Dunstan H. Barnes, IP Attorney in Chicago, Illinois
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
Chicago, IL
Trusted ip attorney serving Chicago.
Practices in
Are you Dunstan H. Barnes?
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Quick answer
Dunstan H. Barnes is an attorney based in Chicago, ILLINOIS. The practice focuses on IP. Currently practicing at McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP.
- Based in
- Chicago, ILLINOIS
- Experience
- attorney
- Known for
- IP
- Handles IP matters from Chicago, ILLINOIS.
- Recognized with Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026).
About Dunstan H. Barnes: Dunstan H. Barnes is an attorney based in Chicago, ILLINOIS. The practice focuses on IP. Currently practicing at McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP.
Areas of practice
Practice areas handled by Dunstan H. Barnes
Dunstan concentrates on ip. Each area below outlines the kind of case Dunstan handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
IP cases in Chicago, Illinois
Dunstan takes ip matters in Chicago, Illinois. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Dunstan agrees to represent you.
Biography
About Dunstan H. Barnes — Attorney of Illinois ip experience
Dunstan H. Barnes is an attorney based in Chicago, ILLINOIS. The practice focuses on IP. Currently practicing at McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP.
Dunstan H. Barnes is a Partner at McAndrews and practices in all areas of intellectual property law with emphasis on protecting and analyzing design rights. His work in that area includes drafting and prosecuting design patent applications and conducting opinion work and due diligence investigations. In addition, Dunstan has considerable experience drafting and prosecuting utility patent applications and trademark applications across a range of technological fields and industries.
As a practitioner, Dunstan is an effective communicator and an outstanding writer. He is particularly skilled at communicating complex, abstract technical concepts clearly and compellingly. He is a skilled intellectual property advocate and adviser who helps his clients protect their innovations, particularly new designs, in U.S. and global marketplaces. He helps his clients acquire and protect their IP rights, as well as navigate the world of existing rights. In 2021, Dunstan was honored as a 40 Under Forty attorney in Illinois. In recommending him for the honor, a senior IP counsel at a major international pharmaceutical company said of Dunstan, “I consider him to be one of the top 10 design patent attorneys in the United States, period.”
Dunstan is the current Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Design Rights Committee and Vice Chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Industrial Designs Committee. He has been an invited speaker at conferences including AIPPI World Congress, AIPLA Annual Meeting, ABA-IPL Spring Meeting, and USPTO Design Day.
In his spare time, Dunstan enjoys football (soccer) in pretty much any weather, bass guitar, poker, and keeping up with his ever-energetic young daughter.
How Dunstan handles ip matters
Dunstan H. Barnes is a Partner at McAndrews and practices in all areas of intellectual property law with emphasis on protecting and analyzing design rights. His work in that area includes drafting and prosecuting design patent applications and conducting opinion work and due diligence investigations. In addition, Dunstan has considerable experience drafting and prosecuting utility patent…
The kind of cases Dunstan takes
Dunstan reviews new inquiries case-by-case for ip matters in Chicago and the surrounding Illinois area.
Credentials
Dunstan H. Barnes's legal education and bar admissions
Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT
J.D. · 2013
University of Cambridge
Ph.D. · 2010
University of Oxford
— · 2006
Dunstan studied at J.D. in Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT, Ph.D. in University of Cambridge, and — in University of Oxford.
Law school and academic background
Dunstan completed J.D. in Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT, Ph.D. in University of Cambridge, and — in University of Oxford. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Dunstan runs in Illinois is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Awards, publications, and recognition of Dunstan H. Barnes
Dunstan has received 9 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law
2026
Best Lawyers in America — in America
2026
Best Lawyers in America — from 2022-2025 for work in:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2025
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2024
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2023
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2022
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law
2026
Legal awards and honors
Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026). Best Lawyers in America — in America (2026). Best Lawyers in America — from 2022-2025 for work in: (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2025 (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2024 (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2023 (2026).
Locations
Dunstan H. Barnes's office in Chicago
Dunstan's primary office is at 300 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60606. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
300 South Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Dunstan H. Barnes — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new ip attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Dunstan usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Dunstan charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Dunstan's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Dunstan will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a ip attorney in Chicago, Illinois
A short list to run through before you commit: How many ip matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Dunstan
Dunstan discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in ip practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every ip matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Dunstan confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Dunstan's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many ip practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Dunstan H. Barnes
How much does it cost to hire Dunstan for a ip case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Dunstan walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Dunstan offer a free consultation?
Dunstan charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Dunstan's office. Some ip attorneys offer free consults — check Dunstan's current terms during booking.
How long do ip cases in Illinois typically take?
Simple ip matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Dunstan gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Dunstan take my case if I'm outside Chicago?
Dunstan is licensed in Illinois. Matters governed by Illinois law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Dunstan will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Dunstan?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Dunstan will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Dunstan accepting new ip clients right now?
Dunstan's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
IP attorneys serving Chicago, Springfield and Northbrook in Illinois
Dunstan handles ip matters throughout Illinois. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified ip attorneys in that community.
More counsel
Other top-rated ip attorneys in Illinois
If Dunstan's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these ip attorneys in Chicago handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.





