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Former U.S. District Judge Alan D Albright joins A&O Shearman

Former U.S. District Judge Alan D Albright joins A&O Shearman
Published Date
Sep 1, 2026
Related people
Image of Adam Hakki
Adam HakkiPartner, Co-Chair Executive Committee/Board and U.S. Chair, New York
Image of Alan Albright
Alan D AlbrightPartner, Austin
Image of Laëtitia Bénard
Laëtitia BénardPartner, Paris

A&O Shearman today announces that Alan D Albright has joined the firm as a partner in its Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation practice in Austin, Texas.

Alan joins A&O Shearman following distinguished service as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, where his courtroom became one of the most prominent patent litigation venues in the country. He brings a unique combination of federal judicial experience, deep patent litigation expertise, and decades of private practice and trial experience, enhancing the firm’s ability to serve clients in complex patent, technology, and commercial disputes. Alan is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

“This is a major step forward for our U.S. IP Litigation and Trial practice. Alan is one of the most revered and experienced figures in the U.S. patent litigation landscape, and a true trial lawyer with vast courtroom experience as an advocate and judge. Alan’s arrival significantly deepens our trial and disputes capabilities in Austin, across Texas, and throughout the U.S., while adding great strength to our global IP Litigation team,” said Adam Hakki, co-chair of the global Executive Committee and Board and U.S. chair at A&O Shearman.

“Few, if any, judges in America have handled more patent litigation than Alan,” said Laëtitia Bénard, A&O Shearman’s global head of IP Litigation. “He has presided over many of the country's most significant IP and technology disputes, and his experience will be invaluable to clients navigating complex cases. We are thrilled to welcome him to our growing Austin office.”


“After years on the federal bench, I’m excited to return to client work and trial practice at A&O Shearman. The firm’s leading Disputes practice, its relationships and expertise across the technology sector, and growing Texas presence create a compelling opportunity. I look forward to working with its talented teams to help clients navigate complex patent and technology disputes in the U.S. and around the world.”

Prior to his appointment to the federal bench in 2018, Alan practiced as an IP litigator and law firm partner for almost two decades, representing leading technology and innovation-driven companies in complex patent and commercial disputes. He has served as lead counsel in numerous patent cases litigated to verdict, judgment, or final decision, and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers—one of the most prestigious professional organizations for trial attorneys in North America. During his judicial tenure, he presided over thousands of patent cases, hundreds of Markman hearings, and dozens of jury and bench trials.

Alan joins A&O Shearman’s rapidly growing Texas team and exceptional IP Litigation group, which recently secured high-stakes wins, including a major victory for Guardant Health with Judge Edward Chen entering a final judgment of nearly USD287 million on the unanimous jury verdict—one of the largest false advertising judgments on record. Additionally, the firm won a unanimous jury verdict for Reflex Media and Clover8 Investments, finding SuccessfulMatch.com liable for infringing all trademarks in dispute, as well as for inducing and contributing to that infringement. The group achieved a complete victory for Nichia Corporation in multi-patent LED technology litigation this year, eliminating all asserted patents and claims, including through a novel motion to dismiss on Section 112 grounds that was ultimately affirmed by the Federal Circuit. A&O Shearman’s Texas litigators also won a significant early victory for PURIS LLC in non-compete litigation, securing preliminary injunctions against its former CEO and a competing business, thereby protecting PURIS from ongoing unlawful competition and reinforcing the strength of its claims ahead of trial.

Alan’s arrival is the latest step in A&O Shearman's sustained investment in U.S. talent across multiple practice areas. The firm has recently welcomed a series of lateral partner hires that together further build out its U.S. capabilities: Anna Kertesz (Antitrust in Washington, D.C.), Steve Tyndall (Mergers and Acquisitions in Austin), Germaine Gurr (M&A in Los Angeles), Joseph Brown (Restructuring in New York), Matthew Karlyn (Digital, Data, IP and Technology in Boston), W. Andrew Lanius (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure in Houston), Kathryn Mims (Antitrust in Washington, D.C.), Paul Astolfi (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure in Dallas), Katy McNeil (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure in Chicago), Michael Kim (Capital Markets in New York), Ned Schodek (Restructuring in New York), Jan Sysel (Fund Finance in New York), Valentine Bleicher (M&A in Chicago), Nick Ramphal (M&A in New York), and Catherine Hein (International Trade and CFIUS in Washington, D.C.).

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