Christopher R. Liro

Christopher R. Liro is a partner and registered patent attorney at Andrus Intellectual Property Law. Chris focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation in federal district and appellate courts, administrative proceedings before the PTAB, TTAB and ITC, counseling clients in protecting and controlling their creative content and managing intellectual property and related risks, and counseling clients in transactional matters, including licenses, joint development agreements, and dispute resolution. 

Chris has litigated patent, trademark, and copyright disputes involving wireless communications, medical and orthodontic devices, semiconductor manufacturing, commercial and consumer software, automotive and marine components, food service equipment, architectural plans, and product labeling for clients including Douglas Dynamics, Brunswick Corporation / Mercury Marine, Oneida Nation, Door Peninsula Winery, American Orthodontics, Prince Castle, Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Research In Motion, C.R. Bard, and Zimmer. He manages and executes all aspects of litigation, including developing litigation and settlement/licensing strategies; conducting discovery and motion practice; assessing client and competitor intellectual property assets and litigation-related risks; negotiating litigation and settlement positions; representing clients at hearings and trials; and partnering with in-house counsel and business and technical staff.

Education, Experience, and Community Involvement

Chris received his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon honor societies, and received his master of science degree in civil engineering from MIT. He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School (magna cum laude), where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, the recipient of the Saul L. Nadler Memorial Award, and a contributing editor to the University of Michigan Law Review. Chris served as a law clerk to the Honorable William C. Bryson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 2000-2001. Prior to joining Andrus, Chris was an intellectual property litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago.

Chris is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin Intellectual Property and Technology Law Section.

Memberships

• Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association
• Milwaukee Bar Association
• Seventh Circuit Bar Association
• Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association

Representative Cases 

• Signify North America Corporation et al. v. Menard, Inc. v. RICHPOWER INDUSTRIES, INC. et al., No. 3:22-CV-00706 (W.D. Wis.). Representing client and third-party defendant Richpower Industries in patent infringement case involving LED lighting assemblies.
• Freedom Metals, LLC v. FREEDOM METALS, INC., Nos. 22-CV-696 and 22-CV-1183 (E.D. Wis.). Representing client Freedom Metals, Inc. in trademark infringement case asserting its registered FREEDOM METALS mark.
• BAY TECH ENTERTAINMENT, INC., various matters. Represented and representing client Bay Tech Entertainment in trademark opposition proceedings related to protection of its SKEE-BALL brand.
• SSMiller IP LLC v. SUGAR BEETS, LLC, No. 2:22-CV-002576 (C.D. Cal.). Represented client Sugar Beets in patent infringement case involving housewares, which settled in 2022.
• Hope Surrogacy, Inc. v. CARRYING HOPE SURROGACY, LLC, No. 20-CV-1028 (W.D. Wis.) and 1:21-CV-119 (D.N.C.). Represented client Carrying Hope Surrogacy in trademark infringement case. Obtained transfer to client’s home district in North Carolina, and matter settled in 2022.
• JOSEPH GUO v. Ovation Hand Institute, LLC et al, No. 20-CV-512 (E.D. Wis.). Represented client and inventor Joseph Guo in patent infringement case involving carpal tunnel surgery methods, which settled in 2022.
• BRUNSWICK CORPORATION v. Simon Performance Technology, Inc., No. 3:20-CV-00889 (S.D. Cal.). Represented client Brunswick in copyright and DMCA case involving engine control software for Mercury Marine outboard motors. Matter was settled in 2020, including entry of consent judgment in favor of client and entry of permanent injunction.
• AMERICAN ORTHODONTICS CORPORATION v. U.S. Orthodontic Products, Inc., No. 20-CV-4402 (C.D. Cal.). Represented client American Orthodontics in patent infringement and unfair competition case involving orthodontic bracket systems. Matter was settled in 2020, including entry of consent judgment in favor of client and entry of permanent injunction.
• GREAT LAKES MFG., INC. v. Londerville Steel Enterprises, Inc., No. 1:17-cv-01421 (E.D. Wis.). Represented client Great Lakes Manufacturing in patent infringement case involving truck trailer equipment. Obtained judgment on the pleadings on counterclaim asserting violation of Wisconsin Patent Notification Act, Wis. Stat. § 100.197, and matter settled in 2018.
• H-D USA, LLC and Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, LLC v. AFFLICTION HOLDINGS, LLC, No. 2:17-cv-01776 (E.D. Wis.). Represented client Affliction Holdings in trademark infringement case involving apparel graphics. Obtained transfer of matter to client’s home jurisdiction in California in 2020 based on lack of personal jurisdiction in Wisconsin.
• Simply Manufacturing, Inc. v. ALKAR-RAPIDPAK, INC., No. 2018-cv-000133 (Wis. Cir. Sauk Co.). Represented client ALKAR against claims under the Wisconsin Patent Notification Act, Wis. Stat. § 100.197, and related unfair competition claims. Obtained summary judgment in favor of client on all claims in 2020.
• AMERICAN ORTHODONTICS CORP. v. Atlantic Dental, Inc., No. 1:17-cv-08098 (D.N.J.); AMERICAN ORTHODONTICS CORP. v. Ortho Mogul, LLC, Opp. No. 91235583 (TTAB). Represented client American Orthodontics in parallel infringement and opposition proceedings involving trademarks on orthodontic devices.
• ONEIDA NATION v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York, Cancellation No. 92066411 (TTAB). Representing client Oneida Nation, of Wisconsin, in cancellation proceedings involving trademark registrations for ONEIDA and ONEIDA INDIAN NATION owned by Oneida Indian Nation of New York.
• EMPIRE MEDICAL REVIEW SERVICES, INC. v. Compuclaim, Inc., 2:13-cv-01283 (E.D. Wis.). Represented client EMRS on case involving copyright and DMCA claims related to medical billing software, which settled in 2019.
• DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, LLC v. Meyer Products LLC, No. 3: 14-cv-00886 (W.D. Wis.); Meyer Products LLC v. DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, LLC, No. 1:15-cv-00900 (N.D. Ohio); Meyer Products LLC v. DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, LLC, IPR2015-01247 (PTAB); DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, LLC v. Meyer Products LLC, IPR2015-01839 (PATB). Client Douglas Dynamics and Meyer Products entered a settlement agreement in 2017 in patent cases involving attachment and lighting control technologies for snow plows. In IPR proceedings, obtained decisions sustaining validity of all Douglas claims and obtaining invalidity of most Meyer claims.
• A.C. Dispensing Equipment Inc. v. PRINCE CASTLE LLC, IPR2014-00511 (PTAB). Represented client Prince Castle in IPR related to control systems for liquid dispensers. Obtained decision sustaining validity of all challenged claims.
• C&N Corporation d/b/a DOOR PENINSULA WINERY v. Gregory Kane, et al., 953 F. Supp. 2d 903 (E.D. Wis. 2013), aff'd, 756 F.3d 1024 (7th Cir. 2014). Obtained summary judgment of trademark infringement and over $500,000 in damages for client Door Peninsula Winery; affirmed on appeal.
• DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, LLC v. Buyers Products Company, No. 3:09-cv-00261-WMC (W.D. Wis.). Secured $9.75 million jury verdict for plaintiff Douglas Dynamics in April 2014 in patent case involving snow plow attachment technology.
• Mformation Technologies, Inc. v. RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED, No. 5:08-CV-04990 (N.D. Cal.). Obtained post-trial grant of judgment as a matter of law of non-infringement in August 2012 for client Research In Motion in case involving wireless device management.
• Robert Bosch LLC v. PYLON MFG. CORP., Nos. 2011-1363, -1364. Represented client Pylon in appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in patent case involving windshield wipers.
• Hollister, Inc. v. C. R. BARD, INC., No. 1:10-CV-06427 (N.D. Ill.). Plaintiff Hollister and client C. R. Bard entered a settlement agreement in June 2011 in patent case involving critical care medical device.
• In re Certain Electronic Imaging Devices, ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-726. Complainant Flashpoint and client Research In Motion entered settlement agreement in 2011 in case involving patents on digital camera controls and displays.
• In re Certain Authentication Systems, Including Software and Handheld Electronic Devices, ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-697. Complainant Prism Technologies and client Research In Motion entered settlement agreement in 2010 in case involving patent on authentication protocols.
• In re ZIMMER HOLDINGS, INC., 609 F.3d 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2010). Obtained grant on petition for writ of mandamus, ordering transfer of case from the Eastern District of Texas to the Northern District of Indiana, the location of the headquarters of client Zimmer.
• Digene Corp. v. THIRD WAVE TECHS., INC., 323 Fed. App'x 902 (Fed. Cir. 2009).  Obtained affirmance of summary judgment of non-infringement for client Third Wave in case involving patent on DNA-based diagnostic testing. 
• ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC. v. Howmedica Osteonics Corp., No. 3:02-CV-0425 (N.D. Ind.). Client Zimmer and defendant Howmedica entered settlement agreement in 2009, in case involving patent on orthopedic implant design.  
• Visto Corp. v. RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED, No. 2:06-CV-181 (E.D. Tex.).  Plaintiff Visto and client Research In Motion entered settlement agreement in 2009 in case involving patents on data synchronization protocols.