Michael A. Johnson

Biography

Michael's practice focuses on guiding and advising business start-ups through all aspects of formation and growth, including corporate form, contracts, and fundraising, with a particular focus on intellectual property. His clients include music licensing companies, tech companies, architecture and design firms, and various other businesses, for which he serves as a business advisor and outside general counsel. He also has extensive experience in a wide variety of civil litigation matters at both the trial and appellate level in state and federal courts across the country, particularly in the intellectual property and commercial litigation matters.

For each of the past ten years, Michael has been recognized as a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star. In 2024 and 2025, he was recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers In America” in the areas of commercial litigation and copyright law.

In 2011, Michael received the International Trademark Association’s prestigious Ladas Memorial Award for his article The Waning Consumer Protection Rationale of Trademark Law: Over-Protective Courts and the Path to Stifling Post-Sale Consumer Use, 101 TMR 1321 (2011).

Prior to law school, Mr. Johnson worked in various capacities in the entertainment industry, including at Creative Artists Agency. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Johnson worked as an attorney at Loeb & Loeb LLP in its entertainment group and as a partner at Kay Griffin Evans.