- 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.
Partner,
- Phone: +1 404 881 7882
- Email: chris.lightner@alston.com
Recognized by IAM Patent 1000 for his “impeccable attention to detail” and “commercially astute, value-added guidance,” Chris understands the complexities facing his clients, from Fortune 500 companies to startups. His thoughtful counsel, coupled with insight from his community leadership, make him a trusted adviser for strategic growth and enforcement of patent portfolios.
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.
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Press Release November 26, 2024Four Alston & Bird Partners Named to IAM Strategy 300 Global LeadersAlston & Bird partners Jason Cooper, Chris Gegg, Chris Lightner, and Yuri Mikulka have been recognized in the 2025 edition of IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, an annual guide to the world’s top intellectual property strategists.Press Release November 26, 2024Four Alston & Bird Partners Named to IAM Strategy 300 Global LeadersAlston & Bird partners Jason Cooper, Chris Gegg, Chris Lightner, and Yuri Mikulka have been recognized in the 2025 edition of IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, an annual guide to the world’s top intellectual property strategists.
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Press Release August 20, 2024Four Alston & Bird Partners Again Named Global IP StrategistsAlston & Bird partners Jason Cooper, Yuri Mikulka, Chris Gegg, and Chris Lightner have been recognized among the world’s top intellectual property strategists by Intellectual Asset Management in the 2024 edition of the “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.”Press Release August 20, 2024Four Alston & Bird Partners Again Named Global IP StrategistsAlston & Bird partners Jason Cooper, Yuri Mikulka, Chris Gegg, and Chris Lightner have been recognized among the world’s top intellectual property strategists by Intellectual Asset Management in the 2024 edition of the “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.”
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Press Release June 11, 2024Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2024 IAM Patent 1000For the thirteenth consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been recognized as a global leader in patent law by Intellectual Asset Management in its annual IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.Press Release June 11, 2024Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2024 IAM Patent 1000For the thirteenth consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been recognized as a global leader in patent law by Intellectual Asset Management in its annual IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.
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Press Release May 22, 2024Alston & Bird Represents Corpay in Agreement to Acquire PaymerangAlston & Bird represented Corpay Inc., a global business payments and expense management company, in its agreement to acquire Paymerang LLC, an invoice and payment solution software company and portfolio company of Aldrich Capital Partners. The approximately $475 million transaction is set to close in the second quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.Press Release May 22, 2024Alston & Bird Represents Corpay in Agreement to Acquire PaymerangAlston & Bird represented Corpay Inc., a global business payments and expense management company, in its agreement to acquire Paymerang LLC, an invoice and payment solution software company and portfolio company of Aldrich Capital Partners. The approximately $475 million transaction is set to close in the second quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
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Press Release October 2, 2023Four Alston & Bird Partners Named Global IP Strategists
Alston & Bird partners Jason Cooper, Yuri Mikulka, Chris Gegg, and Chris Lightner have been recognized among the world’s top intellectual property strategists by Intellectual Asset Management in the 2023 edition of the “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.”
Press Release October 2, 2023Four Alston & Bird Partners Named Global IP StrategistsAlston & Bird partners Jason Cooper, Yuri Mikulka, Chris Gegg, and Chris Lightner have been recognized among the world’s top intellectual property strategists by Intellectual Asset Management in the 2023 edition of the “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists.”
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Press Release August 17, 2023Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers and Ones to WatchThe 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 227 Alston & Bird attorneys selected by their peers, spanning the firm’s 10 U.S. offices and representing 67 practice areas. Thirty of these attorneys received this honor for the first time.Press Release August 17, 2023Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers and Ones to WatchThe 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 227 Alston & Bird attorneys selected by their peers, spanning the firm’s 10 U.S. offices and representing 67 practice areas. Thirty of these attorneys received this honor for the first time.
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Press Release June 28, 2023Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2023 IAM Patent 1000For the twelfth consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been recognized as a global leader in patent law by Intellectual Asset Management in its annual IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.Press Release June 28, 2023Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2023 IAM Patent 1000For the twelfth consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been recognized as a global leader in patent law by Intellectual Asset Management in its annual IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.
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In the News August 8, 2022Law360 | Georgia Powerhouse: Alston & BirdAlston & Bird is featured as a Georgia Powerhouse for 2022, Chris Lightner is noted as the president of the Atlanta Bar Association, Janine Brown and Richard Hays are quoted, and George Abney, Jeff Belkin, Keith Blackwell, Joey Burby, Jody Hunt, Bill Jordan, Paul Monnin, BJay Pak, Spence Pryor, Margaret Scott, Cliff Stanford, and Peter Swire are mentioned.In the News August 8, 2022Law360 | Georgia Powerhouse: Alston & BirdAlston & Bird is featured as a Georgia Powerhouse for 2022, Chris Lightner is noted as the president of the Atlanta Bar Association, Janine Brown and Richard Hays are quoted, and George Abney, Jeff Belkin, Keith Blackwell, Joey Burby, Jody Hunt, Bill Jordan, Paul Monnin, BJay Pak, Spence Pryor, Margaret Scott, Cliff Stanford, and Peter Swire are mentioned.
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Press Release July 12, 2022Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2022 IAM Patent 1000For the eleventh consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been recognized as a global leader in patent law by Intellectual Asset Management in its annual IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.Press Release July 12, 2022Alston & Bird Earns Broad Recognition in 2022 IAM Patent 1000For the eleventh consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been recognized as a global leader in patent law by Intellectual Asset Management in its annual IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.
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Press Release April 20, 2022Chris Lightner Elected President of Atlanta Bar Association for 2022-2023 TermAlston & Bird partner Chris Lightner has been elected president of the Atlanta Bar Association for the 2022-2023 term. Founded in 1888, the Association is the largest voluntary bar association in the Southeast, serving more than 6,000 members from the Atlanta metropolitan area.Press Release April 20, 2022Chris Lightner Elected President of Atlanta Bar Association for 2022-2023 TermAlston & Bird partner Chris Lightner has been elected president of the Atlanta Bar Association for the 2022-2023 term. Founded in 1888, the Association is the largest voluntary bar association in the Southeast, serving more than 6,000 members from the Atlanta metropolitan area.
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
- Atlanta Bar Association, secretary; Side Bar Committee, chair
- Atlanta Bar Association IP Section SpringPosium, sponsorship co-chair
- Georgia Bar Association IP Section, Executive Committee, secretary
- 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
- Intellectual Property Owners Association, Patent Committee
- Technology Association of Georgia
Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year – Patent Law (2024)
- Intellectual Asset Management, “IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists” (2023)
- Intellectual Asset Management, “IAM Patent 1000” (2018–2023)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate (2017–2021)
- Atlanta Bar Association, Pro Bono Award (2015, 2018)
- Georgia PATENTS, “Volunteer of the Year” (2015–2018)
- Georgia State University and Georgia Tech, Intellectual Property Community Service Award (2017)
- Atlanta Bar Association, “Celebrating Service Award” (2015)