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BIOGRAPHY

Headshot of Attorney Will Pagán
WGPawards

PRIMARY PRACTICE AREAS

  • Patents
  • Trademarks
  • Copyrights
  • Litigation
  • Contracts
  • Privacy
  • Cybersquatting

EXAMPLE TECHNOLOGIES

  • Telecommunications
  • Computing Platforms & Networks
  • Software
  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
  • Amplifiers
  • Semiconductor Packaging
  • Systems & Power Management
  • Media Codecs
  • Operating Systems & Virtualization
  • Encryption & Data Integrity
  • Smart Lighting & Home Automation
  • Optical Waveguides
  • Medical Devices & Systems
  • Industrial Machines
  • Aerospace Technologies

WILLIAM G. PAGÁN

Member

William G. Pagán is an award-winning patent attorney, a member of the NC State University Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame, an IBM Master Inventor named on over 130 U.S. patent applications, and an Adjunct Law Professor at NC Central University School of Law, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude (highest honors) from the evening program as co-valedictorian.

Will's practice focuses on assisting clients with legal issues in which a deep understanding of information technology is necessary or advantageous. He currently has a significant focus on helping creators obtain patents, trademarks, and copyrights. That said, he also helps clients assert or defend against patent, trademark, and copyright infringement, resolves contract disputes, and facilitates B2B transactions. As a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US), Will also helps clients with data privacy concerns, e.g., data breaches and confidentiality violations.

Nationally-recognized as a Luminary in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines at the Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, Will's law practice is informed by 14 years of engineering experience at IBM, including over a decade developing software for IBM's server development business. His work on Intel-based Thurley server platforms earned him IBM's Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. He also served in IBM’s IP Licensing and Assignments organization where he researched, investigated, and produced proofs of potential patent infringement.

In service to the community, he currently serves as a Deputy Regional President for Region VI of the Hispanic National Bar Association and teaches Contract Law to evening students at NC Central University School of Law.

SELECTED HONORS

  • LEGAL
    • The Best Lawyers in America: Intellectual Property Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2024, 2025
    • NC Rising Star: Intellectual Property, Super Lawyers, 2019-2024
    • Major General Dwight H Wheless Legal Officer of the Year, Civil Air Patrol: United States Air Force Auxiliary
      • North Carolina Wing, 2019, 2020
      • Mid-Atlantic Region (incl. DE, MD, DC, NC, SC, VA, WV), 2019
    • NC Pro Bono Honor Society, North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center, 2017-2020
    • Outstanding Pro Bono Achievement, North Carolina Bar Association IP Law Section, 2019
    • Leaders in the Law, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2016, 2018
  • ENGINEERING
    • 37 Invention Plateau Awards, IBM, 2005-2012
    • Master Inventor, IBM Corporate Headquarters / Office of the CIO, 2011
    • Research Triangle Park Inventor of the Year, IBM, 2010
    • Outstanding Technical Achievement: Intel Thurley Server Platform Integration, IBM, 2007
    • Master Inventor, IBM Systems & Technology Group, 2006
    • Role Model of the Week, Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, 2008
    • Luminary Award, Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, 2007
    • Star Award, Distributed Management Task Force, 2007
  • CIVIC
    • Wing Commander’s Commendation, Civil Air Patrol: United States Air Force Auxiliary, 2016, 2017, 2021
    • Crisis Service Award, Civil Air Patrol: United States Air Force Auxiliary, 2020
    • Meritorious Service Award, Civil Air Patrol: United States Air Force Auxiliary, 2019
    • Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, United States Air Force, 2018

EXAMPLE PATENT WORK PRODUCT

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

  • Negotiated a dismissal of all counterclaims against client in a patent infringement case.
  • Served as local NC counsel in defending against patent infringement claims.
  • Defended against, or negotiated settlements in response to, demand letters alleging copyright infringement.
  • Defended website owners against alleged Meta Pixel privacy violations.
  • Drafted a contract and, subsequently, a settlement agreement in favor of a client due to breach of that contract.
  • Resolved a contract dispute between a franchisor and franchisee to client's satisfaction.
  • Negotiated resolution to an unfair and deceptive trade practices issue between local competing businesses.
  • Appealed subject matter ineligibility and obviousness decisions made by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under 35 U.S.C. § 101 and § 103 to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

EDUCATION

  • North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina
  • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Pace University, New York, New York
    • B.S., Computer Science
  • Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York
    • Advanced Regents Diploma, Biology Concentration

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ROLES

  • North Carolina Central University School of Law
    • Adjunct Professor, Contracts, Evening Program, 2023-Present
  • IBM
    • Patent Engineer/Analyst, IP Licensing & Assignments, Corporate Headquarters, 2011-2013
    • Master Inventor, Corporate Headquarters / Office of the CIO, 2011-2013
    • Master Inventor, Systems & Technology Group, 2006-2013
    • Software Engineer, System x Server Development, Systems & Technology Group, 1999-2011
  • Distributed Management Task Force
    • Chairman & IBM Representative, SMASH / Systems Management Forum, 2005-2007

PRO BONO & VOLUNTEER ROLES

  • Hispanic National Bar Association
    • Region VI Deputy Regional President, 2022-Present
  • North Carolina Central University School of Law, Board of Visitors
    • Chair, 2023-Present
    • Vice Chair, 2022-2023
    • Member at Large, 2020-2022
  • Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
    • NCWG Diversity Officer, 2019-2022
    • NCWG Legal Officer, 2017-2021
    • NCWG Assistant Legal Officer, 2015-2017, 2021-2022
  • Innocence Project
    • Case Manager, 2011-2012
    • Researcher, 2010-2011

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

SELECTED MEDIA/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • Panelist, Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI), Privacy and the Cost of Invisibility of the Global Majority, 2024 Law & Technology Summit, NCCU Technology & Law Policy Center, October 2024
  • Speaker, Impact of the Proliferation of AI on Prior Art and PHOSITA, USPTO Listening Session, United States Patent and Trademark Office, July 25, 2024
  • Panelist, The Impact of Data Privacy & Security on Society and the Practice of Law, Annual HBCU IP & Tech Law Summit, Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice, February 2024
  • Special Guest, Ty Cohen & Caroline Treanor (Hosts), The Money Morning Meetup, Oct. 25, 2023
  • Special Guest, Thomas Clifton (Host), The Talented Tenth Podcast, Oct. 3, 2023
  • Panelist, The Patent Implications of Generative AI, 2023 Law and Technology Summit, NCCU Technology & Policy Law Center, October 2023
  • Guest Lecturer, Inventions and Innovations Class, Henrico County Public Schools, VA, January 2022
  • Guest Lecturer, Subject Matter Eligibility (Abstract Ideas), Patent Law Course, University of North Carolina School of Law, Fall 2020
  • Keynote Speaker, NC State Computer Science Diploma Ceremony, Fall 2018
  • Lecturer, Intellectual Property: Securing a Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace, North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, 2017
  • Special Guest, Cup of Technology, WCOM-LP 103.5 FM, 2017
  • CLE Teacher, Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: Arguing Against Abstract Idea Rejections, The Knowledge Group, 2016
  • Panelist, IP Law Panel Discussion, NCCU School of Law, 2015
  • Featured Alum, Taking Flight: Meet William Pagán, NCCU, 2014
  • Speaker, Valedictory Address, NCCU School of Law Commencement Ceremony, Spring 2014
  • Featured Lecturer, Effective Leadership of Invention Brainstorming, IBM, 2011 to 2013
  • Featured Lecturer, Being a Successful Inventor: Practical Advice for All Levels of Inventors, IBM, 2007 to 2013
  • Featured Lecturer, Efficiently Writing Effective Patent Disclosures, IBM, 2007 to 2013
  • Lecturer, Getting Agile in the Real World: Best Practice Adoption in Complex Environments, IBM Webcast, 2010
  • Lecturer, Key Leadership and Advancement Behaviors, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Region VII Conference, 2009
  • Lecturer, Best Practices in Standards Participation, IBM, 2008
  • Host, Leadership in the Management and Technical Executive Tracks, Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, 2007
  • Booth Presenter, IBM Systems Management Technologies and Importance of Interoperability Standards, Microsoft Management Summit, 2006
  • Presenter, SMASH Forum Overview and SMASH CLP Validation, DMTF Management Developers Conference, 2006
  • Presenter, Eliminating Systems Management Device Drivers via Enhanced Serial Port Architecture, IBM Tech Connect, 2004

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • State of North Carolina
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

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MAP & DIRECTIONS

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