Atty. 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.
Profile Summary
About Christopher P. "Chris" Lightner at a glance
Christopher P. "Chris" Lightner is a ip attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, practicing at Alston & Bird LLP. Educated at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (J.D., 2008). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026) and Lawyer of the Year — Patent Law (Atlanta) (2024). Serands clients in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- 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
Practice Areas Explained
Christopher P. "Chris" Lightner's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Christopher P. "Chris" Lightner handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Christopher P. "Chris" Lightner is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Georgia →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Georgia
Practicing law in Georgia. Legal matters in Georgia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Atlanta are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Georgia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Georgia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Georgia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Georgia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Atlanta or all attorneys in Georgia.
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