Overview
Ryan Letson is an intellectual property (IP) attorney based in Huntsville and Birmingham. Mr. Letson's experience is focused on, but not limited to, matters involving national security and defense, as well as technology.
Mr. Letson counsels clients in patent and trademark matters, including procurement strategy, portfolio management and prosecution before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He also represents clients in proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
In addition, Mr. Letson has a significant background assisting clients in disputes involving patents and other IP matters in federal and state courts. His technical experience covers a wide range of areas, including computer hardware and software, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, electronics, data communication networks, automotive technology and autonomous vehicles. Mr. Letson also has experience litigating matters involving contracts, business torts and government contracts.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Letson was an attorney for a national law firm in its Huntsville office. Before beginning his legal career, Mr. Letson was a systems engineer for a large global aerospace company, where he worked on designing, testing and deploying border security systems as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Secure Borders Initiative Program.
Representative Experience
- Led and supervised extensive intellectual property (IP) and technology due diligence in the sale of a cybersecurity software client
- Represented an aerospace manufacturing company in its sale to a firefighting aircraft company
- Negotiated agreement terms and represented interests of a management team in its acquisition of an emissions testing business
- Counseled an aggregates production client regarding Bayh-Dole Act requirements and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with two federally funded national research laboratories
- Negotiated testing and joint development arrangements between an aggregates production client and five additives suppliers
- Obtained more than 20 patents covering an automotive client's composite wheel technology in the U.S. and abroad
- Successfully filed and prosecuted to allowance more than 10 patents covering power distribution network products
- Managed a complex patent and trademark portfolio acquisition and expansion for a major aggregates producer
- Developed the patent and intellectual property (IP) procurement strategy for an autonomous drone manufacturer
- Successfully prepared and prosecuted to allowance the novel asphalt technology for an Alabama public university
- Negotiated a nonlitigation resolution to a commercial dispute between a vendor and a utilities client
- Successfully filed and prosecuted to allowance more than 10 patents on Internet of Things (IoT) software systems
- Assisted firms from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia with U.S. national stage patent and trademark filings
- Developed the patent procurement strategy for an electric vehicle company and filed multiple patent applications
- Implemented the IP protection strategy for a military shelter client and filed patent applications in more than five countries
- Assisted with applications for wireless communication technologies
- Assisted with applications for state and private universities covering various research-generated technologies
- Represented a nonprofit organization in a copyright infringement dispute over photograph rights
- Advised an educational institution regarding copyright licenses in educational materials
- Assisted with branding trademarks related to software, agricultural and construction products
- Assisted with technology matters related to aviation electronics, software products, shipping products, construction and building fabrication products, military structures and pressurized vessels
- Represented a defendant government contractor in trade secret and competitive practices litigation in Alabama; obtained a favorable confidential settlement
- Defended a spine medical device manufacturer in trade secret litigation, resulting in a favorable confidential settlement
- Obtained dismissal of patent litigation in Delaware on invalidity grounds for a defendant technology client; upheld on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Represented a retailer in a copyright infringement dispute regarding holiday cards; achieved a highly favorable confidential settlement
- Assisted in the representation of a network communications company against patent infringement allegations in federal district court
- Represented an online pet supply company against trade dress infringement allegations in federal district court
- Represented an office furniture company in a dispute with a waste management company
Credentials
- Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, J.D.
- The University of Alabama, B.S., Mechanical Engineering
- Alabama
- Alabama Supreme Court
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- American Bar Association (ABA), Intellectual Property Section, 2015-Present; Government Contracts Section, 2019-Present
- Huntsville Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, CLE Committee, 2021-2022; Executive Committee, 2024-Present
- AI Huntsville, Leadership Team, 2024-Present; Law and Ethics Committee, Chair, 2024-Present
- Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2021-Present; Development Council Member, 2016-2019; Development Council Chair, 2019-2020
- Alabama State Bar Association
- Huntsville Committee of 100 Young Professionals, Member, 2016-2022; Chair, 2023-2024
- Huntsville Committee of 100, Board Member, 2023-2024; Rock the Vote Chair, 2022
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology Connections Group, 2013-2018
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Alabama/Mississippi Pro Bono Patent Program
- The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Board Member, 2025-Present
- Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Copyright Law, 2024-2026; Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2024-2026; Patent Law, 2024-2026; Trademark Law, 2024-2026
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Ones to Watch, Intellectual Property Law, 2023
- Rising Star, Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine, 2022
- Alabama Leadership Initiative Class VIII
- Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum Class 18
- Leadership Greater Huntsville Flagship Class 35
- Huntsville Committee of 100 Young Professionals Program
- Leadership Greater Huntsville Management Academy Class 10