Christopher R. Schmidt

Christopher R. Schmidt is a patent litigation attorney with a practice focused on intellectual property disputes and post-grant proceedings. Based at Erise IP, where he is a Shareholder, his experience spans various high-technology fields including software, cloud security, wireless communications, and biotechnology. His technical background includes a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and prior roles developing thin-film deposition technologies and semiconductor junctions.

In his patent litigation practice, Mr. Schmidt has primarily represented plaintiffs in tracked cases. He was counsel for Orca Security Ltd. in its patent infringement suit against Wiz Inc., a significant case involving cloud security patents. This litigation ultimately concluded with a dismissal of all claims with prejudice in January 2026, with each party bearing its own legal costs, following rulings by the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that found claims in several of Orca's asserted patents unpatentable. This case highlights his experience in navigating complex patent disputes and managing related inter partes review (IPR) proceedings.

Mr. Schmidt's expertise extends to post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a key area of his intellectual property litigation practice. Prior to joining Erise IP, he gained experience as in-house counsel at a technology company, where he managed patent portfolios and negotiated IP licenses, and also practiced with an AmLaw100 firm representing high-technology clients in patent, trade secret, and commercial litigation. He also served as Intellectual Property Manager at solar technology company MiaSole.

Mr. Schmidt is admitted to practice in California, Kansas, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Santa Clara University School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from San Jose State University.