Chris Scharff is a Shareholder at McAndrews with over 25 years of experience in all areas of intellectual property, with a particular focus on patent litigation, post-grant review proceedings, and IP contracts and licensing.

Chris’ litigation practice includes extensive trial and arbitration experience. Chris makes complex technical and legal issues simple for judges and juries, which has led to multiple wins and eve-of-trial settlements for clients in the last several years. This includes numerous arbitration wins in licensing disputes, including as recently as May 2026, where Chris served as first chair for a multi-million-dollar, multi-day licensing arbitration that resulted in a client win. He has also briefed and argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Chris is a top-ranked post-grant review attorney. Since the enactment of the America Invents Act, he has represented clients in over 80 inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Chris’ IPR work has resulted in over a dozen early-stage non-institution wins on behalf of patent-owner clients, and many favorable final decisions or settlements for both patent-challenger and patent-owner clients. He is a frequent speaker and author on IPR topics.

In addition, a significant part of Chris’ practice includes advising clients in connection with IP contract issues and disputes. Chris has litigated or arbitrated over a dozen breach of contract disputes involving technology ownership or licensing. Chris also assists clients with day-to-day contract issues and questions, including drafting and negotiating complex IP agreements and assisting clients in resolving contract or licensing disputes without litigation. Chris also regularly represents clients in connection with due diligence of target companies, counseling clients regarding the strength and scope of an IP portfolio, freedom-to-operate issues, IP ownership disputes, and IP valuations.

Chris is a member of the bar of both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has represented clients on patent issues for technologies as varied as semiconductor materials, image processing, hunting equipment, orthopedic implants, infusion pumps, spinal surgery devices, patient treatment devices, GPS hardware, chemical products, advanced materials, automotive technology, food processing, and wireless communication technology.