Christopher M.Morrison (Chris)

Partner

Boston + 1.617.449.6895

Chris Morrison's practice sits at the intersection of litigation and intellectual property rights, whether those rights are publicized in patents and trademarks, secured by licenses, or maintained as trade secrets. For 20 years, clients have turned to Chris for his ability to translate complex issues, often involving scientific subject matter, into terms that are more easily understood by fact finders and judges at all stages of litigation.

Chris represents the Boston Red Sox and The Boston Globe on a wide array of litigation matters and is a key member of the Jones Day trial team for several patent infringement and trade secret actions pending in Boston and elsewhere.

Chris led the defense in Bezdek v. Vibram USA and related class actions regarding Vibram's FiveFingers shoes. He was one of two Jones Day lawyers to argue on Celgene's behalf at a Markman hearing that resulted in a stipulated judgment of noninfringement and recently obtained dismissal of a consumer class action against Duracell.

He has appeared in federal courts across the country and has experience trying cases in the Massachusetts state and federal trial courts. He has argued appellate matters in the First Circuit, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Chris is a trustee of the Boston Bar Foundation, where he is on the Grants Committee. He serves on the Medfield School Committee and is chair of the B.C. Law School Alumni Association's Boston Chapter. Chris is the author of "Chapter 9 (Recalls)" of the American Bar Association's Mass Torts in the United States.

Chris is the hiring partner in Jones Day's Boston Office.

Experience

  • Red Sox prevail in first-ever foul ball trialJones Day prevailed on behalf of the Boston Red Sox in a two-week jury trial brought by a fan who was hit by a foul ball in an upper-level premium seating area of Fenway Park.
  • DePuy Orthopaedics obtains Federal Circuit affirmance of patent infringement victory involving its flagship knee replacement productJones Day successfully represented Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.; DePuy Synthes Sales, Inc.; and DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. in their defense against claims of patent infringement brought by MedIdea, L.L.C. relating to the sale of their flagship posterior stabilized knee replacement product, Attune®.
  • Celgene obtains dismissal with prejudice of patent infringement claims involving its Vidaza® brand drugJones Day represented Celgene Corporation in a patent infringement lawsuit involving the company’s Vidaza® brand drug that was filed by IVAX LLC in the Southern District of Florida.
  • Vibram obtains First Circuit affirmation of class action settlement agreement related to its advertisingOn December 31, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a $3.75 million class action settlement involving Jones Day clients, Vibram USA, Inc. and Vibram FiveFingers LLC, makers of the popular FiveFingers shoes.
  • Takeda achieves full affirmance of district court judgment dismissing broad False Claims Act suitTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., represented by Jones Day, secured a significant False Claims Act ("FCA") victory involving claims for government reimbursement of pharmaceutical drugs.
  • Celgene prevails in district court case, beating back patent infringement claims directed against its Abraxane® brand cancer drugJones Day successfully defended Celgene Corporation and its subsidiary Abraxis BioScience, LLC in a patent infringement case brought in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Cephalon, Inc. and Acusphere, Inc. alleging Celgene's ABRAXANE® brand cancer drug infringed U.S. Patent No. RE40,493 ("the '493 patent").
  • Otsuka defends against commercial contract actionJones Day is defending Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in an action alleging breach of a commercial lease and a related contract of a former research and development collaborator based in Massachusetts.
  • Gillette obtains dismissal of trade secret actionJones Day recently obtained dismissal of a claim against The Gillette Company, a subsidiary of The Procter & Gamble Company.
  • Sewoon obtains dismissal of patent infringement action regarding stent technologyJones Day successfully defended Sewoon Medical Co., Ltd., Standard Sci-Tech Inc., and EndoChoice, Inc. in a patent infringement action regarding stent technology.
  • R.J. Reynolds successfully challenges tobacco advertising ban on First Amendment groundsOn March 31, 2012, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts granted summary judgment to Jones Day client R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and other plaintiffs, striking down as unconstitutional an ordinance of Worcester, Massachusetts that prohibited outdoor advertising of tobacco products.
  • The Commerce Insurance Company prevails in business torts and breach of contract case involving claims of unfair trade practicesOn December 15, 2011, the Business Litigation Session of Suffolk Superior Court entered summary judgment for The Commerce Insurance Company, represented by Jones Day, on all counts of a complaint brought by a former Exclusive Representative Producer (agent) in an action involving claims of unfair and deceptive trade practices and breach of contract.
  • Gillette sues four former employees and its competitor for improper disclosure of trade secretsJones Day represents The Gillette Company, a division of The Procter & Gamble Company, in a lawsuit against four former Gillette employees.
  • Additional Publications

    • January 11, 2016
      Changes to Superior Court Rule 9A Simplify Reply Filing, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
    • November 20, 2011
      ‘BFI’: Court May Clarify Contract with New Language, New England In-House
    • February 2, 2009
      Ten Cost Saving New Year's Resolutions for In-House Counsel, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
    • July 30, 2007
      Developers Add Weapon to Arsenal In Form of Required Surety Bonds, Banker & Tradesman
    • 2007
      Technology and Subcommittees Create Open Meeting Law Challenges, Municipal Advocate, Vol. 23, No. 3
    • April 2006
      Is Summary Judgment Still a Good Investment in a Contract Interpretation Case?, New England In-House
    • March 2004
      One Man's Trash: Discovery of Deleted Files, AtLaw
    • 2000
      High Stakes Tests and Students with Disabilities, 41 B.C. Law Rev. 1139

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • November 6, 2018
      Sufficiently Conspicuous? Enforcing Online Arbitration Agreements
    • September 27, 2018
      Trade Secret Protection and Litigation in Massachusetts After the Adoption of the UTSA, Boston Bar Association
    • December 12, 2017
      Cybersecurity and the Courts: The New Litigation Paradigm, Association of Corporate Counsel Cybersecurity Summit
    • November 15, 2017
      Cybersecurity and the Courts: An Update and Guide to Navigating the New Litigation Paradigm, Association of Corporate Counsel Cybersecurity Summit
    • November 14, 2016
      MCLE Practicing with Professionalism Program, MCLE New England
    • July 5, 2016
      The Federal and State Rules Have Changed: Get Up to Date!, 18th Annual Paralegal Conference 2016, MCLE New England Webinar
    • June 21, 2016
      The Federal and State Rules Have Changed: Get Up to Date!, 18th Annual Paralegal Conference 2016, MCLE New England
    • May 17, 2016
      Title III of the ADA, the Internet, and New Technology, Jones Day
    • May 17, 2016
      Title III of the ADA, the Internet, and New Technology
    • March 3, 2016
      Playing by the Rules: Recent Changes to State & Federal Rules Practice, MCLE New England
    • December 7, 2015
      The 2015 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Boston Bar Association
    • October 29, 2015
      The 2015 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Part 1: The Impact of Amended Rule 37(3) on E-Discovery, American Bar Association CLE Webinar
    • March 9, 2015
      MCLE Practicing with Professionalism Program, MCLE New England
    • January 2014
      BBA Public Interest Leadership Program
    • December 16, 2013
      It's All About the Benjamins -- Issues and Pitfalls in Valuation
    • May 23, 2013
      Massachusetts Inspector General Panel Presentation: The Story of a Building
    • May 1, 2013
      Effective Deposition Techniques
    • October 9, 2012
      Navigating Pro Bono Work at Law Firms
    • May 16, 2012
      IP: Not Just Patents: All About Trademarks, Trade Secret Protection, & Data Exclusivity
    • June 7, 2011
      Business Litigation Session Year in Review, moderator
    • March 28, 2011
      Tips & Tactics for Preparing Summary Judgment Filings
    • March 10, 2011
      Seminar: Interference with Business Relations, MCLE New England
    • Various
      Tips and insights for Lawyers Dealing with Layoffs, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
    • December 1, 2010
      Tips for Navigating Your Job Search in a Down Economy, Firm Future Conference
    • May 2006
      May 2007
      "All Politics is Local": How Lawyers Serve their Communities Through Political Engagement, Boston Bar Association