Don Andersen Email & Phone Number

Greater Atlanta Area

Don is admitted to practice in Georgia, Florida and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For more than 35 years his practice has focused on three areas (intellectual property, product liability and aviation law), in which his background in engineering at Georgia Tech and his experience in aviation continue to be invaluable. He has been lead counsel in litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country. Aviation and Products Liability: Don is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in the field of aviation law. He is currently the chair person elect of the Aviation Special Litigation Group of the Product Liability Committee of DRI. He is also currently active in the representation of aviation lenders having recently filed his second amicus brief in thirty years in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the National Aircraft Finance Association, continuing to advocate for the application of federal standards in the field of aviation to provide uniformity and to promote aviation in the United States. He is an active licensed commercial, instrument and multi-engine rated pilot. Intellectual Property: A member of the Patent Bar since 1976, Don has counseled and represented clients in patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation for more than 35 years. The patent matters have involved such diverse technologies as telecommunications, computer software, business methods, mechanical devices and digital printing. The trademark matters have included internationally and nationally known brands, and emerging marks and brands. These cases often have involved related unfair competition and antitrust claims. Mediation: Most recently, based on his experience in litigation, he has been trained in alternative dispute resolution as a mediator and looks forward to assisting parties avoid unnecessary litigation in all fields, particularly those in which he is most experienced, through effective ADR efforts.

Don joined Stites & Harbison from Kilpatrick Stockton in 2002. Don was a Member of the firm and practiced in the Intellectual Property, and the Torts Insurance and Products Liability groups. Don continued to represent clients in civil litigation and appeals and in matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Don came to Kilpatrick Stockton when that firm merged with the firm Jones & Askew, LLP. At both firms, Don was active in intellectual property litigation (including patent and trademark litigation in Georgia and Florida). At Kilpatrick Stockton he also was involved in product liability defense litigation, including automotive industry product liability defense litigation, and aviation accident litigation.

Atlanta, Georgia

Don joined Smith, Howard & Ajax, a leading Atlanta litigation firm, as a member in 1995 and was active in business, intellectual property and aviation product liability litigation throughout the southeast. This firm ultimately dissolved when the senior partners of the firm reached retirement and the remaining members of the firm moved their individual practices to other firms, including Burr & Forman and Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett, & Brieske. Because Don was the only member substantially involved in intellectual property litigation, he moved his practice to the IP boutique firm of Jones & Askew, LLP where he could continue to focus on IP litigation.

Don returned to Atlanta where he had practiced prior to moving to Florida to do trial work for Piper Aircraft Corporation and became counsel at Drew, Eckl & Farnham. Don continued both his aviation product liability and aviation insurance defense practice, including the defense of major aircraft accident litigation, as well as intellectual property litigation.

Orlando, Florida Area

Following the Piper Aircraft bankruptcy, Don became a member of the firm of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Orlando, Florida where he continued his aviation product liabillty and aviation insurance defense practice and his intellectual property litigation practice with both patent and trademark litigation and representation throughout Florida.

Vero Beach, Florida

Responsible for nationwide product liability defense and trial representation of Piper Aircraft Corporation in all cases involving the most popular models of Piper aircraft, resulting in defense verdicts in all cases, including trials in California, Texas and Alabama. Responsible for initial representation of Piper Aircraft Corporation in successful Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization proceedings.

Atlanta, Georgia

In 1987, Don opened a litigation practice in the suburbs of Atlanta near his home. The practice continued aviation accident and aviation insurance defense representation, as well as intellectual property representation, including representation of inventors, patent prosecution and patent and trademark litigation. In 1989, the practice had expanded, however, the opportunity to handle aviation product liability defense on a national level was provided by Piper Aircraft Corporation, and Don became Associate General Counsel of Piper Aircraft Corporation in Vero Beach, Florida.

Don practiced with Mozley, Finlayson & Andersen (and its predecessors Phillips & Mozley and Phillips, Hart & Mozley) starting in 1977. During that time, Don was involved in the defense of major aviation litigation, including airline accident litigation and product liability and commercial litigation on behalf of major aircraft manufacturers throughout the southeast, as well as aviation insurance coverage litigation. This experience included both trial and appellate work as lead counsel. Don also was involved in other areas of aviation law, including the representation of aircraft lenders in the southeast and in the filing of an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the National Aircraft Finance Association. During this time, Don also continued the practice of intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark and copyright litigation. In 1987-88, Don was the Chairperson of the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Section of the Georgia Bar.

Atlanta, Georgia

Don initially interned with the Atlanta IP Patent, Trademark and Copyright firm of Jones, Thomas & Askew as a third year student at the University of Georgia School of Law. After graduation, he accepted a position as an associate and was involved in preparation and prosecution of patent applications, patent infringement litigation, and patent office appeals and opposition proceedings. Desiring to broaden his litigation experience, he chose to join the newly formed litigation firm of Phillips, Hart & Mozley in 1977. He would return to Jones & Askew, and his former colleagues, nearly twenty five years years later in 2001 to handle intellectual property litigation with the firm.

Don was a member of the U.S. Naval Security Group from 1967 through 1973, serving on active duty from 1968 through 1970 before returning from active duty to continue his studies in engineering science at Georgia Tech. While a member of the U.S. Naval Security Group, Don was stationed at Pensacola, Florida, various locations in the Caribbean from the U.S. Naval Radio Station at Sabana Seca, P.R., and at the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Security Group in Washington, D.C.

J.D., Cum Laude, Law

Activities and Societies: Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society; Order of the Coif; Articles Editor, Georgia Law Review, 1975-76

B.S., With Honors, Engineering Science And Mechanics

Education record