Profile
John E. Cummerford focuses his practice on the legal and business needs of established and emerging companies, with an emphasis on software, intellectual property, Internet, hardware and related businesses. He advises a wide range of clients in regard to technology-related transactions, including software licensing, product development, eCommerce, co-marketing, OEM and other arrangements. He has broad experience in complex licensing, manufacturing, distribution, development, due diligence and intellectual property audit transactions.
Prior to joining the firm, John was a principal in his previous firm and also managed that firm's information technology transfer practice. John also served as Vice President & General Counsel of Kaleida Labs and as Vice President & General Counsel of Candle Corporation, a large mainframe software company. He began his career as corporate counsel for IBM, responsible for handling licensing, development and marketing matters for the IBM personal computer and outsourcing lines of business.
Concentrations
- Intellectual Property Law
- Computer Law
- Internet Law
- Technology Licensing
Capabilities
Experience
- Advised on intellectual property issues on numerous venture capital financings, private placements and IPOs.
- Advised on investment in RoseStreet Labs Energy, Inc. by Sumitomo Chemical.
- Advised on acquisition of IC Services by FlipChip International, LLC.
- Advised on stock sale of Dora Technologies International, Inc. by Fas-Co Coders, Inc.
- Advised on leveraged buy-out by Texas Pacific Group of Paradyne from Lucent Technologies.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Cummerford prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Name Partner, Weinberg Cummerford Legal Group, Phoenix, AZ
- Special Counsel, Cooley Godward, Menlo Park, CA
- Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Kaleida Labs, Mountain View, CA
- Vice President & General Counsel, Candle Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
- Corporate Counsel, IBM Corporation, New York, Florida, California
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2011-2025
- Named, "Phoenix Technology Lawyer of the Year," 2022 amd 2024
- Named, "Phoenix Trademark Lawyer of the Year," 2012
- Copyright Law, 2011-2025
- Patent Law, 2011-2025
- Trademark Law, 2011-2025
- Technology Law, 2018-2021, 2023-2025
- IT Outsourcing Law, 2022-2025
- Listed, AZ Business Leaders
- Trademark, 2024
- Intellectual Property, 2019-2020
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Southwest Super Lawyers, 2007-2024
- Listed, Managing IP Magazine's World IP Handbook and Survey, "IP Stars: Transactions Stars," 2013-2024
- Team Member, AZ Big Media, "Top 10 Law Firm - Rank #1," Intellectual Property, 2019
- Listed, Who's Who Legal Telecommunications Media & Technology, Arizona, 2017
- Listed, AZ Business Magazine, "Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona," 2016
- Listed, Arizona's Finest Lawyers, 2011
- Recognized, Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine, "IAM Licensing 250: The World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners," 2010
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Former Board Member and Secretary, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
- Former Board Member, Arizona Technology Council
- Former Board Member, Make-a-Wish
- Former Board Member, CASA Center for Positive Social Change
- Former Board Member, Arizona Academic Decathlon
Credentials
- J.D., Columbia Law School, 1983
- B.A., cum laude, Arizona State University, 1980
- Arizona
- California
- New York
- Spanish, Conversational