Ismail Cem Kuru

Litigation, IP & Technology Attorney

cem@krepplaw.comLinkedIn

With 9+ years as a litigator — including trade-secret, patent, and software IP cases — patent and trademark prosecutor, former in-house counsel, and industrial engineer, I now bring that depth of experience to my own practice. As part of the firm's team, I also litigate the commercial and HOA matters we take on together. From helping secure a $66M verdict as part of a trial team in a Silicon Valley trade secret trial to litigating the disputes that arise when software, AI, and IP collide, I deliver firm-level capability with the responsiveness and efficiency of a boutique practice.

I am both a practicing attorney and a working software engineer. I build AI-powered systems and ship production code — and that hands-on technical fluency is exactly what makes me effective in software trade-secret cases, source-code disputes, and AI-related IP litigation. When the dispute is in the codebase, I can read it.

IP LitigationSoftware LitigationCommercial LitigationPatentsTrademarksComplex LitigationTrade SecretsChicago

Admission

  • Illinois
  • Northern District of Illinois Federal Court, General Bar

Education

  • J.D. — University of Illinois, summa cum laude
  • M.S. in Industrial Engineering — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
  • B.S. in Industrial Engineering — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Ismail Cem Kuru, Litigation, IP & Technology Attorney at The Law Office of Krista Krepp

Writing by Cem on Critical Findings

9 min read

A Departing Employee Took Your Source Code: Trade Secret Claims in Illinois

When an employee leaves with source code, customer data, or your product roadmap, Illinois companies have two powerful statutes to work with. What the DTSA and ITSA require, and why the first 72 hours matter.

Trade SecretsSoftware LitigationDTSAIllinois Trade Secrets ActStartupsIP LitigationTechnologyEmployment
9 min read

Sued in a Schedule A Case? What Online Sellers Should Do When Their Accounts Get Frozen

Your marketplace account was frozen and you have been named in a Schedule A trademark lawsuit in Chicago federal court. Here are your options, your deadlines, and the defenses that work.

Schedule A LitigationTrademark InfringementIP LitigationNorthern District of IllinoisE-CommerceAsset FreezeOnline Sellers
8 min read

Your Schedule A Case Just Got Harder: What Chrome Hearts Means for Brand Owners

A new NDIL ruling severs defendants from a Schedule A trademark case. What brand owners need to know about joinder limits in online counterfeiting enforcement.

Trademark InfringementIP LitigationSchedule A LitigationCounterfeitingNorthern District of IllinoisTrademark EnforcementBusiness Law
19 min read

Who Owns AI-Generated Content? Copyright Law and Artificial Intelligence in 2026

Can you copyright AI-generated content? We break down the human authorship requirement, the Copyright Office's 2025 guidance, and practical steps Illinois businesses should take.

Artificial IntelligenceCopyrightSoftware LitigationIP LawCopyright RegistrationBusiness LawIllinois
8 min read

Protecting Your Startup's Intellectual Property in Chicago: Patents, Trademarks, and Trade Secrets

A practical guide for Chicago startups on building an IP foundation from day one: when patents make sense, why trademarks come first, how trade secrets actually get protected, and the cofounder mistake that kills deals.

Intellectual PropertyStartupsTrade SecretsTrademarksPatentsChicagoTechnology
2 min read

Welcome to Critical Findings

Introducing Critical Findings, a blog covering intellectual property litigation, patent and trademark litigation, software and trade-secret litigation, AI-related IP disputes, and the intersection of law and software development.

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Every consultation is free. Whether you're a homeowner standing up to an HOA, a business owner facing a commercial or IP dispute, or you need experienced trial counsel — we are ready to help.

Based in Chicago. Licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin. Serving clients nationwide.

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