William G. Pagán

Member

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 over the course of nearly 15 years of developing patentable technologies for IBM in various software/hardware engineering and intellectual property roles. In 2010, he was also named IBM’s RTP Inventor of the Year.

Nationally-recognized as a Luminary in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines at the Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, Will has significant technical experience 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 leverages a deep and diverse background in engineering and business to provide legal representation to inventors and other content creators.  Among other things, he helps clients obtain, enforce, and monetize patent, copyright, and trademark rights. He also helps clients understand and navigate the intellectual property rights of others. His experience as a patent attorney, inventor, patent engineer, and hardware/software developer gives him significant insight into the legal, business, and technical aspects of patent development, enforcement, valuation, licensing, and transfer objectives.

Will’s professional engineering experience includes over a decade in IBM’s server development business, personally writing code and 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.  His leadership work on IBM’s Intel-based Thurley platforms in particular earned him an Outstanding Technical Achievement Award.  He also served in IBM’s IP Licensing and Assignments organization, analyzing patents for value and relevance to the marketplace, and conducting technical investigations into cases of potential patent infringement.

Will’s leadership throughout his storied legal and engineering careers has also been marked by committed volunteer service and mentorship.  Will proudly serves his community as the NC Wing Legal Officer of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), United States Air Force Auxiliary, 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. For his pro bono service, Will is regularly admitted to the NC Pro Bono Honor Society, and has been recognized by the NC Bar Association.

Other organizations that have recognized Will’s contributions to the legal and engineering professions include NC Lawyers Weekly, which has twice named him one of their Leaders in the Law; a honor given to only 30 or so attorneys statewide each year.  He was also honored as one of NCCU’s Top 40 Under 40; an honor only given biennially to outstanding alumni for significant contributions in the arts, law, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, the military, education, business, philanthropy, and public service.  He has also been selected to the Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers; a distinction given to no more than 2.5% of attorneys statewide.  For his work in developing systems management protocol conformance programs, he was also given a Star Award by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).

Will is admitted to practice law in all district and federal courts of North Carolina, as well as before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  He is proud to be a life member of both the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers and the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals.

Education

• North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina
  • Juris Doctor, Summa Cum Laude
  • Evening Program Valedictorian
  • Top Forty Under Forty Alumni Award
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Master of Computer Science
  • Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame
• Pace University, New York, New York
  • B.S., Computer Science

Selected Honors

• IBM
  • Master Inventor, Corporate Headquarters / Office of the CIO, 2011
  • Research Triangle Park Inventor of the Year, 2010
  • Outstanding Technical Achievement, 2007
  • Master Inventor, Systems & Technology Group, 2006
  • Invention Plateau Award (37 times)
• United States Air Force
  • Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, 2018
• Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary
  • Meritorious Service Award, 2019
  • Wing Commander’s Commendation, 2016, 2017
  • Major General Dwight H Wheless Legal Officer of the Year
    • Mid-Atlantic Region (incl. DE, MD, DC, NC, SC, VA, WV), 2019
    • NC Wing, 2019
• North Carolina Bar Association IP Law Section
  • Outstanding Achievement Pro Bono, 2019
• North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center
  • NC Pro Bono Honor Society, 2017-2018
• North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
  • Leaders in the Law, 2016, 2018
• Super Lawyers
  • Intellectual Property Rising Star, 2019, 2020
• Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference
  • Role Model of the Week, 2008
  • Luminary Award, 2007
• Distributed Management Task Force
  • Star Award, 2007

Selected Past Positions / Roles

• IBM
  • Patent Engineer/Analyst, IP Licensing & Assignments, Corporate Headquarters, 2011-2013
  • Master Inventor, Corporate Headquarters / Office of the CIO, 2011-2013
  • Master Inventor, Systems & Technology Group, 2006-2013
  • Software Engineer, System x Server Development, Systems & Technology Group, 1999-2011
• Distributed Management Task Force
  • Chairman & IBM Representative, SMASH / Systems Management Forum, 2005-2007

Professional Associations

• Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers, Life Member
• North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, Life Member
• Hispanic National Bar Association, Member
• Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois, Member

Pro Bono Activities

Media/Speaking Engagements

• Keynote Address, NC State Computer Science Diploma Ceremony, Fall 2018
• Intellectual Property: Securing a Competitive Advantage in the Marketplace, North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, 2017
• Guest Interview, Cup of Technology, WCOM-LP 103.5 FM, 2017
• Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: Arguing Against Abstract Idea Rejections, The Knowledge Group, 2016
• IP Law Panel Discussion, NCCU School of Law, 2015
• Taking Flight: Meet William Pagán, NCCU, 2014
• Valedictory Address, NCCU School of Law Commencement Ceremony, Spring 2014
• Effective Leadership of Invention Brainstorming, IBM, 2011 to 2013
• Being a Successful Inventor: Practical Advice for All Levels of Inventors, IBM, 2007 to 2013
• Efficiently Writing Effective Patent Disclosures, IBM, 2007 to 2013
• Getting Agile in the Real World: Best Practice Adoption in Complex Environments, IBM Webcast, 2010
• Key Leadership and Advancement Behaviors, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Region VII Conference, 2009
• Best Practices in Standards Participation, IBM, 2008
• Host, Leadership in the Management and Technical Executive Tracks, Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference, 2007
• IBM Systems Management Technologies and Importance of Interoperability Standards, Microsoft Management Summit, 2006
• SMASH Forum Overview and SMASH CLP Validation, DMTF Management Developers Conference, 2006
• Eliminating Systems Management Device Drivers via Enhanced Serial Port Architecture, IBM Tech Connect, 2004

Bar Admissions

• State of North Carolina
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina