Gina Johnson – Ridge

Protecting IP and patents is essential for fostering innovation, securing competitive advantages, and ensuring a company’s growth and profitability. However, the process is fraught with challenges, including high costs, international legal complexities, enforcement difficulties, and rapid technological change.

Gina Johnson | Ridge | Chief Legal Officer

Those are just some of what Gina Johnson faces as the chief legal officer for Ridge, a company known for its minimalist wallet made from materials like titanium, aluminum and carbon fiber and featuring technology to prevent RFID skimming and electronic pickpocketing.

Johnson embodies a blend of legal acumen and strategic vision and has a rich legal background and a knack for navigating the intricacies of intellectual property law and litigation. As the company’s first in-house attorney, Johnson is the perfect person to lead  Ridge’s fight against IP infringement.

“After working as outside patent counsel for Ridge, I got to know the team, their products and their style quite well. It made for a seamless transition in-house when they made me an offer that was too good to refuse. I wasn’t quite ready to let go of my career as a patent litigator, so getting to do that and more in-house has made this a unicorn of an experience—a true one-of-a-kind in-house legal job,” Johnson says.

The Ridge was founded in 2013 by Daniel and Paul Kane, a father and son duo. The Ridge Wallet is the company’s flagship product and can be seen on ridge.com, amazon.com and across various social media platforms like Instagram, showing its versatility and functionality. The company has 70 employees and operates in a remote environment. In addition to her work in the IP space, Johnson often puts on an HR hat to deal with the challenges of navigating employment laws across different jurisdictions.

Protecting the brand

At Ridge, Johnson primarily focuses on IP litigation related to the company’s wallet. This innovative product, which features patented technology designed to maintain the minimalist silhouette and block RFID theft (among other things), has faced rampant infringement, primarily from foreign entities, especially those based in China. These infringers sell en masse to e-commerce companies, aiming to profit from using online marketplaces like Amazon.

“We take the IP work very seriously,” Johnson tells Vanguard during an interview in July. “Most of our brainpower goes into eliminating the most impactful infringers that are taking market share from Ridge—or trying to.”

This commitment to protecting its intellectual property is evident in the company’s proactive approach to litigation and enforcement. One of the unique strengths Johnson and Benjamin Weed, the company’s General Counsel, bring to Ridge is their ability to handle complex litigation in-house.

“We were patent and IP litigators at our firm, and we are handling cases now that would cost millions of dollars if we used outside counsel,” she says. “This approach not only saves the company significant legal fees but also ensures a high level of expertise and dedication to each case.”

With innovation comes imitation, and conducting IP policing in-house means that Johnson tirelessly scans the internet daily to identify and report infringers. Amazon and other platforms like Alibaba have formal methods for reporting infringement, but these are often times consuming and inconsistent. Johnson says that several of these online marketplaces walk a fine line, as their business objectives do not necessarily align with taking sellers off of their marketplaces in the face of infringement, and it is a constant battle to ensure proper enforcement.

“It is like a game of whack-a-mole. One or two infringers are taken down, and more pop up. There has to be a better way,” Johnson says.

Ridge is a U.S.-based brand doing its research and development work in the United States. These facts were the basis of Ridge’s Complaint before the International Trade Commission, where Ridge successfully convinced the Commission to issue a General Exclusion Order enforcing its fundamental wallet utility patent.

“The ITC recognized Ridge as a domestic innovator and is bringing Ridge closer to the justice it seeks by way of the General Exclusion Order, issued on July 29^th,” Johnson says.  “We are working with customs to identify infringing products that should be seized at the Border due to the ITC’s Order. If this doesn’t work, I truly don’t know what more United States IP holders can do to prevent infringers. This is the strongest remedy one could receive here in the U.S.”

Expanding the portfolio

Johnson’s role is not confined to litigation; she is also deeply involved in negotiations, contract drafting and supporting marketing initiatives, including targeted ads on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Ridge has licensing deals with the National Football League, Major League Baseball and many colleges and universities, allowing the company to diversify its products and grow the business.

In addition to the wallet, Ridge makes key cases, iPhone cases, men’s rings and recently launched travel pieces, including luggage, backpacks and other bags.

“I’m so impressed with our product development team,” Johnson says. “There is a ton of value in IP when it’s prosecuted and enforced properly, and timely filing is critical,” Johnson says. “That’s why it makes sense to have an in-house team manage everything; we know the business objectives and the launch timeline, and we are best suited to decide what to protect.”

A patented love

Johnson says her love for law started as a kid, after observing her father’s passion for the subject and earning an English degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she stayed at her alma mater for law school.

Following graduation, Johnson’s professional odyssey began at one of the world’s most prestigious law firms, K&L Gates. There, she dedicated over seven years, eventually becoming a partner. While working in the international firm’s IP and patent practice group, Johnson met Weed, then her superior—but also an indispensable teammate and colleague. The pair were working on matters for Ridge when, in May 2023, Johnson made a significant career move by deciding to leave her partnership at K&L Gates to join Ridge as its chief legal officer.

“The transition was seamless, thanks partly to Ben and how we’ve worked together for so many years,” Johnson recalls.

Johnson and Weed’s mutual understanding and complementary skills make them a formidable duo. While Johnson focuses on strategizing, logistics and management, Weed brings a more technical perspective.

Despite the role’s challenges and the industry, Johnson is optimistic about the company’s future.

“As our portfolio develops, we hope to have more ammo to help us enforce and protect our IP,” Johnson says. “It is a team effort across the business and industry.”

Johnson says her jump in-house also freed her from the billable hour, which gives her more time to spend with her husband, two young kids and an Arubian-cunucu named Gio. She is also an avid platform tennis player at her local club.