Chris Chan is a member of Sutherland’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, where he counsels clients on all aspects of patent and intellectual property law including international and domestic IP rights management and strategy, patent and trademark procurement, opinions and clearance studies, patent reexamination and reissue, IP audits and due diligence in corporate transactions, licensing, and related litigation. Chris has experience in obtaining and enforcing key patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets in technologies such as computers and software, financial transaction systems, product dispensers, logistical systems, telecommunications, textiles and performance materials, firearms and firearm accessories, filtration systems, power generation equipment and controls, electro-mechanical devices, and medical devices. Chris also advises clients on protecting and leveraging trademarks and IP on the Internet including social media, keywords and sponsored links, and domain names.
Prior to attending law school, Chris was an engineer with Babcock & Wilcox, where he resolved customer issues relating to heat transfer processes, structures and materials in various power generation products. This engineering experience combined with his unique knowledge of the Asian marketplace, such as China, helps Chris understand IP issues and enhances his effectiveness in addressing client IP problems.
Chris is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE Chris represents clients in many types of patent and intellectual property matters, including:
- Representing Fortune 100 companies to obtain and protect key company innovations, and to team with in-house counsel to provide IP advice.
- Counseling start-up companies to identify valuable IP, develop strategies to protect IP, and educate executives, research and marketing personnel about managing IP assets.
- Successfully representing a medical device manufacturer to enforce and license key patents including initiating and resolving patent infringement litigation.
- Analyzing third-party patents for weaknesses including preparing non-infringement and invalidity opinions, and counseling clients on options including reexamination, design-around, and pre-litigation activities.
- Devising and implementing proactive strategies against aggressive patent holding companies.
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- 2012 President-Elect, Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA)
- Member, Asian Practice Committee, Intellectual Property Owners Association
- North America Anti-Counterfeiting Committee, International Trademark Association
- Board Member, Governmental & Community Relations Committee, Center for Puppetry Arts
- Legal Counsel, Organization of Chinese Americans, Georgia Chapter
- Member, Intellectual Property Advisory Board, Georgia State University College of Law
- Past President and Current Class Representative, Graduate Leadership Council, Georgia State University College of Law
- Former Nominations Chair, Buckhead Leadership
RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Moderator, “The Partners’ Perspective,” State Bar of Georgia Diversity Committee’s Business Development Symposium (February 2, 2012)
- Moderator, Who’s Who in Asian American Communities Leaders & Legends Alliance Conference (2010, 2011)
- Co-author, "The Scope of Fraud in Multiclass Registrations," IP Law360 (April 2009)
- Co-author, "Guidance on a Patentee's Provisional Rights," IP Law360 (October 2008)
- Speaker, "Intellectual Property Offensive and Defensive Strategies," Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (October 26, 2011)
- Speaker, “Growing Your Business Despite the Economic Situation,” WWAC Alliance Conference (October 21, 2011)
- Speaker, “Intersection of Antitrust and IP Law: U.S. Perspective,” Shanghai Bar Association (October 17, 2008)
- Speaker, Georgia State University College of Law Corporate IP Roundtable (September 9, 2008)
- Speaker, 22nd Annual Technology Law Institute (October 30, 2007)
- Speaker, Corporate IP Management in the U.S. and China (October 21–22, 2007)
- Speaker, 2nd Annual Conference on Corporate Intellectual Property in China (April 26–27, 2007)
© 2012 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
