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Kevin Christopher

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Founder | Patent Attorney | Business Leader
  • Intellectual Property, Business Law, Trademarks ...
  • District of Columbia, Patent and Trademark Office, Tennessee
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Biography

Kevin Christopher is the founder and principal of Rockridge®, and is widely recognized for his work at the nexus of innovation + impact in venture ecosystems. Kevin's daily work includes helping promising startups raise funds and secure intellectual property protection, providing due diligence to investors, acting as outside corporate counsel to impactful firms, and litigating complex patent and trademark suits. Kevin uniquely offers experiences as an entrepreneur, operator, director, investor, and litigator to best counsel firms at all stages of their existence.

-Founder, Calliope Bio
-Founder, Quantiscope AI
-Member, World Economic Forum Working Group on Carbon Credits
-Awardee, Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Lawyer
-Awardee, Leadership Tennessee
-Studied at UC Berkeley and Yale

More:
Kevin Christopher is founder and principal of Rockridge Venture Law®, one of the only B Corp law firms in the U.S. and a Real Leaders Top 150 Impact Company. Kevin is also co-founder of Calliope Bio, a synthetic biology company launched through the Nucleate Activator program and Berkeley Skydeck accelerator, and QUANTiSCOPE, a microscopic AI company launched through the BARDA WheelsUp accelerator.

Prior to founding Rockridge®, Kevin led biotech commercialization activities at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Kevin is a Berkeley Form + Fund Fellow (startups), NIH RADx Faculty Member (technology), and Yale 2050 Fellow (sustainability). He’s been featured by B the Change, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, Sustainable Brands Magazine, and many other media outlets for his work in impact + innovation. Kevin is a registered patent attorney and impact investor, and his practice areas include: corporate law and governance, data privacy, government contracts, intellectual property, startups, technology, and venture capital.

Practice Areas
    Intellectual Property
    Business Law
    Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
    Trademarks
    Trademark Litigation, Trademark Registration
    Patents
    Patent Appeals, Patent Litigation, Patent Prosecution
    Communications & Internet Law
    Internet Law, Media & Advertising, Telecommunications Law
    Gov & Administrative Law
    Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
    Appeals & Appellate
    Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
Additional Practice Areas
  • Biotech
  • B Corps and Benefit Corporations
Fees
  • Free Consultation
    I am happy to arrange a brief call to determine if I can help you.
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Bar
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Patent and Trademark Office
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Tennessee
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Founder
Calliope Bio
- Current
Calliope Bio is an innovative synthetic biology company. -1st Place Nucleate New Haven -Berkeley Skydeck Accelerator Class of 2022
Founder
QUANTiSCOPE
- Current
QUANTiSCOPE is an AI/ML technology company developing platform tools for drug discovery. -BARDA Accelerator Class of 2022
Principal / Founder
Rockridge Venture Law
- Current
Rockridge® is a B Corp Best For The World law firm. Our services include all aspects of intellectual property, litigation, M&A, privacy, technology transactions, and ventures: https://rockridgelaw.com/services/.
Industrial Partnerships Office
Lawrence Livermore National Lab
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Led business development and strategic partnership activities within Industrial Partnerships Office for bioscience and biotech programs involving big data, biosecurity, drug discovery, human-on-a-chip, microbiome, microfluidics, neural interface, synthetic biology, and other specialized research and development. Created master agreements and organizational plans for life science consortia. Crafted and optimized commercialization strategies for over 400 technologies including: microelectrode array for neural recording and stimulation; nanolipoproteins for vaccine development and drug delivery; pharmaceuticals, including biologics and small molecules; and diagnostics. Negotiated license agreements, establishing valuation metrics based upon commercialization plans, comparables, market data, and intellectual property attributes. Established, negotiated, and finalized cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs), inter-institutional agreements (IIAs), inter-agency agreements (IAAs), and intellectual property management plans.
Office of Intellectual Property and Industry Research Alliances
University of California, Berkeley
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Judicial Extern
Chambers of Judge Charles R. Breyer
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Law Clerk
U.S. Attorney's Office, Civil Division, San Francisco
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Education
Yale University
MBA (2023) | Business
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Honors: 1st Place, Venture Capital Investment Competition 1st Place, Nucleate Accelerator Yale 2050 Fellow, Center for Business and Environment
Yale University Logo
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Certificate (2021) | ESG Law
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University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Certificate (2017) | VC Unlocked
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University of California - Davis
other | Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group
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University of California - Davis Logo
University of California - Berkeley
other | Energy, Law
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Activities: Tutor, Governor Jennifer Granholm, Renewable Energy Law & Policy; Computer Law, Berkeley School of Law; Research Member, Berkeley Rural Energy Group / Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab
University of California - Berkeley Logo
University of San Francisco School of Law
J.D. (2010)
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Honors: Arthur Zief, Jr., Scholar
Activities: Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, Survey Editor; Student Bar Association, 2L Representative; Advanced Advocacy Program, National Moot Court Competition; Public Interest Law Foundation grantee & Pro Bono Publico recipient for community service
University of San Francisco School of Law Logo
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
Visiting Student
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Honors: Outstanding Scholarship Award, Law and Bioscience (LAB) Project
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco Logo
Lipscomb University
Honors: Presenter, Tennessee Honors Conference, "Technology and God: Effects of Invention upon Spiritual Communication."
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Awards
Mid-South Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
https://digital.superlawyers.com/superlawyers/taslrs22/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=Cover#pg1
Best For The World
B Lab / B Corp
Mid-South Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Class of 2020
Leadership Tennessee
Mid-South Rising Star
Super Lawyers
Business Leader of the Year
Conscious Company Magazine
Attorney for Justice
Tennessee Bar Association
Pro Bono Certificate
Patent and Trademark Office
Leadership Lawyer
Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law
Outstanding Scholar
UC Hastings School of Law
Outstanding Scholar, Law and Bioscience Program
Professional Associations
Global Association of Impact Lawyers (GAIL)
Member, North America
- Current
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World Economic Forum
Carbon Credits Working Group
- Current
Activities: Developing industry guiding surveys of blockchain tools for carbon financing.
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Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law
Member, Class of 2017
- Current
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Tennessee Bar Association Intellectual Property Section
Member, Executive Council
- Current
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Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
Member, Tech Transfer Committee
- Current
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Speaking Engagements
Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs, Yale Tsai CITY Accelerator, New Haven, CT
Yale University
I was the keynote legal speaker concerning corporate structuring and intellectual property protection for Yale startups.
California's Climate Rules, 3rd Annual ESG Summit, New York, NY
American Conference Institute
I surveyed the new California climate legislation concerning requirements for corporate carbon tracking and materiality assessments around climate change.
2023 NIL Overview for Athletes, Nike Coach of the Year, Birmingham, AL
Nike Coach of the Year Clinic
I was a keynote speaker surveying the landscape of NCAA regulations surrounding name, image & likeness (NIL) deals for collegiate football athletes.
Startups and Venture Capital, Industry Contract Officers Network Annual Meeting, Caltech University
Crowdfunding and Crowdsourcing, University of California Office of Intellectual Property Managers Meeting
Commercialization Panel, UC Berkeley Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Symposium, Nashville, TN
UC Berkeley
http://www.2014entrepreneurshipsymposium.com/speakers
Country Music Industry Fights Website Allegedly Selling Bootlegged Merchandise, Fox News Channel 17, Nashville, TN
http://fox17.com/news/local/country-music-industry-fighting-website-allegedly-selling-bootleg-merchandise
Panel: Entrepreneurship in Advanced Energy, Opportunities in Energy, Knoxville, Tennessee
Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council
http://www.tnadvancedenergy.com/event/opportunities-in-energy-annual-membership-meeting/
Preparing Your Patent Application for Commercial Success, TTU Renaissance Engineer Professional Development Series, Cookeville, Tennessee
Tennessee Technological University
https://www.tntech.edu/engineering/cnh-ssc/programs/professional-development-series
Certifications
Certified Licensing Professional
Licensing Executive Society
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Rockridge - Legal Briefs
Website
Rockridge - Services
Website
Kevin's Linktree
Website
Kevin's Bio
Blog
Guide to New York Benefit Corporations
Blog
Guide to Tennessee Benefit Corporations
Blog
Guide to Georgia Benefit Corporations
Blog
Differences between B Corps and Benefit Corporations
Blog
DAOs: What They are and How They Work
Legal Answers
8 Questions Answered
Q. Can my logo that is a registered trademark change the background color while still keeping its tradmark
A: See our article here: https://rockridgelaw.com/2018/11/08/if-you-mess-with-your-trademarked-logo-say-in-a-rebrand-will-you-lose-your-trademark-rights/.
Q. Can you put a lean on mineral rights in Tennessee? If so, what are the implications, procedures, and requirements?
A: There's no straightforward answer without more of the story. For instance, a recent Tennessee case involved a dispute as to whether sandstone qualified as a mineral. Also, in order to qualify you would likely need to have provided some sort of services in connection with the mineral in order to attach to proceeds from its exploitation.
Q. Trademark ownership... implied ownership???
A: Part of this depends upon how they gave you permission. Was it a written permission to use?
View More Answers
Contact & Map
Rockridge® - Salt Lake City
26 S Rio Grande St.
STE 2072
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Telephone: (385) 509-4455
Monday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 4 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Rockridge® - Nashville
901 Woodland St.
Nashville, TN 37206
Toll-Free: (629) 401-4200
Monday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 4 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Rockridge® - Cookeville
18 N Madison
STE 105
Cookevill, TN 38501
Telephone: (615) 965-5650
Monday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 4 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
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