About John
John E. Cummerford focuses his practice on the legal and business needs of established and emerging growth companies, with an emphasis on software, 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, an Apple/IBM multimedia joint venture, 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. John's in-house legal experience has included a wide variety of practice areas, including antitrust, commercial, bankruptcy, corporate and employment law.
John E. Cummerford focuses his practice on the legal and business needs of established and emerging growth companies, with an emphasis on software, 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, an Apple/IBM multimedia joint venture, 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. John's in-house legal experience has included a wide variety of practice areas, including antitrust, commercial, bankruptcy, corporate and employment law.
Practice Areas
Case History
Education
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Technology Law, Phoenix (2024)
- Lawyer of the Year: Technology Law, Phoenix (2022)
- Lawyer of the Year: Trademark Law, Phoenix (2012)
- Recognized: Copyright Law
- Recognized: Patent Law
- Recognized: Technology Law
- Recognized: Trademark Law
- Practice Area: Information Technology Law
- Practice Area: IT Outsourcing Law
- Special Focus: Copyright
- Special Focus: Information Technology
- Special Focus: Internet
- Special Focus: Licensing
- Special Focus: Software
- Special Focus: Trade Secrets
- Special Focus: Trademark
- Special Focus: Transactions
- AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
- Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine, "IAM Licensing 250: The World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners," 2010
- Arizona's Finest Lawyers, 2011
- Super Lawyers magazine, Southwest Super Lawyers, 2007-2013
- Managing IP Magazine's World IP Handbook and Survey, "IP Stars," 2013