Although Chris Lewis handles all aspects of intellectual property law, he has become particularly experienced in patent prosecution (especially of chemical patents), opinion work, intellectual property due diligence, technology licensing, and trademark prosecution and enforcement. In particular, Mr. Lewis is responsible for RatnerPrestia's work in obtaining patents for clients whose products include catalytic converters, fuel cells, silica gels, zeolites, and pharmaceutical products, among others. He has issued a wide range of opinions in a variety of technical areas, from infringement opinions of a single patent to opinions assessing validity, infringement and other issues of an entire patent portfolio of competitors of clients. Mr. Lewis has aided clients in assessing target companies' intellectual property prior to an acquisition and has developed an intellectual property due diligence checklist for use in such transactions. Over the years, Mr. Lewis has consistently devoted a significant portion of his practice to the acquisition and enforcement of trademark rights worldwide.
In representing the firm's clients, Mr. Lewis recognizes that a law firm is part of the service industry, and he strives to provide prompt and quality service to the firm's clients. In addition, Mr. Lewis encourages providing seminars to a company's research and development team or other groups to strengthen the company's intellectual property portfolio. During 2003, for example, he will provide four such seminars on topics ranging from the basics of patent law to a discussion of a recent revision to a particular section of our patent statute.
After earning a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware, Mr. Lewis enrolled in Villanova University School of Law, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1991 and whom he represented in the Giles S. Rich Moot Court Competition. He is now serving as Chair of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) and has spoken at LES meetings on intellectual property due diligence.
Mr. Lewis conducted an Intellectual Property overview entitled, "Intellectual Property Primer" at the First Annual Delaware Valley Corporate Counsel Association (DELVACCA) Paralegal/Legal Assistant Institute. The overview included such topics as Types of Patents, Patentability, and Trademark and Copyright Facts. He was honored in the June 2005 issue of Philadelphia Magazine as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" in the area of Intellectual Property Law.
Mr. Lewis is Chair of the Firm's BioChemPharma Group.
