-+
Overview
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:
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
-+
Featured Work
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
International Trademark Association
2016–2017, Non-Traditional Marks Committee
2014–2015, Nonprofit Organizations Committee
Oregon Sports Authority
Board Member
OSB Intellectual Property Section
Executive Committee Member
Portland Business Alliance
Leadership Portland, Class of 2006
-+
Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
INTA, International Trademark Association
INTA, International Trademark Association
-+
Recent News
8.20.2020
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…
3.2.2020
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…
11.5.2019
Chris Erickson and Parna Mehrbani Host Seminar on Trademarks in the Cannabis Industry
Tonkon Torp partners Chris Erickson and Parna Mehrbani hosted a seminar on October 24 to discuss trademark issues specific to the cannabis industry. Their program included an introduction to the process of researching and obtaining trademark rights…
8.15.2019
2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Forty-eight Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. A majority of attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five…
7.26.2019
Erickson and Mehrbani Named to WTR 1000 by World Trademark Review
Tonkon Torp partners Chris Erickson and Parna Mehrbani were selected for inclusion in the 2019 WTR 1000. Launched in 2010 by the World Trademark Review, the annual ranking spotlights firms and individuals from 70 global jurisdictions for outstanding…
10.11.2018
IP Attorneys Host Briefing to Help Companies Navigate Social Media and Website Pitfalls
Attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Intellectual Property Practice Group hosted a breakfast briefing on September 27 to help companies identify and navigate the legal pitfalls that litter the social media and website marketing landscape.
8.17.2018
Best Lawyers in America® Names 51 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2019 List
Fifty-one Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 41 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years
7.20.2018
Erickson and Mehrbani Named to WTR 1000 by World Trademark Review
Tonkon Torp partners Chris Erickson and Parna Mehrbani were selected for inclusion in the 2018 WTR 1000. Launched in 2010 by the World Trademark Review, the annual ranking spotlights firms and individuals from 70 global jurisdictions for outstanding…
11.8.2017
All Things IP Discussed at November Tonkon Talk
Tonkon Torp intellectual property lawyers Chris Erickson and Eric Beach hosted a roundtable discussion for startup companies at the November 1 Tonkon Talk. The wide-ranging conversation, in question and answer format, touched on IP management and…
5.5.2017
Chris Erickson Talks Intellectual Property for Portland Business Journal Podcast
Chris Erickson was a guest panelist in a recent intellectual property-themed episode of the Portland Business Journal's podcast Biz503. In the episode, co-hosted by Leslie Hildula (Business Advisor & Adjunct Faculty at Portland Community College’s…
-+
Recent Alerts
9.19.2011
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.
6.11.2009
Act Now: Trademark Infringement on Facebook
On Tuesday, June 9, Facebook, Inc., the social networking website company, publicly announced that beginning Saturday, June 13th at 12:01 a.m. U.S. EDT, users of the Facebook website will be allowed for the first time to create personalized URLs for…
10.26.2007
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.
1.17.2007
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