Christopher F. WrightOF COUNSEL | BusinessChris advises entrepreneurs, growth companies and universities on transactional, licensing, intellectual property and technology transfer matters.

Christopher F. Wright

For more than 30 years, Chris has been contributing to the growth of technology companies and helping educational and research institutions to achieve their research, licensing and alliance objectives.

With prior experience as the general counsel for a publicly-traded software company and on the general counsel’s staff at the University of Pennsylvania for Penn’s Center for Technology Transfer, he is able to provide transactional and intellectual property advice grounded in a genuine understanding of his clients’ legal and operational opportunities and challenges. These clients include entrepreneurs and equity investors as well as growth companies and educational and research institutions.

Clients note Chris’ ability to contribute at every stage of the technology commercialization process, including collaborative research initiatives, new company spin-offs, growth and financing of new ventures, licensing and joint venture arrangements, as well as mergers, acquisitions and other exit opportunities.

Beyond McCAUSLAND Keen + Buckman

  • Tennis, golf, platform tennis and cooking

Selected Representative Matters

Represented university health system in numerous multi-million dollar collaborative life science technology research alliances

Advised foreign university and domestic hospital in transfer of vaccine technology to private equity-backed start-up in exchange for significant initiation fee and substantial minority equity stake

On behalf of foreign software company, negotiated sale of $20+ million minority interest to private equity firms

Facilitated various licensing and research transactions for a leading global producer of alcoholic beverages

Represented university in formation of joint venture with publicly-traded energy company to pursue electric vehicle technology

Counseled management, investors and minority stockholders in numerous venture capital and other equity financing transactions

Publications + Media Mentions

March 1, 2018 “LLCs Can Be Smart for University Start-Ups, But Only If You Know The Risks,” Technology Transfer Tactics
February 1, 2015 “As Patents Become Harder to Protect, Trade Secrets Emerge as Viable Option,” Technology Transfer Tactics
November 1, 2014 “Faculty Ire Over IP Assignment Illustrates Continuing Struggle in Wake of Stanford v. Roche,” Technology Transfer Tactics
August 1, 2014 “Seller Beware: Legal And IP Issues For Your Online Education Business,” SkilledUp
July 1, 2014 “Rock Star Faculty Depart to Launch Private Start-Up, Leave Legal Quagmire in Their Wake,” Technology Transfer Tactics
January 1, 2014 “Working With 'Patent Trolls' Could Bring Income, But at What Cost?,” Technology Transfer Tactics
September 1, 2010 “Re-engineering' contracting process speeds deals for Drexel TTO,” Technology Transfer Tactics
February 7, 2023 On February 7, 2023, McCAUSLAND Keen + Buckman shareholder Christopher F. Wright gave a presentation on “Making the Jump to the USA” at a workshop for the portfolio companies of Roca X, an early-stage venture capital fund in Bucharest, Romania. If you would like additional information on this topic, please reach out to Chris directly at cwright@mkbattorneys.com.
May 20, 2022 Moderator, "The First Dollar: Raising Money for Your Startup," Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n).
February 22, 2022 Moderator and Panelist, "Understanding the Implications of LLC," Association of University Technology Managers Annual Meeting.
June 2, 2020 "Stock Purchase Agreements in University Equity Licenses," Osage University Partners webinar.
December 11, 2018 Legal Panelist, “Angel Venture Fair Education Workshop,” Presented by West Chester University and the Ideas x Innovation Network.
October 12, 2018 “Ride the Bucking Bronco: Startup Deal Structures,” Association of University Technology Managers Western Regional Meeting.
September 18, 2018 “Structuring Equity License Transactions for Success,” Association of University Technology Managers webinar.
September 13, 2018 “Startup Deal Structures: The Next Wave?,” Association of University Technology Managers Eastern Regional Meeting.
January 9, 2018 Legal Panelist, "Angel Venture Fair Education Workshop," Presented by Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, Ideas x Innovation Network
September 30, 2016 "Startup Deal Structures: The Next Wave?," Association of University Technology Managers Eastern Regional Meeting.
November 1, 2015 “Choosing the Best Legal Structure for University Start-ups,” Technology Transfer Tactics webinar.
February 1, 2015 Moderator and Panelist, “Understanding the Implications of LLCs,” Association of University Technology Managers Annual Meeting.
September 1, 2014 Moderator and Panelist, "Updating Intellectual Property Policies: Panacea or Black Hole?" Association of University Technology Managers Eastern Region Meeting.
October 1, 2013 "Venture Capital 101 - Financing Mentality, Jargon, Term Sheets, and Documents: A Primer for Academic Technology Transfer Managers," Association of University Technology Managers webinar.
February 1, 2013 "Advanced Topics in Equity," Association of University Technology Managers Annual Meeting.
June 1, 2010 Moderator and Panelist, "Re-Engineering the Contracting Process in the TTO," Association of University Technology Managers Eastern Region Meeting.
March 1, 2010 "Start Up Business Development: Deal Terms that Matter," Association of University Technology Managers Annual Meeting.

Affiliations + Recognitions

  • Association of University Technology Managers

    Member

  • Information Technology Law Association

    Member

  • Licensing Executives Society

    Member

  • Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n)

    Vice Chair & Executive Committee Member

Education

Admissions

  • University of Pennsylvania School of Law

    Juris Doctor

  • University of Pennsylvania Law Review

    Editor

  • Brown University

    Bachelor of Arts

  • Pennsylvania