overview
Christopher Carroll is an intellectual property partner based in the firm’s Boston and London offices. He has practiced extensively before both the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). His practice concentrates on cross-border IP matters, developing strategies for clients related to patents, trademarks, and copyrights in the U.S., Europe, and internationally. Chris’ engineering background is of particular value in cases involving mechanical, electrical, software, communications, and marine technologies.
Chris has extensive experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications and advising on patent portfolios for clients located all over the world. He regularly prepares legal opinions regarding patent validity, infringement and freedom-to-operate (FTO), and drafts technology-related license agreements. He has been lead counsel for Opposition and Appeal proceedings at the EPO, including arguing at oral proceedings before the Examining Division, Opposition Division, and the Boards of Appeal.
education
J.D., Suffolk University Law School, 2003
M.S., Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1998
B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1994
admissions
Massachusetts
US Patent and Trademark Office
Legal Practitioner before the European Patent Office
Solicitor, England, and Wales
Solicitor, Republic of Ireland
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
US District Court for the District of MA
honors & awards
The Best Lawyers in America© Best Lawyer, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2019-2024)
articles
articles
Co-author, “Patent Eligibility Assessments: US Approach vs. UK Approach,” Law360, July 2018
Co-author, European Patent Practice for US Attorneys, Bloomberg BNA, 2015
Co-author, “Exploring the Differences Between Post-Grant Proceedings in the U.S. and Europe,” Bloomberg BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal, March 2015
Co-author, “UPC recap: have you been paying attention?,” Intellectual Property Magazine, February 2015
interviews
“Q&A with Christopher Carroll, IP Partner at Burns & Levinson,” Boston CityBizList, July 2020
speaking engagements
“The EU’s Unified Patent Court: Impact on US Companies and IP Litigation,” Panelist, 5th Annual International IP Summit hosted by Ropes & Gray, October 2022
“Fourth Annual International IP Summit,” Panelist, Boston College Law School and Ropes & Gray, October 2021
“Brexit and Intellectual Property: What You Need to Know,” Webinar Host, Burns & Levinson’s Intellectual Property Group, January 2021