Profile

Micheline Johnson synthesizes her chemistry, finance, and legal education and experience to elevate her work as a corporate IP Strategist - developing, managing, and leveraging Intellectual Property (IP) assets to improve businesses’ bottom lines.

Ms. Johnson has used her abilities to assist clients in a variety of fields, from a global car sharing/rental company that diversified into tech; an international television and radio network; pharmaceutical companies; consumer products companies; hospitality interests; and web-based service providers.

Leveraging IP to improve the bottom line begins with identifying and protecting intellectual capital for defensive purposes; it also includes taking the offense to shut down infringers. Most recently, Ms. Johnson directed the litigation that won the first recognition of the AVIS trademark as “famous,” in a highly-pitched infringement lawsuit in Taiwan. Famous marks receive greater protection under the law, leaving infringers little room for argument even in cases of trademark dilution rather than exact copying.

Ms. Johnson has obtained trademark protection for both product configurations and market-leading brands, and negotiated and structured critical international co-existence agreements designed to protect brand strength while embracing business opportunities. She represents clients in enforcement efforts worldwide, as well as in federal courts and before the Patent and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Boards of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She has also prosecuted and litigated both domestic and international patents related to diverse technology including chemicals, manufacturing materials and processes, toys, medical devices, and computer-based business methods.

Before joining Taylor English, Ms. Johnson served as Chair of a large national law firm’s Trademark and Branding section, having previously led and grown the Intellectual Property Group as a whole in its infancy. Ms. Johnson made the move to Taylor English in order to be part of a law firm that pushed aside the traditional model to create one adapted to current realities - providing the highest-quality legal services with experienced lawyers who are driven by efficiency, value, and responsiveness. Since joining the firm, Ms. Johnson has taken on a co-chair role of the firm's Social Justice Action Committee.

Memberships

International Trademark Association (INTA), Emerging Issues Committee, Member, 2016–2019

Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI), Member

     Selected to serve on Trademark CET Committee

Tennessee Bar Association, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Sections, Member

Georgia Bar Association, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Sections, Member

American Bar Association, Member

American Chemical Society, Member

Intellectual Property Owners Association, Member, Committee, 2018-2019  

Community Involvement

Pro Bono Attorney in the Chattanooga Legal Aid Program, Volunteer

Pro Bono Attorney in the Atlanta Legal Aid Program, Past Volunteer

Second Life Chattanooga (Anti-Trafficking Organization), Former Board Member

Chattanooga Women's Leadership Initiative, Corporate Advisory Board

Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga (aka Interfaith Homeless Network), Past President, Vice President and Board Member

The Junior League of Chattanooga, Past Board Member

Corporate Partnership for Lookout Mountain Elementary School, Past Chairman

St. Jude Home and School Association, Past Board Member

Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga, Past Board President

Girls' Preparatory School Auction Committee, Past Member

International Students Host Family, Baylor School, 2009–2015

Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Former Secretary of Parish Council, and Sunday School teacher

Foreign Languages

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