A researcher at heart, Dr. Christopher L. North shares his clients’ goals of supporting and advancing science. With a B.S. in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics, Christopher brings clients a breadth of knowledge and experience that crosses boundaries between biology, physics, chemistry. With two decades of in-depth technical expertise in a wide variety of fields, including biotechnology, nanotechnology, chemistry, materials, and mechanical and computational sciences, Christopher focuses his practice on patent prosecution, inter-partes reviews, and patent appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Clients rely on Dr. North for his direct approach, analytical thinking, sincere interest, and understanding of their work.

Christopher began his scientific career as a researcher at multiple research institutions including the University of Virginia and Harvard Medical School. His early basic science experience led Christopher to pursue his interest in patents. While working as a patent agent with Burns, Doane, Swecker, and Mathis, a patent boutique, he earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Christopher has experience in patent drafting and prosecution and in all phases of preparing and prosecuting international patent applications. He has served as counsel in numerous interference and inter-partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

From revolutionary farm products to RNAi technology to medical devices, Christopher has applied his science background to successfully secure patents for a variety of important and Nobel Prize-winning scientific endeavors.

Slade v. Regina (Fed. Cir. 2018).  Secured patent rights for a revolutionary wheat variety providing high-fiber white flour after obtaining a favorable decision in an interference proceeding in the USPTO and defending that decision against an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

In re Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization, Bayer Cropscience NV (Fed. Cir. 2015). Secured patent rights for the true inventors of Nobel Prize winning RNAi technology in plants after a long patent interference proceeding that required an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Kaelin v. Maxwell, Patent Interference No. 105,580, US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (2009).  Secured patent rights to Nobel Prize-winning technology using the HIF oxygen sensor as a target for medical treatment.

Christopher enjoys cycling and running on the Mount Vernon and C&O trails in Northern Virginia.