Erik Maurer focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and counseling at the intersection of technological innovation, industrial design, and brand building. Whether pioneering new strategies for defining and enforcing product configuration trade dress or crafting creative dispute resolutions, Maurer thrives on understanding clients’ business goals and solving complex IP problems.
Maurer has been a persuasive advocate at trial, on appeal, at the ITC, and in PTAB and ADR proceedings, representing both plaintiff and defendant perspectives with zeal. He has represented clients in a wide range of industries — from fitness products to architectural lighting, and of varying sizes — from Fortune 100 to sole proprietors. He was recognized as one of the top five best performing attorneys representing patent owners in inter partes review matters in Patexia’s 2019 IPR Intelligence Report.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers | 2026 | IP, Litigation, Patent |
| The Inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers | 2025 | IP, Litigation, Patent |
Transferring his knowledge and passion for IP litigation to others is evident as Maurer serves as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago teaching Intellectual Property Pretrial Litigation Skills and Patent Trial Practice. He also wrote a course – Trial Practice in the High Technology Courtroom – based on his experiences simplifying complex patent and design issues for judges and juries. In addition to teaching, Maurer is a contributing author to the Patent Trial Advocacy Casebook, Second Edition published by the American Bar Association.
Maurer worked at the United States Environmental Protection Agency and in the environmental engineering field after earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. An Order of the Coif and cum laude graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, Maurer was an associate editor of Northwestern’s Law Review, and published his article, “An Economic Justification for a Broad Interpretation of Patentable Subject Matter” in the Law Review’s Spring 2001 volume. Maurer is a member of Banner Witcoff’s Marketing Committee, which is responsible for developing and implementing the firm's marketing plan, along with other initiatives.