Alexander E. Long is a distinguished legal and business executive whose career has been defined by the intersection of innovation, leadership, and strategic problem-solving. With more than three decades of professional experience spanning engineering, intellectual property law, litigation, executive leadership, and organizational development, Alex has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to global enterprises navigating complex technological, regulatory, and competitive landscapes. His professional journey reflects a rare blend of technical expertise, legal sophistication, and executive-level business acumen that has allowed him to lead at the highest levels of corporate and legal environments.
Currently serving as Chief IP Counsel & General Counsel – Engineering for GE Aerospace, Alex oversees the intellectual property strategy and engineering legal operations for one of the world’s most influential aerospace companies. GE Aerospace, a multibillion-dollar global enterprise, develops and manufactures advanced jet engines, aerospace systems, and aviation technologies serving both commercial and military sectors around the world. In this role, Alex is responsible for safeguarding mission-critical technologies, protecting the company’s vast research and development investments, and guiding legal strategy across a highly regulated and intensely competitive industry. His leadership extends across a global team of more than 50 professionals, including patent counsel, litigation specialists, operational personnel, and competitive analysis experts.
Throughout his tenure at GE Aerospace, Alex has become known for his ability to align intellectual property strategy with long-term business objectives. He has led initiatives focused on portfolio development, freedom-to-operate analysis, licensing negotiations, proprietary data protection, and international dispute resolution. His work has directly contributed to protecting the company’s technological advantages while also unlocking strategic business opportunities. Under his leadership, the organization has successfully managed complex trade secret and patent litigation matters across the United States, Europe, and China, while also overseeing IP monetization initiatives that generated significant enterprise value.
Alex’s leadership style is rooted in collaboration, mentorship, and organizational empowerment. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to build high-performing teams while creating environments that encourage innovation, accountability, and professional growth. His experience leading large cross-functional organizations has made him particularly effective at bridging communication between engineering, executive leadership, business operations, and legal departments. He is widely respected for translating highly technical and legal concepts into strategic business decisions that drive measurable outcomes.
Before joining GE Aerospace, Alex spent a decade with Latham & Watkins LLP, one of the world’s premier global law firms, where he rose from associate to Equity Partner. During his time at the firm, he focused extensively on intellectual property litigation, strategic counseling, licensing disputes, and patent enforcement matters involving cutting-edge technologies. He represented clients across industries including biotechnology, medical devices, telecommunications, aerospace, semiconductors, software, and life sciences. His work required not only exceptional legal skill but also a sophisticated understanding of rapidly evolving technologies and the business realities surrounding them.
As a litigation leader, Alex became known for his ability to manage highly complex disputes involving substantial financial and operational risk. He guided clients through every stage of litigation, including case strategy development, discovery management, claim construction hearings, arbitration proceedings, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation. His analytical mindset and calm leadership under pressure earned him the trust of corporate executives and clients facing mission-critical legal challenges. At the same time, he developed a strong reputation as a strategic counselor capable of helping organizations proactively mitigate risk before disputes arose.
What distinguishes Alex from many executives in the legal profession is his multidisciplinary foundation. Prior to entering law, he worked in management consulting and information systems strategy roles with Sapient and Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture. These experiences provided him with valuable exposure to business process reengineering, enterprise systems architecture, organizational transformation, and client strategy development. Working within technology-driven consulting environments helped shape his holistic perspective on how organizations operate, innovate, and compete. It also strengthened his ability to view legal and intellectual property issues through a broader operational and commercial lens.
Alex’s educational background further reinforces the depth of his expertise. He earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s leading institutions for engineering and innovation. He later earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where he graduated with distinction and served as an Associate Editor of the Northwestern University Law Review. His combination of engineering and legal education has been instrumental in his ability to understand highly technical subject matter while simultaneously navigating sophisticated legal and business challenges.
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Alex has remained deeply committed to professional leadership, mentorship, and service. He currently serves on the Board of the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation and also serves as a Corporate Representative and Executive Committee Member for the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Earlier in his career, he served on the Board of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. These roles reflect his enduring commitment to community engagement, leadership development, and expanding opportunities for others.
Alex is also a respected voice within the intellectual property and legal communities. Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous national and international conferences as a speaker, moderator, panelist, and author. His presentations have addressed topics such as patent litigation strategy, intellectual property governance, antitrust implications in innovation, and legal operations modernization. He has been recognized for his leadership and influence through honors including San Diego Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar,” recognition by Vanguard Magazine, and selection as a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative. These accomplishments underscore both his professional credibility and his broader impact on the legal and business communities.
As he enters the next chapter of his professional journey, Alex is actively seeking opportunities to serve on corporate and advisory boards where he can continue contributing his strategic insight, operational leadership, and extensive experience. Motivated by a desire to diversify his network, mentor future leaders, and remain actively engaged in helping organizations grow and innovate, he brings tremendous value to companies navigating transformation, expansion, governance challenges, or technological disruption. His experience across Fortune 500 leadership, global law practice, engineering, and consulting uniquely positions him to provide balanced, forward-thinking guidance in today’s increasingly complex business environment.
At his core, Alex believes leadership is about stewardship, integrity, and empowering others to succeed. He is passionate about helping organizations protect their most valuable assets while creating cultures of innovation, resilience, and collaboration. His career reflects not only professional excellence, but also a consistent commitment to helping people and organizations realize their fullest potential. With a rare ability to combine strategic thinking, technical understanding, and compassionate leadership, Alexander E. Long continues to leave a lasting impact on every organization and community he serves.
Character:
Alexander Long demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and accountability in every aspect of his leadership. He is recognized as a trusted advisor who consistently approaches challenges with fairness, discipline, and ethical judgment. His commitment to mentorship, organizational stewardship, and service-oriented leadership reflects a deep respect for people, collaboration, and long-term relationship building.
Knowledge:
He possesses an exceptional depth of expertise spanning intellectual property law, engineering, litigation strategy, organizational development, and executive leadership. His multidisciplinary background enables him to navigate highly technical, legal, and business environments with confidence and precision. He brings decades of practical experience advising global organizations on innovation protection, strategic growth, and risk management across numerous industries.
Strategic:
Alexander is highly skilled at aligning legal, operational, and business objectives to drive sustainable organizational success. He has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and implement forward-thinking solutions that create measurable value. His leadership in global intellectual property strategy, dispute resolution, and cross-functional team management highlights his ability to think strategically while executing effectively.
Communication:
An articulate and thoughtful communicator who excels at translating complex technical and legal concepts into clear business guidance. He has extensive experience presenting before executive leadership teams, industry conferences, legal forums, and cross-functional stakeholders. His collaborative communication style fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and enables productive decision-making across organizations.
