LAWYER PROFILE

Chris Shelley

UK 2026

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Intellectual Property

Thames Valley

11 years ranked

Life Sciences: Transactional

UK-wide

15 years ranked

About

Provided by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Practice Areas

Chris is a partner in the Oxford office who specialises in intellectual property and commercial law, and EU and UK competition laws. He is particularly known for his work in the life sciences, publishing and engineering sectors, and for universities, research councils and their spin-out companies.

One of only ten UK lawyers who are highly recommended for patent licensing in IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners, 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’.

Chris chairs the life sciences stream of the new IP Transactions: Law and Practice course run by the UCL Institute of Brand & Innovation Law, for which he delivers the patent licensing seminar. This course was highly commended in the Law Society Excellence Awards 2013.

Career

Chris trained at a multinational law firm, qualifying into the commercial department in 1986. He joined Penningtons Manches Cooper in 1990 and became a partner in 1992.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession

Intellectual Property - Thames Valley

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Chris Shelley is head of life sciences at Penningtons Manches Cooper in Oxford. He is commended for his expertise in spin-outs, collaboration and licensing transactions in the university, life sciences and technology sectors.

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Life Sciences: Transactional - UK-wide

Band 3

Individual Editorial

Chris Shelley is the head of Penningtons' life sciences practice, and has a strong reputation for handling transactions. He is especially known for his work in the university spin-out space.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Chris has helped us meet some very challenging deadlines and is always helpful and flexible in his approach.
Intellectual PropertyChambers Guide to the Legal Profession
He is really pragmatic and he really understands what we need, our own risks and what levels of risk we will accept.
Intellectual PropertyChambers Guide to the Legal Profession