Dan has more than 34 years of litigation and trial practice experience with some of the most highly respected intellectual property litigation firms in the world, including Fish & Richardson (where he was a founding partner of the firm's Atlanta office), Jones Day, and Alston & Bird. Dan has successfully litigated and tried numerous intellectual property and other complex cases in multiple jurisdictions. Dan's practice is national in scope, focusing on intellectual property litigation, trial, appellate, and mediation work, including patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, and complex civil cases. Dan is an experienced trial lawyer, having successfully tried a wide variety of complex, technical matters from patent, trademark, and copyright infringement cases, to cases of alleged defamation and medical malpractice. Dan has successfully briefed and argued appeals involving complex scientific, technical, and legal issues. Dan has extensive experience managing all aspects of large and small cases, and excels at optimizing a strategy and team designed to attain the best possible results in each case. Dan has achieved an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, been listed in Chambers USA. America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Intellectual Property Law, recognized as a "Georgia Super Lawyer," and has been called upon regularly to speak about intellectual property topics relevant to lawyers and business leaders. In February 2016, Dan formed Kent & Risley LLC with longtime friend and seasoned IP litigator, Steve Risley.
Education
Duke University School of Law, JD, 1990
-Editorial Board, Duke Law Journal
-Semifinalist, Craven Cup National Moot Court Competition
-Am. Jur. Trial Practice Award
Grace College, BS, 1986, magna cum laude
Admissions
State Bar of Georgia
United States District Courts:
-Northern District of Georgia
-Middle District of Georgia
-Southern District of Georgia
-Eastern District of Texas
-Southern District of Indiana
-Court of Federal Claims
United States Courts of Appeal:
-Eleventh Circuit
-Federal Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Organizations
Atlanta IP Inn of Court
State Bar of Georgia - Intellectual Property Law Section
Atlanta Bar Association
North Fulton Bar Association, past President
National Institute for Trial Advocacy - instructor
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution - Registered Mediator and Arbitrator
Selected Presentations
"Damages Update" (moderator/panelist) - Atlanta Bar Association Intellectual Property Section SpringPosium 2014
"IP Valuation and Damages" (moderator/panelist) - Atlanta Bar Association Intellectual Property Section SpringPosium 2013
"Recent Developments in IP" (panelist) - Atlanta Bar Association Intellectual Property Section SpringPosium 2012
"The Value of Intellectual Property" (panelist) - Southeast Medical Device Association (SEMDA) (2009)
"Underwater Devices Dries Up: Life After In re Seagate" (moderator) - State Bar of Georgia, Intellectual Property Law Section (2007)
"Patent Trolls and Profiteers: Operating in Today’s Patent Assertion Environment" (panelist) - Intellectual Property Law Institute (2006)
"Bidding for Injunctive Relief After Ebay v. MercExchange" (panelist) - State Bar of Georgia, Intellectual Property Law Section (2006)
"Ethics in IT Litigation," LSI Technology Litigation seminars (2001, 2002, and 2005)
"Litigating Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Cases" (panelist) - Intellectual Property Law Institute (2002)
"Communicating with Present and Former Employees of Adverse Parties under the New Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct," Technology Law (2002)
"Copyright for Corporate Counsel," American Corporate Counsel Association, Georgia Chapter (2001)
"Navigating Cyberspace: Legal Issues Surrounding E-Business," Small Business Development Conference, DeKalb County Office of Contract Compliance (2000)
"Intellectual Property Issues for Magazines, Newspapers, and Other Publications," Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia (1998)
Other
Married with two grown children
Avid golfer and guitarist