Chanille Carswell
Co-Chair Litigation | Chief Diversity Officer
Michigan OfficeP (248) 226-2854ccarswell@brookskushman.com
Chanille's practice focuses on trademark, trade dress, copyright and patent litigation, unfair competition, and appeals in a wide range of industries such as automotive, banking, construction machinery, consumer products, e-commerce and insurance. She also represents clients in trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Chanille's experience includes all aspects of intellectual property litigation from the inception of a case through trial, including motion practice, discovery, depositions, and settlement negotiations. Chanille has extensive experience in briefing and/or arguing motions for dismissal, summary judgment, discovery, Daubert exclusion, preliminary and permanent injunctions, contempt and sanctions. Chanille's experience also includes trademark counseling, clearance, protection, enforcement, and the management of the domestic and foreign trademark portfolios of Fortune 500 companies.
Chanille has litigated cases across the country and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She has also been admitted pro hac vice in U.S. District Courts in California, Illinois and New Hampshire.
Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Chanille served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Victoria A. Roberts of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. There she researched and drafted bench memoranda, orders and opinions in various practice areas including trademark, trade dress and patent infringement, products liability, and commercial law.
Chanille previously worked as a staff attorney for UAW Chrysler Legal Services, where she litigated civil cases in bench and jury trials. Early in her career, Chanille also worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid and Defender Association (Civil and Criminal Divisions). During those years, she handled all aspects of litigation in civil and criminal cases, including bench and jury trials, all aspects of motion practice and discovery, settlement and plea agreements, and general legal counseling.
Chanille is the firm's Chief Diversity Officer and leads the Diversity Committee.
Representative Matters
Innovation Ventures, LLC d/b/a Living Essentials, v. N.V.E., Inc. (Jury Trial – E.D. Michigan): Represented Plaintiff Living Essentials in trademark infringement action involving plaintiff’s 5-Hour ENERGY trademark. The jury found that Defendant N.V.E.’s sale of a competing product named “6 Hour Power” infringed Plaintiff’s trademark and awarded $10.6 million in damages. The jury also awarded an additional $11.5 million in disgorgement of N.V.E.’s profits and fully rejected N.V.E.’s $60 million false advertising claim. Case No: 4:08-cv-11867
Lucky’s Detroit, LLC v. Double L Inc. (Summary Judgment – E.D. Michigan): Represented Defendant Double L, Inc. in a declaratory judgment action brought by the Plaintiff regarding the LUCKY’S and LUCKY’S STEAKHOUSE and design trademarks owned and registered by Double L. The Court ruled in Double L’s favor granting summary judgment on Double L’s counterclaim for trademark infringement and awarding disgorgement of the Plaintiff’s profits. Case No. 4:09-cv-14622
Organizations and Affiliations
State Bar of Michigan
State Bar of Georgia
Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2015 Fellow
Recognitions
“Leader in the Law,” Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2020
“World Trademark Review 1000 Recommended Individual,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2020
Press Releases
Amy Leshan Appointed As 2021 Leadership Council On Legal Diversity Fellow; Kristen Chui and Lena Haidous Appointed As LCLD Pathfinder Participants
Seven Brooks Kushman Shareholders Recognized as Trademark Leaders, Firm Recognized in World Trademark Review 1000 Listing
Brooks Kushman’s New Chief Diversity Officer Chanille Carswell Discusses Her Aims to Broaden Mentoring and Recruiting Efforts in Detroit Legal News
Brooks Kushman Announces Chanille Carswell as Chief Diversity Officer
Brooks Kushman Shareholder Chanille Carswell Named To The 2020 Class Of “Leaders In The Law” By Michigan Lawyers Weekly
Four Brooks Kushman Shareholders Recognized As Trademark Leaders, Firm Earns Gold Honor In World Trademark Review 1000 Listing
Brooks Kushman Shareholder John Rondini Invited to Join Board of Michigan IP Inn of Court
5-hour ENERGY® Named “Top Verdicts of 2016”
Brooks Kushman Secures Largest Trademark Verdict in Michigan History for 5-Hour Energy
Brooks Kushman Appoints Shareholder Chanille Carswell as 2015 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow
Brooks Kushman Adds Five Shareholders; Expands Leadership as Firm Continues to Grow
Brooks Kushman Attorney Chanille Carswell will Present at a Seminar for ArtServe Michigan's Lawyers for Creative Ecomony
Brooks Kushman Win Makes LexisNexis' Top 10 Trademark Victories
Brooks Kushman Successfully Defends LUCKY'S Trademarks for Client Double L Inc.
Brooks Kushman Trademark Attorneys Appointed to International Trademark Association Committees
Women Helping Women
Webinars
2018/2019 Supreme Court Intellectual Property Review
IP Litigation in 2019: Key Developments from 2018 and Predictions for the New Year
Media Coverage
Featured, “Leading Role: Firm’s New Chief Diversity Officer Aims to Broaden Mentoring, Recruiting Efforts,” Detroit Legal News, January 2021
Featured, “Crain’s Detroit People on the Move”, Crain’s Detroit, January 2021
Publications
Co-Author, “Chapter 17: Intellectual Property,” Michigan Causes of Action Formbook, March 2020
Co-Author, “Retail ambiance – is it protectable?” Trademark World, January 2009
Presentations
Co-Presenter, “2018-2019 Supreme Court Intellectual Property Review” BK Webinar, July 2019
Speaker, “Intellectual Property Law and Issues for Arts and Cultural Advocacy Organizations,” Art Serve Michigan’s Lawyers for the Creative Economy (LCE) seminar, December 2012
Presenter, Art Serve Michigan’s Lawyers for the Creative Economy (LCE) Seminar, December 2012