Chris Niro is a Member at Aronberg Goldgehn, where he advises founders, management teams, and investors on the legal and strategic decisions that drive growth and enterprise value. His practice is built around helping businesses move from formation to scale to exit with counsel that is practical, commercially informed, and focused on execution. Chris regularly supports acquisitions, financings, and strategic partnerships, and he brings a deal-oriented perspective to structuring, risk allocation, and negotiation.

Chris also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. He helps clients protect and leverage intellectual property as a core business asset, aligning brand and innovation strategy with broader commercial objectives. His experience spans intellectual property counseling, portfolio development, licensing, enforcement, and litigation, and he has appeared in federal courts throughout the United States, including trial and appellate matters.

Prior to re-joining Aronberg Goldgehn, Chris served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel at Amplify Capital Group, a boutique investment banking and M&A advisory firm, where he supported transaction execution and strategic initiatives, and worked on multiple significant transactions. He is known for clear judgment, decisive execution, and a business-minded approach that helps clients move confidently through complex, high stakes matters.

Chris’s work spans clients in technology and software, consumer products, entertainment and media, retail and services, and real estate related businesses.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

While earning his law degree, Chris served as a judicial extern to Hon. William J. Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He rejoined Aronberg Goldgehn as a Member and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Led buy-side and sell-side transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures across technology, services, and real estate related businesses.
  
   

• Structured and negotiated capital raises and strategic investments with a focus on aligning legal risk, transaction structure, and investor and founder objectives.
  
   

• Advised growth stage and established businesses on brand clearance, intellectual property strategy, licensing, and portfolio development.

• Tanaka Light Industries USA, LLC v. Onika Tanya Maraj p/k/a Nicki Minaj, et al. Represented recording artist Clive Tanaka in a copyright infringement action involving the song “Neu Chicago” and the track “Starships.”

• Valtech LLC v. 18th Avenue Toys, et al. Represented toy manufacturers in trade dress and trademark litigation involving “Magna Tiles” products in the Northern District of Illinois.

• Arlington Specialties, Inc. d/b/a Pinch Provisions v. Urban Aid, Inc. Represented defendant in a trade dress dispute; obtained summary judgment affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

• Blagojevich v. Merlin Media, LLC. Brought claims under the Illinois Right of Publicity Act for unauthorized use of image and likeness in a major advertising campaign.

• Secured seven figure relief in copyright, trade secret, trademark, and unfair competition matters; developed enforcement and licensing strategies for brands in consumer products and entertainment.

RELATED NEWS

• Aronberg Goldgehn Welcomes Back Member Christopher Niro