Chris McDonald initially entered the profession almost 20 years ago by spending several years as a European Patent Examiner in Munich. He eventually returned to England to begin his training in private practice and gained qualifications in patents, trade marks and designs. Chris joined Wilson Gunn in 2008 and became a partner of the firm in 2017.
Chris spent several years as a European Patent Examiner at the European Patent Office in Munich, examining patent applications in the technical areas of organic and inorganic chemistry, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, polymers, catalysts, pesticides and cosmetics.
Chris has expertise relating to all areas of chemistry, including organic and inorganic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, food chemistry and manufacturing processes, medical devices, polymers, catalysts, industrial fluids, pesticides, personal care compositions, and cosmetics, and handles the international intellectual property portfolios of a number of domestic and multinational clients. He has extensive knowledge and experience of direct advocacy work at the European Patent Office in examination, opposition and appeal proceedings, as well as experience of European Patent Office examination and opposition proceedings from the perspective of a European Patent Examiner. He also has experience of patent proceedings before the US Patent and Trade Mark Office.
Chris was awarded a Ph.D. for his research into the synthesis and electronic properties of diarsine complexes of transition metals.
Chris handles a range of trade mark matters.
Chris has experience in filing design applications at the UKIPO and EUIPO, as well as advising on copyright matters.
University of Liverpool – B.Sc. Chemistry with a European language (German)
University of Manchester – Ph.D. Chemistry
Chartered Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
As a result of his time spent abroad, Chris is fluent in German; he also speaks French to a conversational level, as well as some Italian and Japanese.
“Key lawyer”
The Legal 500, 2023
