About DeAnna D.
DeAnna D. Allen is a partner at Cooley LLP, located in Washington, D.C., where she specializes in intellectual property law. With a robust legal background, she was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1996 and the District of Columbia Bar in 2004. In addition to her state bar admissions, Ms. Allen is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, highlighting her expertise in patent law. Her academic credentials are equally impressive; she earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996, following her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1990. At Cooley, Ms.
Allen serves as lead counsel in multiple patent litigation defenses for a Fortune 100 consumer retailer. Her approach has resulted in favorable outcomes in each case, demonstrating her effectiveness in high-stakes legal environments. Beyond litigation, she provides business-oriented intellectual property advice to clients at various stages of development. This includes assessing patent risks, advising on technology-centric trade secrets, and navigating standard essential patent practices. Her expertise extends to IP-related deal diligence and managing IP rights in government contracting, making her a valuable asset to her clients. Before joining Cooley in 2012, Ms. Allen worked as an instrumentation and control design engineer for Florida Power and Light. This engineering background enriches her legal practice.
This lets the attorney understand complex technical issues that often arise in intellectual property cases. Her transition from engineering to law exemplifies her commitment to bridging the gap between technology and legal frameworks, a skill that is increasingly vital in today’s tech-driven world. Ms. Allen is actively involved in several professional organizations, including the National Association of Women Lawyers, the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. Her contributions to the field have not gone unnoticed; she has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers for 2025 and has received multiple accolades from Benchmark Litigation and The Legal 500 US. These honors reflect her dedication to excellence in intellectual property law and her reputation among peers. In addition to her practice, Ms. Allen is admitted to practice before the U.S.
District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Her diverse legal qualifications and experience make her a prominent figure in the field of intellectual property law. With a strong foundation in both engineering and law, DeAnna D. Allen continues to be a leader in providing innovative solutions for her clients in an ever-evolving legal field.
