Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Donald R. Andersen is admitted to practice in Georgia, Florida and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office .  A practicing attorney for more than 35 years, he has been lead or co-counsel on intellectual property, aviation and product liability cases in state and federal courts throughout the country. Don is one of only 32 attorneys to be certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in the field of aviation law.  He is a licensed and active commercial, instrument and multi-engine rated pilot.  He is trained in alternative dispute resolution as a mediator. 

Recent Assignments

• Filed amicus curiae brief for National Aircraft Finance Association in support of a petition to the United States Supreme Court.  Click here to view an article reviewing the case.  Aerolease of America v. Ferrer.
• Prosecution and defense of patent and trademark litigation in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast.

• Defense of major foreign airline in intellectual property litigation in Eastern District of Virginia

• Defense of aviation accident litigation in the Southeast

• Defense of major product manufacturer in automotive products liability defense litigation.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

• "Recent Developments in Aviation Product Liability Law," Defense Research Institute, Product Liability Seminar, Las Vegas, April 11-13, 2012
• "Recent Developments in Aviation Finance Law," National Aircraft Finance Association, Savannah, Ga., April 25, 2012
• "Recent Developments in Aviation," State Bar of Georgia, April 26, 2012

Speaking Engagements

• "America Invents Act," January 2012
• "Recent Developments in Aviation Case Law," September 15, 2011
• "Perspectives from the Experts on U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bilski v. Kappos," Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), co-author with Jeffrey A. Haeberlin, Stephen J. Weyer and Professor Tim Holbrook, Emory University School of Law, August 17, 2010
• "Recent Developments in Aviation Case Law," 21st Annual Embry-Riddle Aviation Law & Insurance Symposium 2010
• "Recent Developments in Aviation Case Law," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, March 17, 2010
• "Ethics of Agreements Affecting Litigation," SMU Air Law Symposium, 2004
• Manufacturers’ Liability, ABA National Institute, Litigation in Aviation, 1992
• Defense of Manufacturers in Aviation Product Liability Cases, Embry-Riddle Aviation Law Symposium, 1992.

Papers and Publications

• "Recent Developments in Aviation Law," Annual Florida Bar Convention, 2011, 2010
• "Recent Developments in Aviation Case Law," Aviation Insurance Association Annual Conference, 2011, 2010
• "Recent Developments in Aviation Case Law," Aviation and Aerospace Subcommittee meeting, Product Liability Conference, Defense Research Institute, April 7, 2010, 2011
• “Recent Developments in Aviation Case Law,” SMU Air Law Symposium 1984, 1994, 2009
• Representative of Aircraft Manufacturers, ABA National Institute, Litigation in Aviation, 1992
• “The Constitutional Aspects of the Airport Noise Problem in Georgia,” 10 Georgia Law Review 218, 1975.

Before Stites & Harbison

Mr. Andersen has been actively involved in litigation in intellectual property, products liability, and aviation matters for more than 35 years,  He also was Associate General Counsel for Piper Aircraft Corporation from 1989 to 1991, responsible for products liability and commercial litigation throughout the United States. He filed the Piper Aircraft Corporation Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings in 1991, before returning to private practice at that time. He has been licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1976 and is one of 16 currently with the firm. He served with the U.S. Navy in 1968 -1974, as a member of the U.S. Naval Security Group.

More Than Stites & Harbison

Don currently serves as the chair-elect of the Aviation Specialized Litigation Group of the Product Liability Committee of the Defense Research Institute. He is past president of the Aero Club of Atlanta, and active in Angel Flight of Georgia, which provides transportation for needy medical patients and their families. He has also volunteered weekly for the past ten years with the Metropolitan Atlanta Recovery Residences for men recovering from addiction.  He also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and is president of the Church Council at the Tucker First United Methodist Church.

Besides Stites & Harbison

He enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, aged 32 and 27, and enjoys flying, traveling and reading. And he's managed to complete the Atlanta Half Marathon on several outings.