Chris McDonald

B.Sc. Ph.D.

Partner

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.

Patents

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.

Trade Marks

Chris handles a range of trade mark matters.

Designs & Copyright

Chris has experience in filing design applications at the UKIPO and EUIPO, as well as advising on copyright matters.

Education

University of Liverpool – B.Sc. Chemistry with a European language (German)
University of Manchester – Ph.D. Chemistry

Qualifications

Chartered Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Trade Mark Attorney

Languages

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.

Recommendations

“Chris McDonald is knowledgeable in his subject area, great technically with chemistry and with patent applications, and he always provides a speedy response to e-mails and makes himself available for phone calls.”
The Legal 500, 2024

“Key lawyer”
The Legal 500, 2023

LEGAL 500 Recommended lawyer
LEGAL 500 Recommended lawyer

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