Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson

Partner
Boston

 +  1 617 526 6394
 +  1 617 526 5000

I love working with startups because they are typically laser-focused on development and commercialization of technology and products, which are the core areas of my practice, and because it is a lot of fun to work with entrepreneurs who are enthused and dedicated to building their business.

Representative Experience: My practice focuses on technology and patent licensing, joint ventures and collaboration agreements, domestic and international distribution and reseller agreements, outsourcing agreements, services and consulting agreements, and acquisition and sale of technology assets. I recently represented a UK client in their negotiation and execution of a Supply Agreement with a major US industrial customer for the supply of magnets for use in MRI machines. I've also recently represented a developer of cutting-edge RFID tags and a client in its sale of a subsidiary.

Launch Moment: My most memorable experience working with a startup client is my longstanding work for Starent Networks over the course of a decade, from their formation as a startup early in my career, to their IPO and subsequent sale to Cisco Systems. I started working with Starent as a junior lawyer and became very closely involved in their contracting for in-licensing of technology, their commercialization of their products, and the eventual sale of their business. My career grew in a similar timeframe as Starent Networks, and I was able to see my efforts play a role in all the phases of development of that company. That experience, and many other similar experiences with other clients, provided me with a great deal of satisfaction in helping a group of dedicated entrepreneurs and engineers build a successful business. When I work with new startup clients, I always have the aim to help them build a business, and a relationship with me, that will last a decade or more leading to a successful exit if desired by the client.

Daily Reads: I read the news online and enjoy the news aggregator sites at RealClearWorld and Drudge.

Favorite Book: I have far too many favorite books to list, but most recently I enjoyed the non-fiction book Agent Zigzag, about an amazing UK double agent in WWII.

Off the Clock: I greatly enjoy fishing, hiking, and swimming the lakes and mountains of Maine and New Hampshire, and spending time with my very active elementary school children. These days, most of my spare time is spent at baseball, soccer and basketball games with the kids, but I escape to Maine and New Hampshire as often as possible.

JD, Stanford Law School, 1998

MS, Information Systems Policy, University of Maine, 1995

BS, Engineering, University of Maine, 1993

Massachusetts, New York, Texas

Corporate, Technology, Intellectual Property

Technology: Mobile, Telecom, Infrastructure, Digital Media, Software (includes SAAS and Cloud computing), Materials Sciences (includes nanotechnology, semiconductors, etc.), Energy, Clean Tech, Consumer, Fin Tech, Ed Tech, Healthcare IT, Services, Big Data