Albert Allan (Director)

Albert Allan has over 15 years of experience, serving as lead counsel in numerous patent, trademark, and copyright infringement cases in federal courts throughout the country, including appellate proceedings before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Mr. Allan has also served as lead counsel in numerous trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Allan clerked for the Honorable Graham C. Mullen, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

Mr. Allan has represented a variety of clients in various electronic, chemical, and mechanical patent litigations. He has litigated and advised clients in such areas as computer software, chemical processes, video-imaging and compression software and hardware, packaging materials, routing and die-cutting equipment, furniture design, forestry products, security systems, automobile paint films, and automobile tire products.

Mr. Allan has also represented a variety of clients in various trademark, trade dress and counterfeiting actions, including trademarks dealing with insurance companies, food products, chair designs, airport mailing systems, and paper towel dispensers.

Mr. Allan has also represented a variety of clients in copyright actions, including actions related to infringement of computer software products, architectural designs, sales and marketing presentations, and website designs.

Mr. Allan has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 in the specialty of Intellectual Property Law. Since it's inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Email: aallan@summalaw.com

Admitted:
1992, Registered Patent Attorney

1992, North Carolina

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

All Federal and State Courts in North Carolina

Other Federal Courts Throughout the United States

Education:
University of Notre Dame (J.D. with honors, 1992)
Arizona State University (M.B.A. with honors, 1984)
U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology (M.S. Facilities Management, 1980)
University of Miami (B.S. Architectural Engineering, 1979)

Association Involvement:
Carolina Patent Trademark and Copyright Law Association, President 2001-2002
American Intellectual Property Law Association
American Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association

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