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Biography
Alan Harrison is a mechanical and nuclear engineer who served as an officer in the United States Navy Submarine Force before becoming an attorney. He has practiced as an attorney since 2010, and addresses clients' legal matters with diligence and precision. Alan especially enjoys helping small and medium business owners and founders with the legal issues that arise when starting and operating a closely held business. LLC and partnership agreements and disputes are a part of his practice. He also can address intellectual property risks, procurement, and protection.
Practice Areas
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Intellectual Property
- Trademarks
- Trademark Litigation, Trademark Registration
- Patents
- Patent Appeals, Patent Prosecution
Fees
- Free Consultation
- Credit Cards Accepted
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Connecticut
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- USPTO
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Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
- Principal
- Sandollar
- - Current
- Attorney
- Whitmyer IP Group
- -
- Attorney
- Botos Churchill IP Law
- -
- Attorney
- Otterstedt, Ellenbogen & Kammer
- -
- Attorney
- McCormick, Paulding & Huber
- -
- Patent Agent
- McCormick, Paulding & Huber
- -
Education
- University of Connecticut School of Law
- J.D. | Intellectual Property
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- Northeastern University
- B.S. | Mechanical Engineering
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- Honors: magna cum laude
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Awards
- Honored Listee
- Marquis Who's Who
- Excellence for the Future - Contracts
- Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction
- Top student in law school cohort.
- Excellence for the Future - Torts
- Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction
- Top student in law school cohort.
Professional Associations
- Connecticut State Bar
- Current
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- Tau Beta Pi Alumni Chapter - Central Connecticut
- Board member
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
- Patents: Beyond the Basics – Current Risks and Opportunities (Part 1)
- Connecticut Innovations
Speaking Engagements
- IP Considerations for Business Transitions, CBA Business Law Section, Elm City Club, New Haven CT
- Connecticut Bar Association
- One point five hour presentation about the significance of intellectual property in business transitions (start up, change of form, and purchase/sale).
Certifications
- Patent Attorney
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
Legal Answers
81 Questions Answered
- Q. Can I deduct increased electric bills due to a failed central heating system from rent?
- A: Probably yes, to the extent that you can clearly trace the higher electric bill to consumption by the space heaters. This could be a litigated question, and the cost of litigation would likely be two orders of magnitude more than the difference in your electric bill, with very little prospect of getting your legal fees paid by the landlord.
- Q. Is it legal to operate an online skill game with prizes in CT?
- A: You propose an interesting and potentially lucrative enterprise. The distinction between "skill" or "chance" will be significant to state regulators. Games of chance require special licensing. Games of skill do not. To the extent that your game of skill might incorporate a random element (e.g., a pong-type game where the ball does not always bounce exactly true), it could be tricky to assess whether it falls under state regulation.
- Q. Is it legal to use a simplified design inspired by a Heinz ketchup bottle for a business?
- A: This is likely to be a concern under "Trade Dress" law. Trade dress is really formally registered. It constitutes things like the shape of the bottle, the shape of the label, the green line around the label. You are seriously playing with fire if you intend to use Heinz Ketchup trade dress for your own small company.
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