Eugene F. Zelek, Jr.

Eugene F. Zelek, Jr.


Taft

Recognized since 2007

Chicago, Illinois

Practice Areas

Advertising Law

Litigation - Antitrust

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Advertising Law
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Gene Zelek is a Partner in the Corporate and Litigation Practice Groups and serves as Co-Leader of Freeborn's Antitrust and Trade Regulation Practice Group.

Gene focuses his practice on marketing-related law, applying extensive counseling, transactional and litigation experience on behalf of a wide variety of leading consumer and industrial businesses and consulting firms throughout the world. His areas of emphasis include antitrust, pricing and distribution, as well as branding, licensing, intellectual property, entertainment, strategic alliances, supply relationships, complex contracts, advertising and new product development.

He is a frequent speaker and author on these topics in addition to being a marketing faculty member of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management since 1985. Chambers USA calls Gene a "renowned expert on marketing-related law, his practice encompassing antitrust, pricing and distribution. Sources single him out as 'an exceptional counselor who really thinks outside the box.'"

Gene joined Freeborn after practicing marketing law at a large international law firm and The Quaker Oats Company, before becoming a Quaker Product Manager with shared responsibility for Quaker’s Cap’n Crunch® cereal and Chewy granola bars.

Location
  • 111 East Wacker, Suite 2600
    Chicago, IL 60601
Education
  • Northwestern University, graduated 1978
  • Northwestern University, graduated 1978
  • Northwestern University, J.D., graduated 1978
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois, United States

Taft
Chicago, Illinois

359 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

128 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Advertising Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Advertising Law, Chicago (2017)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Advertising Law
  • Litigation - Antitrust
Special Focus:
  • Advertising
  • Antitrust
  • Contract
  • Copyright
  • COVID-19
  • False Advertising
  • Film
  • Intellectual Property
  • Literary
  • Litigation
  • Television
  • Trademark
Awards:
  • Best Lawyers in America - Antitrust; Advertising and Entertainment - 2017 (cited in multiple years)
  • Martindale-Hubbell legal ability/ethical standards rating ("A/V" - highest possible rating
  • Illinois Super Lawyers - Antitrust; Intellectual Property; Franchising & Dealership - (cited in multiple years)
  • Leading Lawyers - Antitrust; Advertising & Media; Arts, Entertainment & Sports; Intellectual Property (cited in multiple years)
  • BTI Client Service All-Star
  • Chambers-USA Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business - Antitrust; Media and Entertainment - (cited in multiple years)
  • Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award - Marketing Law - Attorney of the Year in Illinois - (cited in multiple years)
  • PLI Cross-Border Handbook - Competition/Antitrust Law (cited in multiple years)

Publications

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