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Christopher G. Hanewicz
- Firmwide Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Practice
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
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, 2014-2024
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
News
Professional Experience
Patent Litigation
Riddell Inc v. Kranos Corporation
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Obtained $5 million verdict for Riddell after jury found rival helmet maker Schutt Sports had willfully infringed two of Riddell’s patents when they created and marketed the “Vengeance” football helmet line.
U.S. Water Services, et al. v. Novozymes A/S, et al.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Obtained a jury verdict of contributory and induced infringement and no invalidity on behalf of U.S. Water Services. After a two-week trial, the jury awarded more than $7.5 million in royalties to U.S. Water Services after finding that the defendants infringed the asserted claims of two U.S. Water Services patents covering the use of phytase to reduce deposits in ethanol processing equipment.
Riddell Inc. v. Rawlings Sporting Goods, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Successfully represented Riddell in a patent infringement case involving patents directed to football helmet and shoulder pad technology.
Easton Baseball/Softball, Inc. v. Wilson Sporting Goods Company & Wilson Sporting Goods Company v. Easton Baseball/Softball, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Successfully represented Easton Sports in patent infringement case, involving claims and counterclaims, directed to baseball bat technology.
Cree, Inc. v. Kingbright Corporation
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Successfully represented Cree in the enforcement of patents relating to LED technology.
Cree, Inc. v. Harvatek Corporation
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Successfully represented Cree in the enforcement of patents relating to LED technology.
Bern Unlimited Inc. v. The Burton Corporation, et al.
U.S District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of BRG Sports that Bern has not acquired trade-dress protection for its snow and bike helmets.
Illumination Management Solutions Inc. v. Ruud Lighting Inc., et al. (Stadtmueller, J.)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Defended Ruud Lighting Inc. in a patent infringement case related to LED lighting products. Successfully obtained summary judgment ruling of non-infringement.
Ruud Lighting Inc. v. Cooper Lighting, LLC
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Representing Ruud Lighting Inc. in a patent infringement case related to LED lighting products.
Cherdak v. Easton-Bell Sports Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Successfully defended Easton-Bell Sports in a patent false marking claim relating to Knee-Saver products.
Riddell Inc. v. Schutt Sports Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Obtained a $30 million verdict for Riddell in a patent infringement case directed to protective technology in football helmets.
S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. and CTR, LDA v. The Dial Corporation*
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Represented S.C. Johnson and CTR against Dial in a patent infringement case involving CTR’s patents covering multi-fragrancing technology used in consumer air freshener products. Case was resolved after claim construction.
GE Healthcare v. SonoSite*
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Represented SonoSite in patent infringement action involving claims and cross-claims under ten patents relating to ultrasound technology. Obtained favorable summary judgment verdict finding five of the six asserted GE patents were either invalid or not infringed. Case was settled during appeal in the Federal Circuit.
Innogenetics N.V. v. Abbott Laboratories*
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Represented Innogenetics in an action for patent infringement against Abbott Laboratories on Innogenetics’ patent for a method of genotyping the hepatitis C virus. Innogenetics obtained summary judgment of no unenforceability, a directed infringement verdict on the three asserted claims, and jury verdicts that the patent was not invalid and awarding damages. On appeal, the Federal Circuit affirmed the findings of infringement and validity of two of the asserted claims and affirmed the jury’s damages award. 512 F.3d 1363. (Fed Cir. 2008)
Harley Davidson v. S&S Cycle*
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Represented S&S Cycle in patent infringement action brought by Harley Davidson relating to patents covering various engine components used in motorcycles.
Briggs & Stratton v. Kohler Corporation*
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Successful defense of patent infringement action involving lawnmower engine technology. Jury found 26 of 27 claims not infringed, all claims invalid for obviousness.
Cambridge Antibody Technology Group Plc v. MorphoSys AG*
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Represented defendant in a two-week jury trial in a patent infringement case involving phage display antibody libraries. Summary judgment granted in favor of MorphoSys following a hung jury.
Illumination Management Solutions Inc. v. Ruud Lighting Inc., et al. (Randa, J.)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Defending Ruud Lighting Inc. and two of its officers in a breach of fiduciary duty/related claims and trade secret case. The Court granted Ruud's motion to dismiss the breach of fiduciary duty and related claims.
* Prior Experience