Alan Wernick

Alan S. Wernick, an attorney in private practice, is admitted to practice in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and the District of Columbia, and is based in the Chicago area. He is a Martindale-Hubbell® AV rated attorney and a Leading Lawyer in Computer and Technology Law. In addition, he is a writer and frequent contributor to a number of publications and has published more than 100 articles, including an “Info Tech Law” column for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, a "Technology Law" column for Inside Counsel,  and articles for the National Law Journal. Alan is also a frequent lecturer, having delivered more than 80 public presentations at local, regional, national, and international business, technical, and legal conferences; and has been a guest lecturer to classes in The Fisher College of Business MBA program and in the Moritz College of Law at OSU and the College of Engineering Department of Computer Science and Enigineering. He has been mentioned in several business publications including the Wall Street Journal and Business First.

Combining his background in law, technology, and business, Alan’s practice since 1982 has focused in information technology law, computer law, and intellectual property law, with an emphasis on the legal and business needs of buyers and sellers in the computer and information industries. His experience includes computer system acquisitions; mergers and acquisitions due diligence for information technology, copyright, trademark, and licensing matters; data privacy; e-commerce; content acquisition; licensing; and outsourcing. He provides practical legal advice and strategic counseling to clients in connection with significant transactional and dispute resolution matters. Alan has also co-counseled with numerous attorneys in various transactional and dispute resolution matters.

Alan is a partner in the law firm of FSB FisherBroyles LLP and has previously been a partner in several other law firms, including Quarles & Brady, McBride Baker & Coles, and Roetzel & Andress.  In addition to his transactional practice focus in information technology law and intellectual property law, he has advised and counseled clients in business law matters, and before entering private practice worked as a General Counsel to a large real estate company. Alan has represented clients in the United States District Courts, United States Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court., and since 1984 has also served as an arbitrator and mediator.

In addition to his J.D. degree from Capital University Law School, he has taken additional course work at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and has participated in numerous continuing legal education seminars. While at Capital University Law School, he won the competition for Best Written Motion, received an award for his writing ability, was appointed research assistant to the Dean of the Law School, and was a member of the Moot Court (Tax) team. Alan has a B.S. in Accounting from Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and a technical background in computer programming. While at The Ohio State University, Alan worked as a research assistant (both in the College of Business and in the College of Pharmacy) doing computer programming and consulting for faculty, staff, and students. During the year between completing his undergraduate degree and beginning law school, he worked as an auditor for one of the country’s largest banks, and as a computer systems operator.

His professional activities include: Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Guide to Computer Law for Wolters Kluwer Publishing; member of the Advisory Board for BNA’s Electronic Commerce & Law Report; member of the American Bar Association (serving as the Newsletter Director for the Section of Business Law, Cyberspace Law Committee); member of the Ohio State Bar Association (where he was the founding Chairman of the Digital Technology Law Committee – formerly known as the Computer Law Committee); and a member of the International Technology Law Association (formerly serving on the Board of Directors). Since 1984 Alan has been a member of the American Arbitration Association Neutrals Panels (Technology, Intellectual Property, and Large Complex Case Panels), and an Arbitrator Trainer. His civic volunteer activities include having been a member of Rotary International, working as a volunteer helper at a local food pantry; and serving on various boards and committees for non-profit community organizations. Additional details about Alan are available at wernick.com.

Wernick lives in Northbrook, IL, along with his wife Jennifer.  Their daughter is a 2009 graduate from the Ohio State University.   Their son is studying aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University.  In his free time he enjoys being with his family, reading, writing, computers, martial arts, and walking their dog.”

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