Christopher P. "Chris" Lightner

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.

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 several consecutive years. He has also been recognized with the Atlanta Bar Association’s Celebrating Service Award, and received 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 and recognized repeatedly as a leading patent professional in the annual Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000 publication. 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.