James Dean Johnson

James Dean Johnson, age 74, a resident of Highlands, NC and Savannah, GA, died January 27, 2022.  He passed away peacefully at his home in Highlands with his wife, Shirley Merchant Johnson, and his sister-in-law, Mary Darwin Johnson, at his side.

Jim’s parents, Mel Johnson and Irene Swenson Johnson were in California when Jim was born.  They later moved to Huntsville, AL, where Jim and his brother, Larry Lee Johnson, who died in 2012, attended Huntsville schools.  Jim graduated from the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, with a BA degree in chemistry, and was awarded a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.  His postdoctoral research was at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA, with several summers spent at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.  He and Shirley enjoyed many trips across the country moving between the labs in California and Massachusetts.  Jim and Shirley returned to Atlanta where Jim was a faculty member of the Emory University School of Medicine in the departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, with an appointment in the Division of Infectious Diseases.  He was also a senior research scientist at the Veterans Administration Hospital Research Laboratories.  After a year as a visiting faculty member at the University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Jim returned to Atlanta to attend the Emory University College of Law, and graduated in 1984 with a J.D. degree with honors.

Jim began his legal career with the intellectual property boutique law firm of Jones & Askew, Atlanta, GA, as a registered patent attorney.  Jones & Askew later joined Kilpatrick Stockton, now Kilpatrick Townsend, where he was head of the Biotechnology and Life Sciences group.  He moved to King & Spalding, LLP’s Intellectual Property Practice Group in Atlanta, GA, with the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Intellectual Property Group, LLP.  In 2010, Jim co-founded Johnson, Marcou, Isacs & Nix with a group of seasoned partners, associates, patent agents, paralegals, and support staff who had worked together for years.

Jim’s legal practice focused on chemical and biomedical patent prosecution and in licensing of chemical and biomedical technology.  During his career he served as general counsel for Cytrx, Corp., Norcross GA, and EntreMed, Inc., Rockville, MD, along with board positions for several biotechnology start-up companies.  He was a member of the patent bar for United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the bar of the State of Georgia.

Jim was a technology first adopter, always having the latest computer, telephone, gadget, communicator and car.  He was an outstanding cook and host, and was the instigator and/or focus of celebrations throughout his life.  He had long-standing good friends from all phases of his life.  He is survived by his wife, Shirley M. Johnson, and his nieces and nephews, Mel and Michele Johnson of Atlanta, GA; Mary Beirne and Gil Vela, of Huntsville, AL; Polly and Brandon Pinke, of Huntsville, AL; Will and Danielle Clark, of Durham, NC; and Corrie Clark and Andy Turner, of Washington, DC; and their children, his great nieces and nephews.  A celebration of Jim’s life and friendship will take place at a later time.