Minnesota State and Federal Bar
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
First Circuit Court of Appeals
Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Eastern District of Texas
Northern District of Illinois
District of Colorado
District of Nebraska

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
American Intellectual Property Law Association

Awards & Recognition

Selected as one of Minnesota's Top Attorneys 2018 by American Registry

Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Litigation – Patent, 2018-2019

Selected for inclusion in Minnesota SuperLawyers, 2004-2006, 2008-2010

Publications & Speaking

Speaker, IP Is Everywhere: Lunchtime Learning Series, Mitchell Hamline School of Law Intellectual Property Institute, Aug. 24, 2017

Leadership & Civic Involvement

Board of Directors, Northfield Hockey Association, 2011-present
Board of Directors, Northfield Area Family YMCA, 2007-2010
Leadership Impacting the Non-Profit Community program, 2007

As an experienced trial attorney in various technology fields, Christopher's goal is not only to solve his clients' immediate, pressing problems, but to develop long-term relationships, getting to know his clients' businesses so he can meet their needs strategically and proactively, rather than reactively.

Christopher is a trial attorney and former chair of the life sciences litigation practice group, focusing primarily on patent actions stemming from the Hatch-Waxman Act. He has tried cases to verdict in both federal and state courts, as well as in several contested arbitration hearings.

Currently, Christopher focuses most of his practice on ANDA litigation, representing the generic drug industry. These litigations involve Paragraph IV litigation matters to support his generic client’s ultimate goal of bringing less expensive prescription drugs to the market under the Hatch-Waxman Act. His representation of generic pharmaceutical companies serves to help control the costs of healthcare by bringing inexpensive generic drugs to the market faster.

He has also represented patent holders and accused infringers in a wide variety of patent disputes, including internet method patents, precision fluid pumps, injection molded polycarbonate sunglass lenses, non-ANDA pharmaceutical composition disputes, electronic fuel injected two-stroke engines, air restriction indicators, load weighing software for surface mining machines, insulated concrete forms, and dog toys.

Prior to centering his practice on intellectual property litigation, Christopher focused his practice on fire litigation, which included complex product liability issues, construction litigation, and insurance coverage matters in a technologically complex area of a highly specialized legal field.

Christopher is the proud father of four great kids, considers himself an avid (but relatively unsuccessful) fisherman, and was the 1989 intramural darts champion at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, where he began his undergraduate studies.

Representative Cases

1) Representation of Generic Pharmaceutical Clients in Hatch-Waxman PIV Litigations

PERNIX IRELAND PAIN LTD. and PERNIX THERAPEUTICS, LLC v. ACTAVIS LABORATORIES FL, INC. – District Court – Delaware – 1:16-cv-00138 (challenging formulation patents on Hydrocodone Bitartrate)

BAYER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GMBH, ET AL. v. BRECKENRIDGE PHARMACEUTICAL, INC., ET AL. – District Court – Delaware – 1:15-cv-00902 (challenging compound patents on Rivaroxaban)

FERRING B.V., ET AL v. ACTAVIS, INC. WATSON LABORATORIES, INC., ANDRX CORP., WATSON LABORATORIES, INC. – FLORIDA and WATSON PHARMA, INC. – District Court – New Jersey – 2:15-cv-04222 (challenging formulation claims patents on Tranexamic Acid)

OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. v. ACTAVIS ELIZABETH LLC, INC. and JUBILANT LIFE SCIENCES (USA) INC. – District Court – New Jersey – 1:14-cv-07106 (challenging compound patents on Aripiprazole)

SUPERNUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. v. ACTAVIS, INC., ACTAVIS LABORATORIES FL, INC., ACTAVIS PLC, ACTAVIS PHARMA, INC., WATSON LABORATORIES, ICN. AND ANDA, INC. – District Court – New Jersey – 2:14-cv-06102 (challenging formulation patents on Topiramate)

MILLENNIUM PHARMACEUTICALS INC. v. SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED and SUN PHARMA GLOBAL FZE – District Court – Delaware – 1:15-cv-00540 (challenging formulation patents on Bortezomib)

ACORDA THERAPEUTICS, INC. v. SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED and SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. – District Court – Delaware – 1:15-cv-00391 (challenging formulation patents on Dalfampridine)

SANOFI and SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC v. ALEMBIC PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED – District Court – Delaware, 1:14-cv-424 (challenging formulation patents on Dronedarone)

RECRO TECHNOLOGY LLC v. ACTAVIS LABORATORIES FL, INC. – District Court – Delaware, 1:14-cv-01118 (challenging formulation patents on Hydrocodone Bitartrate)

NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION and NOVARTIS AG v. BRECKENRIDGE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. – District Court – Delaware – 1:14-cv-01043 (challenging formulation patents on Everolimus)

HORIZON PHARMA AG and JAGOTEC AG v. WATSON LABORATORIES, INC.–FLORIDA, U.S. – District Court – New Jersey, 1:13-cv-05124 (challenging formulation patents on Prednisone DR)

GILEAD SCIENCES, INC., ET AL v. CIPLA LIMITED, U.S. - District Court - New York S.D., 1:12-CV-06350 (challenging compound patents on Emtricitabine)

GILEAD SCIENCES, INC., v. CIPLA LIMITED, U.S. - District Court - New York S.D., 1:12-CV-06351 (challenging compound patents on Tenofovir)

PFIZER INC. ET AL v. BRECKENRIDGE PHARMACEUTICAL INC., ALEMBIC LTD., ET AL., U.S. - District Court – Delaware, 1:12-CV-00810 (challenging compound patents on O-Desmethylvenlafaxine Succinate)

FERRING B.V. v. WATSON LABORATORIES, INC-FLORIDA, U.S. – District Court – Nevada, 3:11-CV-00481 (challenging formulation claims on Tranexamic Acid tablets)

SANOFI-AVENTIS ET AL v. ACTAVIS SOUTH ATLANTIC LLC ET AL, U.S. – District Court – Delaware, 1:07-CV-00572 (challenging reissue compound patent on Celocoxib tablets)

ASTRAZENECA AB, ET AL v. WATSON LABORATORIES, INC. – FLORIDA, U.S. – District Court – New Jersey, 3:13-cv-01669 (challenging compound patent on Esomeprazole Magnesium)

ABBVIE INC. ET AL v. WATSON LABORATORIES INC. – FLORIDA, U.S. - District Court –Delaware, 1:12-CV-00324 (challenged formulation patents on niacin extended release tablets)

ENDO PHARMA V. WATSON LABORATORIES, INC., U.S. District Court – New Jersey, 10-1242 (challenged formulation patents on Opana ER (original formulation))

ABBOTT LABORATORIES ET AL v. WATSON PHARMACEUTICALS INC. ET AL, U.S. – District Court – Delaware, 1:10-CV-00373 (challenged formulation patents on Niacin/Simvistatin Combo tablets)

ALTANA PHARMA AG V. TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC., U.S. District Court – New Jersey, 04-2335 (challenged compound patent up through denial of Preliminary Injunction motion).

ALMIRALL, ORTHO-MCNEIL PHARMACEUTICAL V. TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 06-2293 (challenged formulation patents and defended related business tort claims)

GLAXO GROUP LTD. V. TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS, U.S. District Court – Delaware, 04-171 (challenged formulation patents on ranitidine syrup)

2) Representation of Patent Holders in Affirmative Enforcement Actions

REMBRANDT GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, LP v. BOYD GAMING CORPORATION ET AL., U.S. - District Court – Nevada, 2:12-CV-00775 (Video Slot Machines)

POLYFORM A.G.P. ET AL v. AIRLITE PLASTICS, U.S. – District Court – Nebraska, 8:10-CV-00458 (Insulated Concrete Forms)

QUALITY MANAGEMENT, INC. v. TOM W. THURMAN, INC., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:10-CV-00962 (Precision Milk Sampling Apparatus)

UNIVERSAL RECOVERY SYSTEMS, INC. v. SOUNDBITE COMMUNICATIONS, INC., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:08-CV-01199 (Call Center Technology with associated business tort claims)

AMAZIN RAISINS INTERNATIONAL, INC. v. OCEAN SPRAY CRANBERRIES, INC., U.S. – District Court – Massachusetts, 1:04-CV-12679 (Patent on changing the flavor of dried fruit products)

KAPAK COMPANY, LLC v. J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY, THE ET AL., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:09-CV-00934 (coffee packaging technology)

DE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. v. DELL, INC., U.S. – District Court – Virginia W.D., 7:04-CV-00628 (international business transaction methods)

UPSHER-SMITH LAB INC v. PAN AMERICAN LAB, ET AL., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:01-CV-00352 (prescription strength B6 and B12 vitamin combinations)

VISION-EASE LENS INC v. K B CO., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:02-CV-00013 (prescription polarized injection molded eyeglass lenses)

MILLER MANUFACTRUING COMPANY v. ROYAL PET INCORPORATED, U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:05-CV-02803 (electronic cattle prod)

VOLOVIK v. CHIRON DIAGNOSTICS, ET AL, U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:01-CV-01426 (precision fluid pumps)

3) Representing Defendants in Patent Enforcement Actions

PHIL-INSUL CORP. v. REWARD WALL SYSTEMS, INC. ET AL., U.S. - District Court – Nebraska, 8:12-CV-00091 (insulated concrete forms)

AUTOMATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, ET AL. v. EMAINT ENTERPRISES, LLC, ET AL., U.S. – District Court – Nebraska, 8:09-CV-00390 (defense of claims involving facilities management methods)

MAIN HASTINGS, LLC v. CONAGRA FOODS, INC., U.S. – District Court – Texas E.D., 2:10-CV-00402 (Method Patents Addressing Memory Allocation Schemes)

THE CHAMBERLAIN GROUP, INC. v. DECKO PRODUCTS ET AL, U.S. – District Court – Illinois N.D., 1:10-CV-07843 (Electronic Garage Door Openers)

ARCTIC CAT, INC. v. INJECTION RESEARCH, ET AL., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:01-CV-00543 (electronic fuel injected two-stroke snowmobile engines)

HARNISCHFEGER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. v. DRIVES AND CONTROL SERVICES, INC. U.S. – District Court – Nevada, CV-S-03-01199 (programmable logic controllers)

SOUNDBITE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. v. UNIVERSAL RECOVERY SYSTEMS, INC. ET AL, U.S. – District Court – Massachusetts, 1:07-CV-12003 (call center technology and business tort claims)

SONIC INNOVATIONS v. STARKEY LAB, ET AL., U.S. – District Court – Utah, 2:03-CV-00670 (hearing aids)

ENGINEERED PRODUCTS CO. V. DONALDSON CO., INC., U.S. – District Court – Iowa N.D., 6:98-cv-02106 (air restriction indicators). 4) Other Intellectual Property Litigation Matters

PREMIER PET PRODUCTS, LLC v. J.W. PET COMPANY, INC., U.S. – District Court – Minnesota, 0:10-CV-00310 (Pet Toys)

TRIM-TEX, INC. v. PHILLIPS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, U.S. – District Court – Illinois N.D., 1:09-CV- 07974 (Defense of trademark infringement claims)

EISENBARTH v. FWM LABORATORIES, INC. ET AL., U.S. – District Court –Minnesota, 0:09-CV-03525 (Prosecuting Theft of Client’s Image by various websites selling fraudulent weight loss product)

DRIVES & CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC. v. ELECTRICAL TECHNICAL SERVICE & REPAIR, INC., ET AL., U.S. – District Court – Wyoming, 2:08-CV-00256 (enforcing copyright on programmable logic controller software for the mining industry)

DIVERSIFIED PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES INC v. MEDICA HEALTH PLANS , ET AL., AAA Arbitration (private arbitration involving prescription drug claim adjudication and ministration)