Christopher Hanewicz, firmwide Patent Litigation practice chair, is a partner in the Patent Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation practices and is one of the group’s leading trial attorneys. He has successfully led teams representing patentees and patent challengers in jury trials against some of the country’s most recognized law firms. He has been ranked in Chambers USA for 10 straight years, ranked in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000 for five years, and was selected as the 2021 Patent Litigator of the Year in Madison by Best Lawyers, which is the second time he has won the award.

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.

Awards & Recognitions

• Named Best Lawyers‘ Madison, “Litigation – Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year,” 2017; “Litigation – Patent Lawyer of the Year,” 2022
• Ranked by Chambers USA, as “America’s Leading Business Lawyers (Up and Coming),” 2008; “America’s Leading Intellectual Property Lawyers,” 2011 – 2021
• Recommended in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000, 2016 – 2021
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2014 – 2022: Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Litigation – Patent
• Listed in Wisconsin Super Lawyers, “Rising Star – Intellectual Property Litigation,” 2006 – 2008

Admissions

• Wisconsin
• U.S. Supreme Court
• 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

Education

• University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1999
• Carleton College, B.A., cum laude, 1996

Perkins Coie LLP

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,000 lawyers in offices across the United States and in Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

Perkins Coie is frequently recognized for its leadership in the legal profession:

FIRM ACCOLADES

• Ranked 18th largest law firm in the U.S. by attorney headcount by Law360, 2018
• Recognized as an Am Law 50 firm on The American Lawyer 100 list, 2018
• Named among the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 16 consecutive years by FORTUNE magazine, 2003 – 2018
• Named one of the “30 Best Workplaces for Consulting & Professional Services” by FORTUNE magazine, 2017 – 2018
• 131 attorneys recognized, with 35 attorneys ranked Band 1, by Chambers USA, 2017
• 277 attorneys listed with 23 named “Lawyer of the Year,” in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2019
• Named an “unprompted” recommended firm by decision makers in BTI Most Recommended Law Firms, 2018
• Ranked as the most prestigious firm in both the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States on the annual associate survey by Vault.com, 2019
• Named a “Leader” among tech-savvy firms by BTI Brand Elite, 2016