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Finnegan

Christopher B. McKinley

Associate

  • +1 650 849 6655 +1 650 849 6655
  • christopher.mckinley@finnegan.com christopher.mckinley@finnegan.com
  • Stanford Research Park
  • 3300 Hillview Avenue, 2nd Floor
  • Palo Alto, CA 94304-1203
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Christopher_McKinley
Relying on his extensive patent prosecution experience and patent litigation aptitude, Chris McKinley focuses on building strategically developed patent portfolios and litigating high-value patent disputes. As a former patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Chris has a technical background in mechanical engineering and is well acquainted with various mechanical and electrical technologies.

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.

Experience

Fox Factory, Inc. v. SRAM, LLC

Represented Fox Factory in a patent infringement case involving various bicycle components, including rear air shocks, suspension forks, and axles.

3:16-cv-00506, N.D. Cal., Judges Orrick, Spero

Fox Factory, Inc. v. SRAM, LLC

Represented Fox Factory in a patent infringement case involving various bicycle components, including rear air shocks, suspension forks, and axles.

3:16-cv-03716, N.D. Cal., Judges Alsup, Orrick, Cousins

ARRIS Solutions, Inc. v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

Represented Sony Interactive in a patent infringement case involving software for transmitting, delivering, and/or interfacing with digital content.

5:17-cv-01098, N.D. Cal., Judges Davila, Van Keulen, Westmore

SRAM, LLC v. Race Face Performance Products

Represented Race Face in a patent infringement case involving bicycle transmissions.

1:15-cv-11362, N.D. Ill., Judges Der-Yeghiayan, Lefkow

Insights

Federal Circuit IP Blog

They Could Have Found It: Federal Circuit Reverses Board on Public Accessibility

August 10, 2018

Federal Circuit IP Blog

It’s Not Too Late: Federal Circuit Reverses Equitable Estoppel and Laches Judgments

May 2, 2018

IP FDA Blog

CAFC Affirms Patent Term Adjustment Determination in Actelion v. Matal

February 28, 2018

Federal Circuit IP Blog

Go Ahead and Check It: Failure to Expressly Request Early Commencement of National Stage Examination Causes Headaches

February 23, 2018

IP FDA Blog

CAFC Affirms Use of “Stop Instruction” in Verdict Form in Flexuspine v. Globus Medical

February 14, 2018

Federal Circuit IP Blog

Failure to Object to Jury Instructions Kills Invalidity Counterclaim

February 13, 2018

26 more

Professional Activities

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Order of the Coif
Admissions and Education

Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. District Court, N.D. California
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education

Santa Clara University School of Law
J.D., magna cum laude, 2015
Florida Atlantic University
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2006

Christopher's Practices

Design Patents
Patent Litigation
Patent Trial
Pre-Trial Strategy
Patent Office Examinations
Appeals to the PTAB
Prosecution
Reexaminations
Patent Office Trials
IPR, PGR, and CBM
Patent Portfolio Management, Monetization, and Transactions
Due Diligence
Opinions and Counseling
Trade Secrets

Christopher's Industries

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Aerospace, Aviation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Automotive
Clean Energy and Renewables
Consumer Products
Digital Health
Industrial Manufacturing
Medical Device
Nanotechnology
Robotics
Sports and Fitness

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