MEET ME! Q&A with Parrish Nordan, Patent Attorney & Founder of Nordan Licensing

Describe your business and your client base

I am a Registered Patent Attorney and the founder of Nordan Licensing, an intellectual property law, licensing, and technology innovation firm. I have a technical background in the life sciences, and I currently serve as the Chief Intellectual Property Officer for the Birmingham, AL healthcare technology startup, U.S. Consumer Healthcare Advocacy Group. My main focus is on biotechnology and AI patent prosecution. I consult and build and manage the intellectual property portfolios for inventors and innovators, technology startups, corporate clients, and Fortune 100 companies. As part of the Auxana Inc. Community, I serve an intellectual property advisor. I am the IP & innovation resource for the outsourced general counsel of technology startups, IP portfolio companies, and large corporations. A strong intellectual property portfolio is one of the most valuable assets of any brand or company, and I am the resource for increasing the valuation of brands and companies through their innovation, licensing, and IP portfolios.

How did you get here?

Originally from the Black Belt Region of Alabama, I have always loved science and innovating. I studied biology and political science at The University of Alabama, and then earned my Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law for the purpose of practicing intellectual property law and technology innovation. Before founding Nordan Licensing, I was an associate at one of the oldest defense law firms in Birmingham, AL. Being an associate at a well-established Birmingham law firm was an excellent experience, and during that time, Birmingham was experiencing an intellectual property and technology innovation renaissance. So I left my downtown firm to found a firm focused on providing a full-range of intellectual property services as Birmingham was becoming a national hub for intellectual property. I started out representing and consulting tech startups and individual inventors and innovators and quickly began advising large corporations, managing corporate IP portfolios, and negotiating licensing agreements with Fortune 100 companies. Now, everyday is fun. My goal is to provide the professional resources that startups and corporations need to build the IP portfolios that increase company valuations and advance them to a higher level of financial success.

What gets you up in the morning? How do you typically start your day?

Each morning during the week I wake up knowing that I am going to be practicing an area of law in which I am well-experienced and enjoy. I have always been optimistic about life in general, but what excites me is seeing the innovators, startups, and corporations I work with advance, grow, and increase company and brand valuations. More specifically, I love seeing an inventor’s patent issued by the USPTO and knowing that I helped him take his innovation to the highest level possible. Then on the weekends, especially during the fall, what gets me out of bed is supporting The University of Alabama in every aspect and watching the Tide roll in Bryant-Denny stadium.

What would you do if you weren’t in your current role?

If I were not in my current role, I would probably focus on marine biology. I love being outdoors, and I enjoy taking advantage of Alabama’s wildlife and conservation opportunities. Marine Biology was only offered as a minor when I was at Alabama, so a career in marine biology was out of the question. And still today, I enjoy immersing myself in marine biology, conservation, and wildlife opportunities.

What was your first job? 

My first job was working as a dock hand and busser at Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, AL. I worked at Lulu’s the entire summer after graduating high school before my freshman year at The University of Alabama. Some days would be short and others 12-15 hours long, but everyday I was working on the water with a live band every evening. Most of the staff were in college at Alabama, Ole Miss, and UGA, and we would hang out after work and on our days off. And one evening around the end of June, Jimmy Buffett showed up to enjoy an Alabama sunset with cold drinks, live music, and relaxation at his sister’s restaurant on the Intercoastal Canal. That summer I learned a lot, met friends that are still some of my best friends today, and made some college money during a short four months.

Thank you! Before you go, is there anything you’d like to add?

“You can build things of your own that other people can use. And once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”
— Steve Jobs