Spencer Fane is pleased to announce John B. Allen joined the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group as an associate in the firm’s Salt Lake City office.
John is a vigorous litigator who focuses on clients’ intellectual property rights, creating and strengthening meticulous plans to protect patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. With a diverse background in biology, general litigation, and concentrated IP matters, his practical and technological insight lends itself to markedly thorough defense strategies. Impressively, John has had his genetics research published in Nature Genetics and the New York Times, a testament to the dynamic intellect he uses to dissect complex client matters and develop sound protection plans within an intricate, rapidly evolving industry.
“Successful IP litigation requires a very specific, yet wide-ranging skill set within an already impressive pool of litigators. John’s background as a scientist and genetics researcher provides him critical tools to fill gaps in the dually technical, creative side of strategizing,” said Jason Hawkins, Office Managing Partner for Spencer Fane Snow Christensen & Martineau in Salt Lake City. “That unique experience paired with his legal acumen, which includes an inside perspective of USPTO processes, will strengthen our litigation group at a foundational level. We are excited to witness the impact he will have on our strong, collaborative Salt Lake City team.”
John completed his undergraduate degree and master’s in biology at Brigham Young University, spending a year as a technical production scientist in the interim. He then earned his Juris Doctor at The George Washington University Law School, where he served as an associate editor for the American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal, then as an articles editor for the editorial board.
Prior to entering private practice, John completed two legal externships: one with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he gained an in-depth understanding of the policies, processes, and classification systems governing IP; and one with the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, where he assisted the Hon. Chief Judge Robert Shelby with daily matters and acquired a working knowledge of the court system.
