Lippes Mathias LLP partner David C. Johnson recently spoke at the International Trademark Association’s 2025 Trademark Administrators and Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting, held September 28–30 in Berlin, Germany.

Johnson participated in a session titled “Co-Branding, Licensing, and Influencer Partnerships—Legal and Strategic Considerations.” The panel examined the legal and reputational risks that arise in influencer collaborations and brand partnerships, offering practical insights into structuring co-branding and licensing deals. Panelists discussed real-world examples and shared guidance for legal and marketing professionals navigating this evolving landscape.

About David C. Johnson

David Johnson, a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Team, focuses his practice on helping businesses manage complex brand issues through intellectual property strategies, prosecution, and enforcement. His clients have ranged from pre-launch start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. He works on a variety of branding and technology-related matters, including social media and advertising, marketing, privacy, product and packaging claims review, and intellectual property transactions.

Dave draws on his in-house legal and business experience to help clients plan their long-term business goals and tolerances for risk in strategically managing, building, and protecting multi-national intellectual property portfolios. He also has experience guiding clients through a wide range of commercial transactions, including IP acquisitions and licensing, influencer engagements, and publishing agreements.

Dave advises influencers and brands working with influencers on their disclosure requirements, licensing, merchandising, and engagement agreements.

In his consumer privacy practice, Dave counsels clients on the development of privacy compliance programs, privacy notices, contract remediation, and other issues related to obligations under US privacy laws and the extraterritorial aspects of international privacy laws affecting US businesses.

While earning his J.D. from William & Mary Law School, Dave served as Executive Editor of the William & Mary Business Law Review, Staff Editor of the William & Mary Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Conference Journal and was a member of the Business Law Field Consultancy Clinic at William & Mary’s Mason School of Business.

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 220-plus attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.