Chris Kelly

Biography

Chris is an IP lawyer focused on providing offensive and defensive patent strategies for high-tech businesses. Clients turn to Chris to lead post-grant trials at the USPTO’s Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB), prosecute patents for high-value products and innovations, and navigate infringement clearance issues.

As a post-grant practitioner, Chris represents petitioners and patent owners in inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the PTAB. Ranked by Patexia as one of the nation’s best-performing PTAB lawyers, Chris is experienced with all phases of post-grant trials and appeals. Chris has successfully argued before the Federal Circuit and the PTAB, and frequently coordinates post-grant trial strategy for cases involving related litigation.

Chris also focuses on strategic patent prosecution and portfolio management, including both domestic and foreign patent prosecution. Clients rely on Chris’s advice for building strong patent portfolios and evaluating competitor rights, including freedom-to-operate and patent validity investigations. Recognized by Best Lawyers as a leading Patent Law practitioner, Chris focuses on delivering practical, business-first advice. Chris’s experience includes a wide array of technologies, including mechanical and electromechanical products, manufacturing processes, medical devices, biological innovations, software, and materials science developments. Chris is also an active member of the Atlanta IP Inn of Court and maintains a pro bono practice representing victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

Examples of Chris’s experience include:

• IPR and strategic patent counsel to a UK university in relation to bacterial photoinactivation methods, including obtaining full reversal of an adverse PTAB decision at the Federal Circuit.
• Strategic patent counsel to a manufacturer of building wire, utility cable, and power distribution products.
• IPR and strategic patent counsel to an alliance of rare-earth magnet manufacturers.
• IPR counsel to a leading manufacturer of ductile iron products, including successful defense of IPR win at the Federal Circuit.
• IPR counsel to a multinational lighting manufacturer.
• Patent counsel to a global engineering and manufacturing services company in relation to OEM blowers.
• IPR counsel to manufacturer of precast and carbon-fiber reinforced concrete structures.
• IPR and strategic patent counsel to an international packaging materials and equipment company.
• IPR and strategic patent counsel to the world’s largest supplier of residential and commercial flooring.
• IPR and CBM counsel to a leading manufacturer of automated banking machines.
• IPR counsel to a medical technology company developing endovascular stent grafts.
• Patent counsel to a manufacturer of next-generation carbon-fiber composite materials for aerospace applications.
• Patent counsel to a package delivery and supply chain management company.
• Patent counsel to a manufacturer of automated item distribution systems.