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.
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.
Protecting Trademarks in a Global Marketplace
The global marketplace offers tremendous growth opportunities. It also presents new challenges for protecting intellectual property across international borders. To help clients protect the integrity and value of their brand, Tonkon Torp intellectual property attorney Chris Erickson has adopted a global perspective on his trademark practice to help companies register and protect their trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and throughout the world. Tonkon Torp is a full service trademark firm – taking companies through risk assessment to filing and registration, and litigation if necessary.
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.
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.
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
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers
2014, Recognized Practitioner – Intellectual Property
World Trademark Review 1000
2018-2021, Leading Trademark Professional
Recent News
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
Erickson and Mehrbani Named to 2021 WTR 1000 by World Trademark Review
Tonkon Torp partners Chris Erickson and Parna Mehrbani were selected for inclusion in the 2021 WTR 1000.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five years.
Erickson and Mehrbani Review 2019 Trademark Law for Oregon State Bar
Tonkon Torp partners Chris Erickson and Parna Mehrbani led a review of 2019 trademark law at the annual Intellectual Property Year-in-Review program hosted by the Oregon State Bar Intellectual Property Section. Parna is currently the Chair of the section’s executive committee, and Chris is the Secretary.
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
“Trademark Law Review Year-in-Review”, Oregon State Bar Intellectual Property Section, February 2020
“Trademark Protection in the Cannabis Industry,” October 2019
“Social Media and Websites – IP Pitfalls and Cautionary Tales,” September 2018
“IP Round Table for Startups,” November 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, September 2015
“Special Topics in Start-Up IP,” September 2015
“Trademark Law Review,” Oregon State Bar CLE: Intellectual Property Review – Updates & Changes from 2013, February 2014
“Don’t Be Careless With a Brand,” Daily Journal of Commerce, July 10, 2012
“Trademarks and Keyword Advertising Update,” Oregon State Bar CLE: IP Review, January 2012
“Seven Ways to Identify and Protect a Company’s IP,” Oregon State Bar CLE: 50 Under 50, November 2010
“Trademark Update,” Oregon State Bar CLE: Intellectual Property Law – A Year In Review, February 2008