Ernest Lipscomb

Our friend and colleague Ernest B. “Lip” Lipscomb passed away on February 26, 2023. Lip “retired” to Charleston from Alston & Bird in Charlotte. His retirement was brief as he promptly joined with B.C.  Killough for another 17 successful years in Charleston. He co-taught patent law at the University of South Carolina School of Law for six years with B.C., which was fun for both of them. Lip Lipscomb was a gentleman, and it was a joy to work with him.  He was a fountain of knowledge, having published numerous books on patent law, some of which have been cited by the United States Supreme Court.  He practiced law right up to the end of last year when his illness became acute. Lip Lipscomb’s obituary may be viewed here, his law firm bio is below. A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Ernest B. Lipscomb, III has been practicing law for over 50 years. He is the author of the seminal eleven-volume treatise in the patent field, Lipscomb’s Walker on Patents, author of Lipscomb’s Patent Claims and has testified as an expert witness in patent cases. He formerly served as an adjunct professor, teaching patent law, at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Ernest Lipscomb previously practiced as a partner with law firm of Alston and Bird in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a concentration in chemical, pharmaceutical and medical device patents. He has more than 20 years experience as in house intellectual property counsel for major corporations such as Westvaco, Revlon Inc., and Rorer Group, Inc. In addition, he has served as an Examiner in the United States Patent Office.