Daphne Mercy Ekpe

About Daphne Mercy Ekpe

I am an Intellectual Property and Technology Law Attorney with experience advising creators, entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses on trademarks, copyright, patents, data privacy, cybersecurity compliance, and IP portfolio strategy in the digital economy. My practice focuses on IP protection, commercialization, enforcement, and risk management, including advising on privacy and cybersecurity considerations that intersect with technology driven and innovation led businesses.I am the founder of LetsTalkIPwithDaphne, a public facing IP education initiative and monthly LinkedIn newsletter focused on making intellectual property practical, accessible, and commercially relevant for creators, founders, and emerging companies.I am also the Founding Editor of the Journal of IP Professionals (JIPPS), a practitioner led publication advancing applied IP scholarship, global IP perspectives, and real world insights at the intersection of intellectual property, technology, innovation, and policy.My work spans U.S. and international intellectual property frameworks, with interests in technology law, digital economy regulation, IP strategy for startups, creator economy protection, and emerging markets.I was named among the Top 100 Influential Women Leaders in IP Law 2026 by Women’s IP World and ranked No. 6 globally in Excellence in IP Management for Emerging Markets. I was also recognized as a Top IP Leader by IP Gorilla.

Experience

1. Associate Attorney

   Welsh Flaxman & Gitler, Llc

   Mar 2023 — Present

   Intelectual Property Prosecution

Education

• Nigerian Law School

  Law

  2017 — 2018

• Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST)

  Master of Science - MS, Cybersecurity

• University of Ibadan

  Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Law

  2011 — 2016

• American University Washington College of Law

  Master of Laws - LLM, Intellectual Property Law & Technology

  2021