Christopher P. Lightner

• Patent counsel for a national container products manufacturer and distributor.
• Patent counsel for a national medical and therapeutic device manufacturer and distributor.
• Patent counsel to a worldwide package delivery and logistics services company in package tracking, vehicle management, and logistical efficiency technology. 
• Patent counsel to a leading advanced composites company that develops, manufactures, and markets lightweight, high-performance composites, including carbon fibers, reinforcements, prepregs, honeycomb, matrix systems, adhesives, and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, wind energy, and industrial applications. 
• Counsel for patent clients in diverse areas of technology, including materials handling, computer software, industrial power transmission, solar energy collection and utilization technologies, paper and pulp technologies, financial securitization products, fraud prevention systems, and warranty models. 

With a background in mechanical engineering and industry experience with aerospace systems integration projects, Chris Lightner practices in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property – Mechanical Patents Team. Chris focuses his practice on patent solicitation and counseling, as well as on IP-driven due diligence efforts, licensing agreements, confidentiality considerations, and patent brokerage agreements.

Chris prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications for wide-ranging technologies and partners with clients to develop targeted and cost-effective patent portfolio strategies. He regularly advises on patentability, freedom-to-operate, and enforceability considerations and studies and manages patent risks through in-depth analysis of product and process designs.

Chris has been recognized for his ongoing leadership efforts receiving the Georgia PATENTS Program’s Volunteer of the Year Award, the Atlanta Bar Association’s Celebrating Service Award, and the Intellectual Property Community Service Award, presented by Georgia State University and Georgia Tech. Chris has been named a “Georgia Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, recognized a leading patent professional in the annual Intellectual Asset Management “IAM Patent 1000,” and “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.” Chris is also regularly a speaker, panelist, and moderator at local and state bar association CLE events.

Chris is also active in leadership roles with the Atlanta Bar Association and is a member of the firm’s Sustainability and Hiring Committees.

Bar Admissions

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Georgia

Education

• The University of North Carolina (J.D., 2008)
• University of Phoenix (M.B.A., 2005)
• Tennessee Technological University (B.S.M.E., 2001)

Memberships