa School, Palatine, IL.
