Christopher Stretch is an experienced complex commercial litigator who primarily represents retail and e-commerce clients in the United States and internationally in litigation through trial and on appeal. He advises and represents clients across a range of matters including unfair business practices, false advertising, deceptive pricing, automatic renewal, privacy, antitrust, contract disputes, mediation, and intellectual property.
Chris has represented some of the world’s most famous brands, including Amgen, Hyundai, Johnson & Johnson, Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook), Oracle, Qualcomm, and Samsung. In addition, he has successfully represented consumer products, semiconductor manufacturing, electronics, software, health care, and biotech companies.
Chris is a frequent guest lecturer on intellectual property litigation and commercial dispute resolution at law schools in northern California, including the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University.
Representative Experience
Representative Matters
- Victaulic Company v. ASC Engineered Solutions, LLC. Represented Victaulic Company through trial asserting infringement of patents related to mechanical pipe couplings.
- Certain Replacement Automotive Service and Collision Parts and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1160. Represented Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company of Korea before the ITC to stop the importation of illegal, gray-market service and repair parts using Hyundai trademarks. Obtained a Limited Exclusion Order, Cease and Desist Orders, and Consent Order against four automotive parts dealers, including the U.S. dealer, the middleman, and the suppliers.
- Evolutionary Intelligence v. Facebook (N.D. California). Represented Facebook at the district court and on appeal to the Federal Circuit regarding patents claiming the use of containerized data structures.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Chris has successfully represented pro bono clients in disability benefit and wrongful detainer proceedings in California state court, and Central American immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. He has also worked with the California Innocence Project representing petitioners in post-conviction proceedings.
Judicial Clerkships
Chris served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Edward A. Panelli of the California Supreme Court.
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
San Francisco Bar Association
Credentials
Education
University of San Francisco, School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1993)
McAuliffe Scholar
University of California, Berkeley (B.S., with honors, 1990)
Admissions
California
U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit