Christopher T. Griffith

Member

Active in all phases of domestic and international intellectual property practice, Mr. Griffith has placed particular emphasis on the litigation of pharmaceutical, chemical and mechanical patents. This experience includes numerous matters in the U.S. District Courts, and appeals before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, representing both patentees and those accused of infringement. He has appeared as lead counsel, formulated litigation strategy, and directed the activities of the litigation team on a day-to-day basis on these matters.

Mr. Griffith has also counseled clients and provided opinions on the issues of inventorship, patentability, validity and enforceability, as well as on a variety of trademark issues, including domain name disputes. In addition, he has prepared freedom-to-operate opinions, written, analyzed and negotiated licensing agreements, and conducted due diligence investigations. He also continues to draft and prosecute patent, trademark and copyright applications on a regular basis, and possesses experience in patent appeals, reexaminations and reissue proceedings.

The principal technologies in which he has been involved include pharmaceuticals (small and large molecules) and related processes, polymers, coatings, separations including filtration, and a variety of other chemical and biological processes and mechanical engineering subject matter.

Mr. Griffith is an Adjunct Professor at the John Marshall Law School, teaching a Masters level course in U.S. patent law.

Professional Affiliations

• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)

Honors

• Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law – Leading Lawyers Network
• Listed among the Top Lawyers in Illinois in Intellectual Property Law – Chicago Lawyer

Representative Matters

Representative Clients

• Cargill, Inc.
• AGFA-Gevaert N.V.
• Abraxis BioScience, Inc.
• Mylan Pharmaceuticals
• Alpharma
• KV Pharmaceuticals
• Mutual Pharmaceutical Co.
• Pall Corporation
• DSM N.V.
• Corning, Inc.
• Alberto-Culver, Inc.
• National Institutes of Health (US)
• Jubilant Organosys
• Lupin
• Akorn, Inc.
• Strides Arcolab

Representative Litigation/Interference/Opposition Experience

• Wyeth et al. v. Lupin et al. (venlafaxine)
• Ortho-McNeil et al. v. Lupin Pharmaceuticals et al. (levofloxacin)
• AstraZeneca v. Mutual Pharmaceuticals (felodipine)
• Pall Corp v. PTI Technologies (filtration technology)
• Weatherchem Corp. v. J.L. Clark, Inc. (sealing technology)
• Abbott Labs. v. Novopharm (terazosin)
• Fujisawa v. Memorial Sloan-Kettering (aerosolized pentamidine)
• Lemelson Foundation v. Cargill, Inc. et al.
• Henderson Mfg. Co. v. Highway Equipment Co.
• Elkay Manufacturing Co. v. Ebco Manufacturing Co.
• KV Pharmaceuticals v. Integrity Pharmaceuticals (nutritional supplements)
• Janssen Pharmaceutica v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (risperidone)
• Ferris Pharmaceuticals v. Biopol (Korean Patent Office proceedings) (wound care)Deublin Company (EP Oppositions)

Speaking Engagements and Presentations

• "Recent Developments in U.S. Patent Law Affecting the Pharmaceutical Industry," Global Generic Pharmaceutical Conference 2007 (Mumbai, India), February 2007
• "Patent Considerations in the Pharmaceutical Industry," 58th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress (Mumbai, India), December 2006
• "Current Issues and Strategies in U.S. Patent Prosecution," Advanced Training Seminar for Patent Reexaminers of the People’s Republic of China (Chicago, Illinois), October 2006
• "Patent Barriers to Generic Pharmaceutical Entry," AIPLA Road Shows (Boston, Houston, San Jose),
  June 2006
• "The Changing Landscape of U.S. Patent Law," Global Generic Pharmaceutical Conference 2006 (Mumbai, India), March 2006
  "Patent Issues and Trends In Cosmetic Formulations," Society of Cosmetic Chemists (Chicago),
  October 2005
• "Due Diligence in IP Business Transactions," Practicing Law Institute (Chicago), March 2003 & 2004
• "Senate Passes Bill Revising Hatch-Waxman Framework for Generic Drug Approval," Regulatory Affairs FOCUS (Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society), September, 2002
• "Presentation on Process Patents," National Association of Pharmaceutical and Manufacturers Bulk Drug Workshop (New York City), March 2001
• "Presentation on Process Patents and Related Issues," National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Annual Meeting (San Juan, Puerto Rico), January 2000
• Presentations on patent law (patentability/freedom-to-operate/opinions) to client R&D teams

Bar Admissions and Registrations

• District of Columbia, 1989
• Illinois, 1988
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Courts

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Member, Trial Bar)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

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