Jeff Johnson > WilmerHale > Boston, United States > Lawyer Profile

WilmerHale
60 STATE STREET
BOSTON, MA 02109
MASSACHUSETTS
United States

Work Department

Big Data; Cross-Border Transactions; Cybersecurity and Privacy; Emerging Company and Venture Capital; FinTech; Mergers and Acquisitions; Technology; Technology Transactions and Licensing

Position

Partner

Co-Chair, Technology Transactions and Licensing Practice

Career

Jeff Johnson represents public and private clients, from large public companies to new startups and emerging companies, in the data, digital health, healthcare, hardware, software, Internet, financial, Fintech, materials and other markets. The core areas of his practice include: development and commercialization of technology and products; complex arrangements involving intellectual property, software, data and services; and counselling private and charitable organizations on intellectual property and contracts issues and strategy and other organizational matters. Mr. Johnson handles more than 200 transactions per year in these areas of practice and was described as a “prolific… deal broker [who] has drafted and negotiated just about every type of deal possible” in the 2019 IAM Patent 1000 rankings editorial.

Mr. Johnson is co-chair of WilmerHale’s Technology Transactions and Licensing Practice. His practice focuses on drafting and negotiation of many types of contracts, including:

  • license agreements for data, software, copyright, technology and patent rights
    development agreements
  • collaboration and joint development agreements
  • manufacturing agreements
  • sales representative, referral and commission agreements
  • software-as-a-service (SaaS) and other Internet agreements
  • cybersecurity contracts
  • product distribution and reseller agreements
  • outsourcing agreements
  • complex services and consulting agreements
  • agreements for acquisition and sale of technology assets and related
  • transition services agreements
  • Internet advertising and use agreements
  • publishing agreements
  • joint venture agreements

Learn more about his practice and how he can support your startup on WilmerHaleLaunch.com.

Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Mr. Johnson was associated with another firm, where he represented a number of large and small public corporations in general corporate, licensing and securities matters.

Professional Activities
Mr. Johnson is Corporation Counsel and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Science (Boston).

Mr. Johnson speaks frequently about intellectual property and licensing transactions at academic and professional events, including at the Johnson School of Business at Cornell (Ithaca) and Cornell Law School (Cornell Tech, NYC).

Mr. Johnson is a member of the American Bar Association and the Licensing Executives Society. Mr. Johnson was Co-Chair of the Boston Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society from 2007 to 2012.

Memberships

Bar Admissions:
Massachusetts
New York

Other Organizations:
American Bar Association
Boston Bar Association

Education

Stanford Law School , J.D. (1998)
University of Maine , M.S. (1995)
University of Maine , B.S. (1993)

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions

WilmerHale provides a strong spread of services to its technology clients, including support on VC financings and M&A, through to advice on licensing, outsourcing, joint venture, development and distribution agreements. IP portfolio development and commercialisation is another key feature within the highly experienced team. The firm’s lawyers are also increasingly advising on the cybersecurity and privacy-related aspects of major transactions involving big data. Notable highlights include assisting Factorial Energy, a solid-state battery start-up, on agreements with Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis to commercialize its battery technology. Practice chair Mick Bain is backed by a deep bench which includes Jeff Johnson, Ariel Soiffer, and in San Francisco, Mat Trachok. Steven Barrett is ‘legally exceptional but with business practicality in mind’. All partners are based in Boston unless otherwise stated.