Christopher Lightner is a partner on the Intellectual Property – Mechanical Patents Team, where he focuses his practice on the procurement of patents for wide-ranging technologies, including mechanical and electromechanical devices, medical devices, composite materials, manufacturing processes, and business methods.
He regularly prepares and prosecutes patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is experienced in counseling clients on patent portfolio strategies, licensing negotiations, and patent validity, infringement, and enforceability.
For his ongoing local bar association and community service leadership efforts, Chris has been awarded the Georgia PATENTS Program’s Volunteer of the Year Award for a third consecutive year.
He was recognized with the Atlanta Bar Association’s Celebrating Service Award in 2015 and received the 2017 Intellectual Property Community Service Award, presented by Georgia State University and Georgia Tech. He is also a speaker and panelist at local and state bar association CLE events.
Chris is active on the board of directors of Omosaze, a nonprofit providing struggling elementary-aged students with quality afterschool reading instruction. Chris is also a member of Alston & Bird’s Sustainability and Hiring Committees.
Before law school, Chris worked for Boeing as a mechanical engineer on the national missile defense program. At Boeing, Chris gained experience with early detection, tracking, target discrimination, and precision intercept through force of hit-to-kill technologies.
Education:
- The University of North Carolina (J.D., 2008)
- University of Phoenix (M.B.A., 2005)
- Tennessee Technological University (B.S.M.E., 2001)
Bar Admissions:
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Georgia
Memberships:
- Atlanta Bar Association, board of directors member-at-large representative
- Georgia Bar Association IP Section Patent Committee, chair
- Georgia PATENTS Pro Bono Program, advisory board
- Intellectual Property Owners Association, U.S. Patent Office Practice Committee
Cost
Rate : $$$
