

Christopher G. Hanewicz
- Firmwide Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Practice
- Madison
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A leading trial lawyer, Chris has successfully led teams representing patentees and patent challengers in jury trials against some of the country’s most recognized law firms.
Christopher Hanewicz represents clients across engineering and medical industries in all manner of complex intellectual property matters. Chris skillfully breaks down complex technical concepts for juries and judges, and he has led or co-led teams to winning jury verdicts in the chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering fields, as well as in medical device/diagnostic testing equipment.
In addition to his trial work, Chris has argued dozens of claim construction and summary judgment hearings, taken and defended hundreds of fact and expert depositions, and overseen mediations and contested arbitration for patentees and defendants.
Chris has been ranked in Chambers USA for more than a decade and named a “Lawyer of the Year” for litigation three times by The Best Lawyers in America.
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1999
- Carleton College, B.A., cum laude, 1996
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Wisconsin
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Recognition
Named Best Lawyers' Madison, "Litigation - Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year," 2017, 2024; “Litigation – Patent Lawyer of the Year,” 2022
Ranked by Chambers USA, as “America’s Leading Lawyers" for Intellectual Property, 2011-2024 and for Intellectual Property: Litigation, 2016-2024
Listed by Chambers USA, as “America’s Leading Lawyers" (Up and Coming) for Intellectual Property, 2008; Intellectual Property, 2011-2023; Intellectual Property: Litigation, 2016-2023
Recommended in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000, 2016-2024
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent, 2014-2025
Listed in Wisconsin Super Lawyers, "Rising Star - Intellectual Property Litigation," 2006-2008
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Wisconsin Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Wisconsin School for the Deaf Mock Trial Program, 1999-present