About Howard
Howard practices in the firm’s Litigation and Intellectual Property sections, where he specializes in complex civil litigation, including business disputes relating to intellectual property and technology, and advises clients on intellectual property issues. He serves as Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property, Technology and E-Discovery practice section.
Howard has experience with the full spectrum of issues and claims that can come into play in commercial litigation, including contract, fraud, trademark, trade dress, trade secret, patent, copyright, false advertising, and unfair competition, as well as the corporate law issues involved in disputes between business owners and investors. He has worked with a wide variety of industries and technologies, including medical implants and products, high speed scanning devices, waste disposal technology, printing ink formulations, and automotive components. He also has significant experience with cases involving custom software and website design and development.
Howard is a Martindale-Hubbell featured AV Peer Review Rated Lawyer. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he teaches a class on the laws affecting computer technology, software and the Internet. He also serves actively on committees of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. He chairs the Firm’s Technology Committee.
Prior to entering private practice, Howard clerked for Judge Edwin L. Nelson of The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He has also served as a judicial intern for Senior Judge Edward S. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Howard received his B.S.E., cum laude, from Duke University School of Engineering and his J.D., summa cum laude, from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. While in law school he was Editor-In-Chief of the Cumberland Law Review.
Howard Cross-Examined
![[Image] Howard P. Walthall, Jr.](../ppics/3949.jpg)
My wife, Kate and I spend much of our time doting on our three-year old daughter Lillie. We are active members of Independent Presbyterian Church. I serve on the Board of Center Stage, a local theatre group. I’m also a member of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) Roundtable, which gives young civic and business leaders the opportunity to study issues and governmental policies affecting Alabama.
What is your favorite thing about the law? Learning about new problems, and working together with clients and colleagues to come up with creative solutions.
What are your hobbies? Reading, cycling, and spending time with friends and family.
What advice would you give to a young student in law school? Regardless of what you did before law school, the law is a new world. Enjoy exploring it.