Johnny Graves

About Johnny Graves

Background. I am an experienced business and legal affairs attorney with a broad-based IP transactional background. As a junior attorney, I was trained in tech and content transactions at Irell & Manella, and subsequently deepened my business experience by going inhouse at Mattel and obtaining an MBA that was subsidized by my employer. Over the years, I have developed special expertise in supporting brand and franchise deals involving high-value intellectual property on a worldwide basis, typically targeted to families and children. I have rotated through numerous practices within Mattel Legal & Business Affairs, including licensing, IT, and entertainment production and distribution. Additional corporate experience includes international JV, M&A, and integration support.Current position. I currently hold divisional responsibility for a team supporting the following business functions: digital gaming licensing, development, and publishing; marketing and influencer engagement; media; agencies; independent contractors; and the product & technology innovation team including strategic partnerships and AI. I regularly represent legal in c-suite meetings and routinely provide advice to our senior executive team while shaping enterprise-wide legal and business strategy, policy, and risk management.Management and leadership. I lead a large, multi-disciplinary team comprising a total of eight attorneys and paralegals across multiple offices. I am a highly rated, collegial manager who is skilled at building relationships with my client groups. I manage efficient legal support for both high-volume, routine business deals, as well as complex deals involving new business models or nascent technology. I take pride in hiring and developing talent (both inhouse and outside counsel) that is reflective of my approach to legal support: practical, concise, client-focused, business-friendly, results-oriented, approachable, and reliable

Experience

1. Managing Counsel & Associate General Counsel - Legal & Business Affairs

   Mattel, Inc.

   Jan 2025 — Present · El Segundo, CA, US

   Lead transactional counsel and managing attorney with worldwide responsibility for a broad-based IP transactional practice in support of Mattel’s brand and franchise teams. Currently manage a team across multiple offices with divisional responsibility for providing business and legal advice as well as contract drafting, strategy, and negotiation support for the following business functions: • Digital gaming. Includes out-licensing for videogame and mobile apps; game development, publishing, distribution, & platform platform agreements • Marketing. Includes social media marketing and influencer engagements, sponsorships, and promotions • IT & technology, digital products, services, and content. Includes AI governance; NFTs; technology, software, and platform licensing; ecommerce; brand integrations; end user license agreements • Agency engagements & media. Includes advertising, creative, digital, production, social, and buying & planning • Independent contractor and services agreements • Brand and corporate public relations • Corporate staffing. Including contingent labor agreements • Consumer insights • Brand, product, and packaging designFamiliarity with rights clearance, advertising, privacy, and regulatory issues related to online marketing and app development for children.Progressive promotions with increasing management responsibility and rotation through the following practice areas: brand in-licensing and out-licensing for consumer products and digital content; entertainment production and distribution including animated movie production and distribution; technology and invention in-licensing; product strategic partnerships; and product submissions.Additional deal experience includes the following: IT; interactive product technology development; and corporate strategic planning support including international JV and M&A deal and integration support.

Education

• UCLA

  BA, Communication Studies with a specialization in Business and Administration

• University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

  JD

• UCLA Anderson School of Management

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

Skills

• Trade Secrets
• Document Drafting
• Intellectual Property
• Mobile Games
• Joint Ventures
• Trademark Infringement
• Online Advertising
• Corporate Law
• Management
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Contract Negotiation
• Start-Ups
• Brand Licensing
• Digital Media
• Copyright Law
• Team Management
• Strategic Partnerships
• Legal Research
• Entertainment Law
• Legal Advice
• Online Gaming
• Social Media
• Patents
• Team Leadership
• Legal Writing
• Video Games
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Licensing
• Advertising
• Contract Writing
• Privacy Law
• Trademarks
• Negotiation
• Entertainment