Chris McNett

Chris McNett is a Principal at McKool Smith, focusing his practice on intellectual property litigation across a wide array of technologies. His experience spans memory systems, wireless telecommunications standards (such as Wi-LAN and Optis cases involving VoLTE and other wireless communications), computer security, and Web technologies. He has also handled cases involving diverse technical areas, including flash memory, mobile products and services, high-security bollards, and H.264 video coding technology, even extending to monoclonal antibodies. Prior to his legal career, Mr. McNett worked as a software engineer at Palm and Microsoft, developing system software for smartphones and parts of the Windows platform, and also worked in patent licensing and acquisitions at Intellectual Ventures.

Mr. McNett actively represents both patent owners (plaintiffs) and technology companies (defendants) in high-stakes patent litigation. His work on the plaintiff side is notable, including securing significant verdicts for clients such as Optis Wireless Technology, LLC against Apple ($506 million and $300 million verdicts) and Wi-LAN against Apple ($145 million and $85 million verdicts for wireless communication technology). He was also counsel for Mojo Mobility, which secured a $192 million patent infringement verdict against Samsung related to wireless charging. Additionally, he has achieved successful outcomes for defendants, such as obtaining a judgment of non-infringement for TSMC against Semiconductor Connections. Over his career, he has contributed to clients obtaining over $1 billion in jury verdicts and settlements in patent infringement cases.

Beyond district court litigation, Mr. McNett possesses significant experience in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), Section 337 investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. His firm's work includes achieving a clean sweep in 10 PTAB cases for patent owner Vervain and invalidating a patent for TSMC at the PTAB.

Mr. McNett earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is admitted to practice in the State of California, the State of New York, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. His federal court admissions include the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and several U.S. District Courts. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and for the Honorable S. James Otero at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.