Armand J. (A.J.) Zottola
Technology Transactions and Commercial Agreements
Working at the intersection of commerce, technology, and intellectual property, A.J. helps clients turn valuable business assets into practical commercial arrangements. He drafts and negotiates contracts that allow clients to buy, sell, license, share, protect, and commercialize software, data, proprietary information, and technology. His work includes licensing and transfer arrangements, outsourcing and professional services contracts, consulting and internet-enabled services, information technology and data processing matters, distribution and reseller relationships, supply and manufacturing agreements, and strategic partnerships and alliances.
Hospitality, E-Commerce, and Digital Platforms
A.J. advises clients on hospitality, e-commerce, nonprofit, and other consumer-facing sectors on the legal and business issues that support online operations and customer engagement. He helps structure arrangements for digital commerce platforms, hospitality technology, loyalty programs, membership platforms, customer-facing tools, and digital engagement initiatives. His work also includes co-branding, marketing, publishing, franchising, new media, and digital property matters involving ownership rights, platform operations, vendor relationships, and commercial terms.
Financial Services, Advertising, and Data Transactions
A.J. works with financial institutions, IT services providers, advertising-related businesses, and data-driven organizations on the contracts and policies that govern how information is collected, shared, licensed, protected, and used. He advises on advertising and marketing technology; data procurement, supply, and sharing; AI tool utilization; software platforms; online services; vendor relationships; and advertising-related data uses, including matters that intersect with privacy and cybersecurity concerns.
IP Transactions, Due Diligence, and Strategic Transactions
A.J. helps clients evaluate, protect, and transfer intellectual property and technology assets in a variety of business transactions. He assists private equity firms, portfolio companies, buyers, sellers, and strategic investors with due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, sales, dispositions, investments, and related matters. He also counsels clients on IP ownership, IP acquisitions and dispositions, copyright matters, trade secret protection, proprietary information management, supply chain and procurement, IP commercialization, and the protection and use of IP assets in government contracts.
Related Practices
- Advertising and Marketing Litigation
- Brand and Content Protection
- Corporate
- Copyrights and Licensing
- Due Diligence
- Franchise and Distribution
- Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- IP and Technology Transactions
- Privacy and Data Security
- Technology, Media, and Commercial
- Transactional Disputes
- Trademark Litigation
- Trademark Prosecution and Brand Management
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represented an autonomous mobility technology company within a global automotive group in a strategic partnership with a leading U.S. shared autonomous mobility provider to deploy autonomous public transit solutions across multiple U.S. markets. The collaboration includes scaling a fleet of autonomous vehicles over the next decade, positioning the client to expand integrated, city-focused mobility services nationwide
- Provided guidance in connection with a regional construction and renovation company’s reorganization and sale to a private equity-backed buyer, focusing on identifying, assessing, and transferring key assets to support a smooth transaction and preserve enterprise value
- Provided intellectual property guidance in connection with the sale of a cybersecurity workforce readiness solutions provider to a private equity firm
- Advised on intellectual property aspects of the sale of a technology infrastructure solutions provider to a private equity-backed buyer
- Served as an advisor to a leading global automotive manufacturer on complex contractual, business, and regulatory matters, including drafting and negotiating agreements to support deployment and operation of an autonomous mobility and delivery platform
- Counseled on intellectual property considerations in connection with the sale of an engineering and consulting services firm to a growth-oriented private equity buyer
- Provided intellectual property support in connection with the sale of a regional physical therapy services provider to a private equity-backed platform
- Advised on the acquisition of a digital entertainment platform, focusing on assessing proprietary technology and related assets to support integration and ongoing operations
- Counseled on aspects of a logistics company’s acquisition of a food distribution and import/export business, focusing on reviewing IP assets and supporting their transfer to ensure continuity across combined operations
- Represented a leading enterprise SaaS cybersecurity company in its successful go-private merger with a private equity firm following years of ongoing counsel, including capital raises, acquisitions, and public listing
- Advised on intellectual property considerations in connection with the sale of a specialty metals manufacturer to a private equity-backed buyer
- Advised on intellectual property and data-related considerations in connection with the acquisition of a branded apparel company, focusing on integration and protecting brand value
- Provided intellectual property guidance in connection with the sale of a hospitality-focused general contractor to a national construction management firm
- Advised on IP matters in connection with the sale of an insurance and benefits solutions provider to a strategic buyer
- Represented a leading food and beverage services provider in its integration of AI across operational and customer-facing platforms, advising on drafting and negotiating contracts for AI-driven HR systems and digital ordering tools, and addressing complex intellectual property and data privacy issues to support deployment and scaling across travel-based service environments
- Counseled on intellectual property aspects of the sale of a regional home restoration services provider to a private equity firm
- Advised on intellectual property aspects of the sale of a market research firm serving the automotive industry to a private equity-backed consultancy
- Advised on intellectual property considerations in connection with the sale of a digital performance agency to a global marketing and technology services platform
- Represented a multilateral development finance institution in connection with the development and deployment of AI-enabled solutions for financial products. Advised on drafting and negotiating agreements and provides ongoing counseling on complex intellectual property, data privacy, ethics, and regulatory issues associated with AI implementation
- Advised on intellectual property matters across multiple acquisitions by a market-leading growth service provider, focusing on evaluating and integrating IP assets to support platform expansion and consistent service delivery across acquired businesses
- Advised on intellectual property considerations in connection with the sale of a government services and environmental data solutions provider to a private equity investor
- Advised on intellectual property aspects of the asset sale of a healthcare technology services provider to a private equity-backed buyer
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. cum laude Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law 1997
- Editorial assistant, Catholic University Law Review
- Intellectual Property Summer Institute, Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, NH, 1995
- B.A. Bucknell University 1992
Bar Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, Technology Law, 2014 – 2023
- Chambers USA, Technology & Outsourcing (Band 3), Washington, DC, 2012 – 2016
- Legal 500
- Media, Technology and Telecoms – Technology Transactions, 2011 – 2024
- Media, Technology and Telecoms – Outsourcing , 2016 – 2021
- Corporate LiveWire Global Awards, Excellence in IP Law Services, 2017
- Intellectual Property Transactions Group (Venable was ranked by U.S. News – Best Lawyers as Tier 1 for Technology Law in the National and Washington, DC regions.)