Christopher T. Micheletti

Chris handles a variety of litigation matters, particularly in the areas of antitrust, property insurance coverage, intellectual property, business litigation, unfair competition and class actions. Chris' antitrust practice involves representation of individuals and businesses in antitrust actions and antitrust consultation and advice on non-litigation matters.  In the property insurance coverage area, Chris has significant litigation experience handling complex matters involving a wide variety of coverage, repair and other issues.  In the intellectual property area, he has extensive experience in all aspects of trademark, trade dress and trade secrets litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Chris’ business litigation practice has included representation of plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving business torts, contractual disputes, fiduciary matters, international law, libel, slander, stock option disputes, unfair business practices and unfair competition. Other areas in which Chris has significant litigation experience include financial services matters.

Articles & Presentations

• Law Seminars International Program: "Corporate Counsel as the Jack of All Trades." Trademark Law: Use, Registration, "Policing" And Other General Strategies Regarding Trademark Protection. Presentation and written materials.
• Preventing Loss of Trademarks Rights: Quantitative and Qualitative Assessments of “Use” and Their Impact On Abandonment Determinations
• Analysis of Similarity of Marks Resists Summary Judgment
• Proving Dilution By Blurring: An Analysis of Dilution By Blurring Factors Under The Federal Trademark Dilution Act
• Trademark Presumption Rules Refined By The Ninth Circuit

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Editorial Board of the Trademark Reporter Committee, 2002-2003 term, 2004-2005 term, 2006-2007 term
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• International Trademark Association
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• - Antitrust and Business Regulation Section
• - Intellectual Property Section
• - Litigation Section
• American Bar Association
• - Antitrust Law Section

Representative Matters

California Smokeless Tobacco Antitrust Litigation ($96,000,000 settlement on behalf of a class of California indirect purchasers of moist smokeless tobacco products; as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Chris had a central role in litigating and settling this matter on behalf of the class)

Natural Gas Antitrust Cases (California class action against marketers of natural gas, alleging defendants' violations of the California antitrust and unfair competition laws through anticompetitive practices which raised natural gas prices)

Adco Group et al. v. Travelers et al. (complex coverage action involving the coordination of multiple lawsuits with over 25 parties, claims of $250 million in construction defects and damage at a luxury resort in Southern California, and involving issues regarding the extent of construction defects, their cause, damage allegedly resulting from the defects and its manifestation, as well as the calculation of the reasonable cost of repairing the property)

Kellogg Co. v. Exxon Mobil Corp.  (trademark infringement and dilution action under the Lanham Act, alleging that Exxon's use of its cartoon tiger to promote foods, beverages and convenience stores infringed and diluted Kellogg's famous TONY THE TIGER character)

News

• Nationwide Settlement Reached in Trans Union Consumer Privacy Class Action