7-Eleven Sues Illinois Law Firm for Trademark Infringement

An Illinois law firm called Seven Eleven Law Group LLC was hit with a trademark infringement suit from the convenience store with a similar name.

The convenience store says the firm consistently uses “green and white colors that are evocative of the green and white traditionally used in rendering 7-Eleven’s” trademarks on the firm’s business cards and website, according to the complaint filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

“I think that this complaint is baseless. We operate in two very different industries. This is another example of how these large corporations try to oppress small Black-owned businesses, and we will be fighting this,” India Rios, the owner of the firm, said.

7-Eleven says it learned of the alleged infringement when one of its franchisees said it had reached out to the law firm under the impression that it was the convenience store chain’s internal legal department. It says it then sent Rios a cease-and-desist letter. She allegedly sent a response email stating that her trademark wasn’t diluting the convenience store’s trademark.

In addition to its trademark infringement claims, the convenience store brings claims for unfair competition, trademark dilution, and deceptive trade practices. It is asking for preliminary and permanent injunctions stopping Rios from using any trademarks similar to the 7-Eleven trademarks, damages, and attorneys’ fees.

7-Eleven is represented by Loeb & Loeb LLP and Pirkey Barber PLLC.

The case is 7-Eleven, Inc. v. Seven Eleven Law Grp., N.D. Ill., No. 1:23-cv-15567, complaint filed 11/1/23.