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Christopher K. Eppich

Partner

Los Angeles +1 424 332 4764

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Chris Eppich is a partner in Covington’s litigation practice who focuses his practice on complex litigation in federal and state courts, with a particular focus on mass tort and patent litigation for clients in the technology and life sciences industries.

    Chris is known for developing and executing case-winning strategies in high-stakes cases. As a member of multiple trial teams, he has experience conducting scores of deposition and trial examinations, preparing expert and fact witnesses for deposition and trial, arguing dispositive motions, and leading trial teams from openings to verdict. Chris’ recent trial work includes a series of wins for a pharmaceutical distributor against mass tort claims alleging public nuisance in multi-month bench and jury trials in the opioids litigation.

    As a patent litigator and registered patent attorney, Chris uses his trial experience and technical knowledge to craft winning arguments for clients before District Courts, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board, and the International Trade Commission. Chris’s experience spans a range of arts and practices, including semiconductor products and processes, mobile device components, medical devices, and chemical and pharmaceutical processes.

    The Los Angeles Business Journal recently named Chris Eppich to its 2023 Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys list, a recognition honoring the “best litigators and trial attorneys” in Los Angeles. Chris also has been recognized by Southern California Super Lawyers in the area of Intellectual Property Litigation.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters

    Product Liability and Mass Torts

    • Serving as trial counsel for a major pharmaceutical distributor in nationwide opioid litigation alleging public nuisance claims and involving parallel state and federal proceedings. Secured sweeping win in the only distributor opioids trial to proceed to judgment. Secured favorable resolution after a six-month bench trial brought by state Attorney General for less than one percent of the money initially sought. Secured a full defense verdict in a first-of-its-kind opioid jury trial under Georgia’s “Drug Dealer Liability Act.”
    • Representation of one of the world’s leading automobile airbag manufacturers in ongoing product liability and consumer protection litigation, including in ongoing MDL proceedings and individual state cases.

    Patent Litigation

    • Secured favorable settlement for major wireless connectivity company in multi-district patent litigation involving integrated circuit design. (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, ITC Section 337).
    • Secured favorable settlement for major semiconductor and packaging technologies company in patent litigation involving semiconductor packaging and interconnect technologies. (U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware).
    • Secured favorable settlement for Hyundai Motor America in patent litigation involving traffic, navigation and GPS systems. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas).
    • Lead counsel to BioLite in its successful resolution of patent litigation involving thermo-electric generator technology. (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California).
    • Secured favorable settlement for Peregrine Semiconductor in a multi-patent litigation involving radio frequency switch devices. (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, ITC Section 337).
    • Successfully defended one of the world’s largest smartphone and tablet manufacturer in a multi-front patent litigation seeking over a half-billion dollars in damages and an injunction for the infringement of six allegedly standards-essential patents subject to complex FRAND licensing issues. (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California).

    Patent Office (PTAB) Trials

    • Representation of major semiconductor and packaging technologies company as patent owner in 16 IPR proceedings challenging the company’s patents relating to semiconductor interconnect, circuitry and packaging technologies. The PTAB denied institution of four of the petitions in their entirety before the parties reached a favorable settlement.
    • Representation of Anacor Pharmaceuticals as patent owner in three IPR proceedings brought by a Coalition for Affordable Drugs entity, challenging Anacor’s patents for KERYDIN.
    • Representation of Elbit Systems Land and C4I Ltd. as patent owner in four IPR proceedings filed by Hughes Network Systems LLC challenging Elbit’s patents relating to satellite and cellular communication systems. Obtained a complete victory, with the PTAB denying institution of all four petitions and rejecting Hughes’ request for rehearing on the first petition.
    • Representation of Peregrine Semiconductor as patent owner in an IPR proceeding brought by RF Micro Devices involving radio frequency switch devices. Secured favorable settlement for Peregrine, terminating the proceeding and co-pending litigation.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Santa Clara University School of Law, J.D., 2003
        • cum laude
        • Order of the Coif
        • Santa Clara Law Review, Technical Editor
    • Brigham Young University, B.S., 2000
        • Chemical Engineering
    Bar Admissions
    • California
    • Texas
    • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    Pro Bono
    • Regularly advises non-profit organizations on trademark matters.
    • Successfully represented an indigent client in a habeas proceeding challenging a life sentence without parole under California’s Three Strikes law in Orange County Superior Court.
    • Successfully obtained political asylum for an indigent refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    Accolades

    Areas of Expertise

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