Christopher B. McKinley

Chris's practice is diverse and covers all aspects of patent law, with particular emphasis on patent litigation in U.S. District Courts and before the Patent and Appeal Board (PTAB). His work also includes developing patent portfolios through the prosecution of utility and design applications before the USPTO, the European Patent Office, and elsewhere. When counseling his clients, Chris routinely performs due diligence and provides freedom-to-operate opinions.

Chris's litigation experience has equipped him with a variety of skills that are particularly useful in pre-trial preparation, including conducting infringement and validity analyses, drafting motions, developing and implementing discovery strategies, and conducting research. His patent prosecution work involves drafting and prosecuting U.S. utility and design patent applications in order to provide strategic guidance on intellectual property protection solutions tailored to his clients business needs.

While in law school, and prior to joining Finnegan, Chris worked as a patent examiner at the USPTO, where he examined U.S. and international patent applications related to various mechanical and electrical technologies, including cryogenic fuel tanks, industrial shipping containers, fuel cells, pressure responsive closures, and various consumer-related products.

Chris has represented clients in various pro bono efforts, including representing clients before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and in landlord/tenant disputes in Silicon Valley.

Et Cetera

• ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law, 2015.
• Santa Clara University High Tech Excellence Award, 2013-2015.