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William Gabriel Pagan
About William
Biography
William G. Pagán is a multi award-winning patent attorney, a member of the NC State Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame, and a named inventor on over 130 patent applications; an achievement that earned him the title of Master Inventor during his nearly 15 years at IBM in various software/hardware engineering and intellectual property roles. Nationally-recognized as a Hispanic Luminary in the STEM disciplines at the Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, he has significant technical expertise in software, computers, telecommunications, consumer electronics, systems management, & related fields. In addition to his Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science, he graduated Summa Cum Laude (highest honors) from NCCU Law as their Evening Program valedictorian.
Will practices law at Coats & Bennett, PLLC, where he uses his engineering background to represent inventors, developers, and content creators in obtaining, enforcing, and monetizing patent, copyright, and trademark rights. He also helps technology companies understand and navigate the intellectual property rights of others, among other things. His experience as a private patent attorney, corporate patent engineer, and hardware/software developer gives him significant insight into the legal, business, and technical sides to patent development, enforcement, valuation, licensing, and transfer objectives.
Will's practice has historically had a substantial technical focus grounded in software, computing devices, and telecommunications, which reflect his professional engineering experience. While at IBM, Mr. Pagán was mostly entrenched in IBM's server development business, leading teams across companies and geographies in the development of software to interface with the embedded software and micro-controllers in IBM's Intel x86/64 and Power PC-based server architectures, whether in rack, tower, chassis, blade, or cloud configurations. His leadership work on IBM’s Intel-based Thurley platforms in particular won him an Outstanding Technical Achievement Award.
Will's leadership throughout his storied legal and engineering careers has also been marked by committed volunteer service and mentorship. One way in which Will serves his community is as the NC Wing Legal Officer of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), United States Air Force Auxilliary, in which he holds the grade of Captain. CAP is congressionally chartered to provide emergency services (e.g., air/ground search and rescue, disaster relief), aerospace education, and youth programs to the public. The NC Wing Legal Officer is an attorney pro bono volunteer that is a member of the NC Wing Commander's staff and supervises a team of Assistant Legal Officers (who are also attorneys) throughout the state of NC. He advises on legal implications of CAP programs and activities, which may include issues pertaining to, e.g., interpretation of laws and regulations; contracts and agreements; insurance; real estate; taxation; investigations; corporate records and organizations; and relations with local agencies.
Will is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, as well as before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is a life member of the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers and the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals.
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in North Carolina for 11 years
State: North Carolina
Acquired: 2014
No misconduct found
Location
Davis Hartman Wright LLP
309 Pollock Street, New Bern, NC, 28560
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Experience
Honors
2026
The Best Lawyers In America: Patent Law, Best Lawyers
2026
The Best Lawyers In America: Litigation - Intellectual Property, Best Lawyers
2025
The Best Lawyers In America: Litigation - Intellectual Property, Best Lawyers
2024
Intellectual Property Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2024
The Best Lawyers In America: Litigation - Intellectual Property, Best Lawyers
2023
Intellectual Property Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2022
Intellectual Property Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2021
Intellectual Property Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2020
Intellectual Property Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2019
North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, Supreme Court of North Carolina
2019
Intellectual Property Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2019
Outstanding Achievement Pro Bono Award, NC Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section
2019
Meritorious Service Award, Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
2019
Major General Dwight H Wheless Legal Officer of the Year (NCWG), Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
2019
Major General Dwight H Wheless Legal Officer of the Year (MAR), Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
2018
North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, Supreme Court of North Carolina
2018
Forty Under Forty, North Carolina Central University
2018
CSC Alumni Hall of Fame, North Carolina State University
2018
Leaders In the Law, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
2017
North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, Supreme Court of North Carolina
2017
2nd Commander's Commendation (Wing), Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
2016
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, United States Air Force
2016
Leaders In the Law, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
2016
Commander's Commendation (Wing), Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
2015
Top Patent Firms #81, Intellectual Property Today
2015
Technician-Rated Legal Officer, Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
2014
Top Patent Firms #108, Intellectual Property Today
2014
Daniel G. Sampson Award for Scholarship (Evening Program), North Carolina Central University School of Law
2014
Pro Bono Certificate, North Carolina Bar Association
2014
Valedictorian / Summa Cum Laude, North Carolina Central University School of Law
2012
37th Plateau Invention Achievement Award, IBM
2011
Prior Artist Award, New York Law School / Peer-to-Patent
2010
Outstanding Technical Achievement Award, IBM
2009
Inventor of the Year, RTP, IBM
2008
Role Model of the Week, HENAAC
2007
Star Award, Distributed Management Task Force
2007
Luminary Award, Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Corporation
2006
Master Inventor, IBM
Work Experience
2019 - Present
Patent Attorney, Member, Coats & Bennett, PLLC
2024 - 2025
Adjunct Professor, North Carolina Central University School of Law
2014 - 2018
Patent Attorney, Associate, Coats & Bennett, PLLC
2013 - 2014
Patent Agent, Coats & Bennett, PLLC
1999 - 2013
Software Engineer / Master Inventor / Patent Engineer, IBM
Associations
2023 - Present
International Association of Privacy ProfessionalsCertified Information Privacy Professional/United States
2020 - Present
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitAdmitted Attorney
2019 - Present
United States District Court for the Middle District of North CarolinaAdmitted Attorney
2019 - Present
Hispanic National Bar AssociationMember
2019 - Present
Puerto Rican Bar Association of IllinoisMember
2019 - Present
United States District Court for the Western District of North CarolinaAdmitted Attorney
2015 - Present
Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force AuxiliaryNorth Carolina Wing Legal Officer
2014 - Present
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North CarolinaAdmitted Attorney
2014 - Present
United States Patent and Trademark OfficeRegistered Patent Attorney
2014 - Present
10th Judicial District BarMember
2011 - Present
North Carolina Bar AssociationMember
North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals
Life Member
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Life Member
2023 - 2024
North Carolina Central University School of LawChair of the Board of Visitors
2022 - 2023
North Carolina Central University School of LawVice Chair of the Board of Visitors
2022 - 2024
Hispanic National Bar AssociationDeputy Regional President, Region VI
2020 - 2021
North Carolina Central University School of LawMember at Large of the Board of Visitors
2010 - 2014
United States Patent and Trademark OfficeRegistered Patent Agent
Education
2014
North Carolina Central University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2003
North Carolina State University
MS - Master of Science
1999
Pace University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2024
USPTO Listening Session
Impact of the Proliferation of AI on Prior Art and PHOSITA
2024
HBCU IP & Tech Law Summit
The Impact of Data Privacy & Security on Society and the Practice of Law
2023
2023 Law and Technology Summit
The Patent Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence
2020
Fall 2020 Patent Law Course (2 Days)
Judicial Exceptions to Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: Abstract Ideas
2018
Fall 2018 CSC Diploma Ceremony
Keynote Address
2017
NCSHP Quarterly Meet & Greet
Intellectual Property: Securing a Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace
2017
Cup of Technology Radio Program
Views on the Intersection of Law, Technology, Education, and Social Justice
2016
Effective IP Asset Protection for Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical Facing Subject Matter Eligibility Challenges in 2016
Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: Arguing Against Abstract Idea Rejections
2015
NCCU IP Law Panel Discussion
Intellectual Property Law
2014
Taking Flight: Meet William Pagán
Biographical Interview
2014
NCCU Law 2014 Commencement
Valedictory
2011
IBM Patent Development Lecture
Effective Leadership of Invention Brainstorming Sessions
2010
IBM Webcast
Getting Agile in the Real World: Best Practice Adoption in Complex Environments
2009
SHPE Region VII Conference
Key Leadership and Advancement Behaviors
2008
Best Practices in Standards Participation
Successful Personal Interactions in Working Groups
2007
IBM Speaking Engagement
Being a Successful Inventor: Practical Advice for All Levels of Inventors
2007
IBM Speaking Engagement
How to Efficiently Write Effective Patent Disclosures
2007
Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference
Leadership in the Management and Technical Executive Tracks
2006
Microsoft Management Summit
IBM Systems Management Technologies and Importance of Interoperability Standards
2006
Management Developers Conference
SMASH Forum Overview and SMASH CLP Validation
2004
IBM Tech Connect
Eliminating Systems Management Device Drivers via Enhanced Serial Port Architecture
Publications
2013
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Law Review
Compulsory Licensing of Gene Patents in the Public Interest
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can I keep my onesie from being trademark infringed?
05 Sep 2018
Q&A
Can my husband be sued for designing and selling t-shirts with is own original design of sports team logos?
07 Dec 2014