Mr. Johnston has over two decades of experience in preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications for clients ranging from large multinational corporations to startups and entrepreneurs. He has obtained over two hundred U.S. patents for clients and has extensive experience in foreign patent prosecution matters

Mr. Johnston’s practice also includes:

• preparing freedom-to-operate opinions
• patentability opinions and validity opinions · negotiating and preparing patent license, intellectual property ownership and confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements
• conducting patent enforcement actions, patent portfolio management and counseling clients with regard to various intellectual property issues
• performing and leading intellectual property due diligence efforts for mergers and acquisitions
• preparing trademark availability opinions, preparing, filing and prosecuting trademark applications

He also has experience with computer-based systems and methods in the utility, transportation, telecommunication, financial, real estate, online retail and inventory management fields.

Mr. Johnston has been a guest speaker at the Northwestern University College of Engineering and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has served as an officer in the United States Air Force and is a member of the American Legion.

Admissions

State of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

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