In the area of pharmaceuticals, Chris has experience at every stage of litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants in small-molecule and biologics patent infringement actions related to antibiotics, overactive bladder solid oral dosage forms, gastrointestinal disease treatments, cancer-treatment drugs, sleep aid medications, topical psoriasis lotions, and fungal infection ointments in federal district court, including Arazlo®, Bryhali®, Cubicin®, Doribax®,Duobrii®, Gemzar®, Glumetza®, Hetlioz®, Jublia®, Lunesta®, Myrbetriq®, Reclast®, Remicade®, Sensipar®, Tecfidera®, Topicort®, Uceris®, Xifaxan®, and Zometa®. Chris has participated on trial teams in high-stakes, high-profile litigation in pharmaceutical and agritech cases, and has collaborated on matters before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the US Supreme Court. Notably, Chris was one of the first attorneys to litigate novel issues of statutory construction of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act.

In the area of computing systems, Chris has experience representing defendants in technical and non-technical aspects of litigation. As one example, representing a large retail restaurant chain as the lead defendant in a large defense group, Chris was just weeks away from what would have been one of the first trials in the ever-evolving area of Section 101 invalidity. Leveraging an ability to translate complicated subject matter into arguments understandable by non-technical judges and juries, Chris has had success handling cases with nascent technologies in the field.

Chris also serves as a member of the Firm’s Income Partner Committee and as a mentor to numerous intellectual property group associates.

Chris served as law clerk to the Hon. Todd M. Hughes for the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the Hon. Gail J. Standish for the US District Court for the Central District of California.

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• Counsels a startup technology company regarding intellectual property portfolio development
• Obtained a non-institution decision from Patent Trial and Appeal Board based on cumulativeness of petition and prosecution history
• Achieved a complete win at trial for a pharmaceutical manufacturer in a two-product, four-patent case involving psoriasis topical treatments. At trial, Chris performed three key direct examinations and one cross-examination.
• Successfully represented a payment processing company defending a trademark infringement litigation brought by debt collection company, resulting in a critical denial of a preliminary injunction
• Successfully represented a drug manufacturer in a 12-patent case against several generic pharmaceutical companies involving a formulation treating toenail fungal infections
• Successfully represented a charitable non-profit hospital suing an orthopaedic implant manufacturer/distributor for patent infringement based on patents covering improved orthopaedic polyethylene
• Successfully served as lead counsel in a federal appeal on behalf of a criminal defendant challenging the length in his sentence
• Successfully obtained compensatory benefits for an autistic child receiving deficient education under IDEA based on failure to provide appropriate transportation
• Served as counsel at trial for a third-party logistics provider in a copyright and trade secret dispute with a software development company
• Served as lead counsel in a federal appeal, including in the US Supreme Court, on behalf of a criminal defendant challenging his conviction based on ineffective assistance of counsel
• Obtained favorable settlement for a large retail hospitality provider in a computing systems technology patent infringement action*
• Successfully represented an agricultural chemical business plaintiff in a patent infringement and contract dispute resulting in a $1 billion jury damages award*
• Successfully represented generic pharmaceutical manufacturer at trial invalidating antibiotic patents, resulting in an earlier-than-anticipated launch*
• Successfully represented a prominent prize-awarding institution against a claim of defamation*
• Represented a territorial government in tax disputes in US Tax Court and several courts of appeals to protect its economic development program*
• Successfully defeated class certification involving many thousands of employees in wage & hour employment dispute on behalf of a large healthcare provider*
• Successfully represented a veteran in a pro bono matter seeking further review of a request for an increase in benefits*
• Achieved favorable settlement on behalf of a victim of a fraudulent mortgage modification in pro bono representation*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.

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