Chris Lightner, Alston & Bird partner and member of the firm’s Intellectual Property – Mechanical Patents Team, has been awarded the 2017 “Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate” by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for his leadership in assisting financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses.
Lightner was recognized among more than 85 volunteer patent practitioners who reported 50 or more hours of patent pro bono service to a regional patent pro bono program.
“I want to congratulate the recipients for their dedication, time, and commitment they’ve demonstrated in an effort to help spur innovation on behalf of under-resourced inventors and small businesses,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Andrei Iancu. “Their assistance is crucial not only to the success of our Patent Pro Bono Program, but the success of our nation toward inspiring innovation across the country, and ensures that everyone who has the desire is given the opportunity.”
The award is the latest won by Lightner for his community service. In 2017, he was honored by Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology with their “Intellectual Property Community Service Award” and recognized by Georgia Lawyers for the Arts as “Volunteer of the Year” for his work with Georgia PATENTS. In 2015, he was named the recipient of the Atlanta Bar Association’s “Pro Bono Award.”
Lightner was recognized among more than 85 volunteer patent practitioners who reported 50 or more hours of patent pro bono service to a regional patent pro bono program.
“I want to congratulate the recipients for their dedication, time, and commitment they’ve demonstrated in an effort to help spur innovation on behalf of under-resourced inventors and small businesses,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Andrei Iancu. “Their assistance is crucial not only to the success of our Patent Pro Bono Program, but the success of our nation toward inspiring innovation across the country, and ensures that everyone who has the desire is given the opportunity.”
The award is the latest won by Lightner for his community service. In 2017, he was honored by Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology with their “Intellectual Property Community Service Award” and recognized by Georgia Lawyers for the Arts as “Volunteer of the Year” for his work with Georgia PATENTS. In 2015, he was named the recipient of the Atlanta Bar Association’s “Pro Bono Award.”