Mr. Airan is active in all aspects of intellectual property law. He has over 20 years of experience as an intellectual property trial attorney in dozens of high technology and high-stakes cases.
Mr. Airan has litigated matters in courts throughout the United States as well as in the International Trade Commission. His trial work focuses on patent and trade secret litigation and related competition disputes. He has represented clients in litigation involving a range of arts and practices, including computer software, generic drugs (Hatch Waxman Act), electrical connectors, imaging technology, mobile telephony, heavy machinery, and microprocessors.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Airan worked for General Motors as a lead manufacturing engineer and with Texas Instruments in the Defense Systems and Electronics Group. He also conducted research into digital signal processing under a National Science Foundation grant.
Mr. Airan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, magna cum laude, from Marquette University in 1989, and a J.D. degree from Northwestern University in 1993. During law school, he was a Note and Comment Editor for the Northwestern University Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.
Honors
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2023, 2026
- Named in the Illinois Super Lawyers list, Intellectual Property Litigation, 2006, 2008-2025
- Named in the Illinois Super Lawyers list, Intellectual Property Litigation, 2006, 2008-2025
- Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law – Leading Lawyers Network
- Listed among the Top Lawyers in Illinois in Intellectual Property Law – Chicago Lawyer
Professional Affiliations
- Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
Articles, Publications & Lectures
- “How Post-Grant Proceedings Have Impacted Patent Litigation,” Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois, April 6, 2016
- “New post-grant proceedings in patent litigation may help clients,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 18, 2013
- Contributing author and faculty to Practising Law Institute, How to Prepare Conduct Markman Hearings, published annually, from 2003 through 2007
- Frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education conferences
Practices
Technologies
Insights
- Leydig Attorneys Named The Best Lawyers in America® for 2026
August 21, 2025 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 21, 2025 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers
February 1, 2024 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 26, 2023 - Leydig Attorneys Named Best Lawyers by U.S. News
August 25, 2022 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 26, 2022 - Leydig attorneys named Best Lawyers by U.S. News
August 19, 2021 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 26, 2021 - Leydig attorneys named Best Lawyers by U.S. News
August 20, 2020 - Leydig attorneys named in Best Lawyers
February 28, 2020 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 26, 2020 - Leydig Attorneys Listed in 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
August 17, 2019 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2019 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 25, 2019 - Leydig Attorneys Listed in 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
August 17, 2018 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2018 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 25, 2018 - Leydig Attorneys Named 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers
January 18, 2017 - Leydig Attorneys Named in Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2016 Lists
December 4, 2015 - Leydig Attorneys Named in Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2015 Lists
January 16, 2015