Chris Shelley
Partner
Chris is one of the UK’s most experienced transactional IP lawyers. He specialises in licensing transactions, acting for companies and institutions working in life sciences, publishing, engineering and environmental sciences.
He has particular expertise in technology transfer, representing funding bodies, research institutions and spin-out companies, and has acted for spin-out companies from both Oxford University and Imperial College for over 30 years. Chris is a member of the Legal 500’s Hall of Fame, a category reserved for ‘lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work’. He has also been ranked by Chambers UK for 22 years for both intellectual property (band 1) and life sciences: transactional (band 3).
We are fortunate to work with companies, institutions and academics working on some of the most novel and impactful technologies being developed in the UK. I relish the intellectual challenge of analysing what intellectual property rights exist in different technologies and how they can be licensed and monetised, and getting the best deal for our client.
One of a select list of UK lawyers who are ‘highly recommended’ for patent licensing in IAM Patent 1000, Chris is described as ‘extremely strong’ and as having ‘an assured command of the life sciences, publishing and engineering sectors’. Clients describe Chris as having ‘a brilliant grasp of commercial IP matters’.
Recent work highlights
AI healthcare spin-out
Chinese life sciences partnership
UK-Chinese joint venture
Teaching programme acquisition
Technology licensing
UK-Swiss strategic partnership
External recognition
What people are saying
Chris Shelley’s level of knowledge in life science IP and his commercial acumen is impressive.
Shelley is a proactive practitioner with staunch negotiation skills.
Chris Shelley is our preferred legal adviser for IP and licensing-related commercial agreements. Chris is quick to grasp a situation and make simple and clear recommendations.
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