About Christopher
Christopher McElwain is an attorney who has combined technical patent work and general intellectual property practice over the last decade. He moved from associate roles at established firms into a leadership position at his own practice. The path has been steady and deliberate.
He completed his undergraduate studies at Whitman College, earning a B.A. in 2004. After a few years outside law school, he returned to study at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and received his J.D. in 2011. Those years framed his legal training and introduced him to the procedural and substantive work that would define his career.
McElwain began his legal career in private practice. In 2012 he joined Saper Law Offices as an associate attorney. He spent formative years there developing experience in patent-related matters. In 2014 he moved to LaRiviere, Grubman P.C. as an associate attorney, where he continued to handle intellectual property tasks and client-facing work. Those early positions provided time in both prosecution and counseling roles.
In 2017 he became principal attorney at Knowmad Law. The role has involved managing client files, overseeing patent preparation and prosecution, and handling other IP matters that come through the office. He is also a Registered Patent Lawyer with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a credential that authorizes him to represent clients in patent proceedings before the USPTO.
Licensed to practice in both California and Illinois, McElwain divides his time between the detailed, technical work of patent preparation and the broader legal questions that affect clients' intellectual property strategies. He prepares and files patent applications and appears on patent matters before the USPTO. He also counsels clients about intellectual property concerns that arise during business development and product planning.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in his approach to technical issues and pragmatic in client consultations. He keeps a routine that balances office management with hands-on drafting and prosecution. He maintains professional credentials and continues to practice in the jurisdictions where he is admitted.
He currently practices intellectual property and patent law at Knowmad Law.
