IP firm lands attorney with ‘deep experience’ in research and innovation

With his ‘extensive’ scientific background and links to Nobel-Prize-winning inventions, Christopher North brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Panitch Schwarze’s patent team.

IP law firm Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel has appointed Christopher North to the firm’s Philadelphia office as counsel.

With his “extensive” scientific background, North will focus his practice on litigation—in district court and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)—as well as opinions, counselling, and prosecution matters.

He joins from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, where he spent more than 18 years as a patent attorney and of counsel.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the firm,” said Panitch Schwarze partner Martin Belisario. “He is extremely well-versed in a variety of scientific disciplines, as well as every step of the patent prosecution process. We know our clients will benefit from this addition.”

Co-chair of Panitch Schwarze’s post-grant group, partner Erin Dunston, said: “Chris is a fantastic addition to our growing life sciences and post-grant teams. I’ve worked with Chris for over 15 years at other firms and I’m so happy to be working with him again.”

Multidisciplinary experience

Panitch Schwarze partner and litigation group co-chair, Philip Hirschhorn, added: “Chris proves his value in every challenge we put before him, whether deep-dives into PTAB arguments or in support of high-stakes patent litigation.”

North brings a “breadth of knowledge and experience” in biology, physics, chemistry, and conventional scientific disciplines, said the firm.

He will counsel clients primarily in the firm’s life sciences, biology & medicine practice, including biotech, pharmaceutical, medical devices and equipment, horticulture, agriculture, and cannabis.

“I am happy to join Panitch Schwarze’s team of IP attorneys and support the cutting-edge research of our clients,” said North.

“With my research background, I understand the integral role patents play in furthering innovation and protecting the work of scientists. I look forward to guiding our clients through the patent process with my deep knowledge of patent law.”

North 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 proceedings before the PTAB in the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

According to his new employer, North has applied his science background to successfully secure patents for a variety of important and Nobel Prize-winning scientific endeavours—from revolutionary farm products to RNAi technology to medical devices.

North is admitted as an attorney in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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