Services & Industries
Education
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 2001, Order of the Coif
B.S., University of Oregon, 1997
Bar & Court Admissions
Oregon State Bar
Chris focuses his practice on intellectual property matters. He helps companies register and protect their trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and throughout the world. Throughout the registration process, from trademark searches, filing, and through and after registration, Chris helps companies understand the intricacies of trademark law.
Chris also advises companies on the value and business impacts of intellectual property. With a focus on intellectual property and general business matters, Chris drafts and negotiates license agreements, technology and software purchase agreements, non-disclosure agreements, sponsorship agreements, and service agreements.
As a Portland native, Chris understands the value of community. Chris is also an active member of the International Trademark Association (INTA). He is a regular attendee at the INTA Annual Meeting, and has hosted several Portland-area INTA roundtable discussions on trademark matters. He has been appointed to INTA’s Non-Traditional Mark Committee for the 2016-19 term and was a member of INTA’s Nonprofit Organizations Committee for the 2014-15 term.
Chris acts as trademark counsel for numerous companies, including the following local brands:
- ESCO
- BridgePort Brewing
- Banfield Pet Hospital
- OHSU
- Rogue Creamery
- The Standard
In his leisure time, Chris enjoys traveling, sports, reading, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with his family.
Representative Matters
International Sale of Interest in Dental Equipment Company
Represented dental parts and equipment company in the sale of one-third of its interest to a public company in Japan. In a truly global transaction, the Tokyo, Japan-based investor had legal counsel in New York, with their principal attorney working out of Hawaii. An insurer in London underwrote the representations and warranties insurance. Tonkon Torp’s M&A group assembled a team of Tonkon Torp attorneys to assist in additional intellectual property, tax, and labor and employment issues important to the success of the transaction.
Advised Drone Technology Company on Trademark Matters
Advised startup drone technology company, SkyWard, on trademark protection issues, and subsequently filed applications with the USPTO for entire portfolio of trademarks.
Master Services Agreement for Technology Client
Negotiated Master Services Agreement for technology client's provision of software development, support and consulting services to ABC.
USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
Represented Sunstone Circuits, a manufacturing and design company in the printed circuit board industry, in the successful resolution and settlement of a trademark dispute before the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Trademark Dispute Resolution
Represented a national provider of senior living and assisted living facilities in the resolution of a trademark dispute concerning the unique name of a local senior living facility.
Sale of BG Radia
Represented BG Radia in the sale of their business of developing and producing loudspeaker systems to a company that is the leading producer of visual, audio and collaboration systems.
Billion-Plus Stock Sale of Malarkey Roofing Company to Subsidiary of Holcim
Tonkon represented family-owned Malarkey Roofing Products on its $1.35 billion stock sale to Holcim Group. Tonkon’s team of transaction attorneys and specialists deftly supported Malarkey in preparation for and through an active bidder solicitation and auction process over the course of a year. Tonkon advised on all aspects of the transaction, including: corporate and contract clean up; diligence and purchase agreement negotiations with multiple bidders; advice on environmental, real property, tax, and intellectual property issues; directors and officers insurance; representations and warranties insurance; shareholder information and disclosure issues; a corporate restructure; payment of transaction bonuses subject to federal tax (280G) requirements; and federal antitrust (HSR) filings with the Federal Trade Commission.
Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Helps Malarkey Roofing Company Construct a Billion-Plus Sale Strategy
Tonkon Torp guided client Herbert Malarkey Roofing Company through a successful $1.35 billion stock sale to Switzerland-based Holcim Group, one of the world’s largest building products companies. The deal secured a place as one of Oregon’s largest M&A transactions in 2021.
Tonkon Torp Brings Attorney Power to Renewable Energy Transaction
Tonkon Torp client Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA) is the North American subsidiary of one of the largest corporations in the world, the Italian electricity company Enel S.p.A. Here’s how we helped EGPNA in a renewable energy acquisition.
Tonkon Torp Represents Vestas in Acquisition of UpWind Solutions
Tonkon Torp represented its client Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines, in the acquisition of UpWind Solutions, Inc., an independent service provider for wind power plants in nine US states. The $60 million acquisition furthers Vestas’s strategic objectives for its North America service business.
Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon Sports Authority
Board Member
OSB Intellectual Property Section
Executive Committee
2022-Present, Chair
Member
International Trademark Association
2016–2017, Non-Traditional Marks Committee
2014–2015, Nonprofit Organizations Committee
Portland Business Alliance
Leadership Portland, Class of 2006
Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
INTA, International Trademark Association
The Best Lawyers in America
2019-2025, Trademark Law
Chambers USA
2014, Recognized Practitioner – Intellectual Property
World Trademark Review 1000
2018-2022, Leading Trademark Professional
Recent News
46 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Included in 2025 Best Lawyers in America®
Forty-six Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025. Forty-five of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2024 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024. All of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2023 List
Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 37 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023. Nearly all the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
Four Tonkon Torp Attorneys Elected to OSB Section Leadership Roles
Four Tonkon Torp attorneys have been appointed to Executive Committee leadership positions for their respective Oregon State Bar (OSB) sections.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2022 List
Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022
Recent Publications
New .xxx Domain Names – Opportunity to Safeguard your Trademarks
After many years of debate, the new sponsored top-level domain (“TLD”) .xxx has been approved. The .xxx TLD is targeted at the adult entertainment industry.
There’s a New Domain Name in Town: DotAsia
The DotAsia community covers 73 countries in the Asia/Pacific region, including China, Japan, Australia, Philippines, India, Israel, Turkey.
Supreme Court Eliminates Obstacle to Declaratory Relief in Patent Cases
If you are a party to a patent license agreement, the U.S. Supreme Court just made it easier to go to court to test the validity of the patent or whether a licensed product would actually infringe the patent.
Publications & Presentations
“Seven Ways to Identify and Protect a Company’s IP,” TiE XL Bootcamp, TiE Oregon, Nov. 2024
“Seven Ways to Identify and Protect a Company’s Intellectual Property,” Oregon Association of Corporate Counsel, Dec. 2022
“Trademark Law Review Year-in-Review”, Oregon State Bar Intellectual Property Section, Feb. 2020
“Trademark Protection in the Cannabis Industry,” Oct. 2019
“Social Media and Websites – IP Pitfalls and Cautionary Tales,” Sept. 2018
“IP Roundtable for Startups,” Nov. 2017
“Patents, Copyrights & Trademarks,” Portland Business Journal Biz503 Podcast, April 2017
“Website Law for Startups,” April 2016
“Brand Protection in the Transactional Context,” Association of Corporate Counsel – Oregon Chapter, Sept. 2015
“Special Topics in Startup IP,” Sept. 2015
“Trademark Law Review,” Oregon State Bar CLE: Intellectual Property Review – Updates & Changes from 2013, Feb. 2014
“Don’t Be Careless with a Brand,” Daily Journal of Commerce, July 2012
“Trademarks and Keyword Advertising Update,” Oregon State Bar CLE: IP Review, Jan. 2012
“Seven Ways to Identify and Protect a Company’s IP,” Oregon State Bar CLE: 50 Under 50, Nov. 2010
“Trademark Update,” Oregon State Bar CLE: Intellectual Property Law – A Year In Review, Feb. 2008