Alston & Bird

Alston & Bird is a leading law firm based in the US with offices in California, Georgia, Washington DC, New York, North Carolina, and Texas.  Practice specialties include patent and trademark prosecution, ITC litigation, post-grant matters, and IP disputes in district court. The IP group handles IP matters for clients both domestic and abroad, and has secured notable patent results in the in the telecommunications sector.

Notable IP practitioners: Natalie Clayton, John Haynes, Theodore Stevenson III, Guy Gosnell, Michael Newton, Scott Pivnick

The IP team is led by group partners Natalie Clayton and John Haynes.

2026

"A&B provides consistently strong client service and case outcomes.  They are a key 'go-to' firm for high-stakes patent matters, both offensive and defensive."

John Haynes

"John does just about everything well, including as a lead trial lawyer in both District Court and ITC patent matters, which each require unique considerations and skill sets.  He recently won his third trial in a row on defense,  in the Eastern District of Texas, despite its reputation for being a more plaintiff-friendly jurisdiction."

Currently, Alston and Bird is active in litigation matters for clients Nokia, Ericsson, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The firm is also currently representing fast food chain Chick-Fil-A, prosecuting patent applications, as well as in an infringement matter related to mobile app technology.