Christopher Carroll

Partner
Chris counsels clients on matters related to patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
Christopher Carroll

Chris’s practice focuses on cross-border IP matters. He counsels clients on matters related to patents, trademarks, and copyrights in the US and abroad. He has extensive experience practicing before both the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).

Chris routinely drafts and prosecutes patent applications and advises on patent portfolios for clients internationally. He regularly prepares legal opinions regarding patent validity, infringement, and freedom-to-operate (FTO), and drafts technology-related license agreements. He has served as 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. 

Chris has developed patent portfolios, including US and European patents.

Chris is qualified as both a US patent attorney and a solicitor in England and Wales. His extensive experience with the patent offices of the US and Europe allows him to manage and coordinate cross-border patent portfolios.

Previous Work

Before joining ArentFox Schiff, Chris was an intellectual property partner at a mid-sized Boston-based law firm. Prior to that, Chris was a partner at an international law firm. In addition to his legal experience, Chris previously supervised research related to wireless communications network security at Verizon and GTE Laboratories. He also served in the US Navy Submarine Force as a nuclear reactor operator. Chris is an inventor and holds multiple American patents related to wireless network security.

Client Work

Chris’s representative matters include:

  • Virgin Media Limited v. Rovi Guides, Inc. – multiple EPO oppositions and appeals

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

  • 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

Presentations

  • “European Patent Issues for U.S. Companies,” Moderator, Consero Global IP Management Forum, April 2024

Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America Best lawyer, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2019-2024)

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

Memberships

  • Law Society of the Republic of Ireland
  • Law Society of England & Wales
  • Boston Intellectual Property Law Association (BIPLA)

Life Beyond the Law

Outside of work, Chris enjoys golf, travel, and home improvement projects.

  • International
    Europe
  • Bar & Court Admissions
    • Massachusetts Bar
    • England and Wales Bar
    • US Patent and Trademark Office
    • US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
    • US Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
    • US District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • Education
    Suffolk University Law School, JD, 2003
    University of Massachusetts Lowell, MS, 1998
    University of Massachusetts Lowell, BS, 1994

Perspectives