Carlton M. Johnson has been the in-house legal counsel since joining the firm in April of 1996. His responsibilities include general corporate, securities law, business litigation, and corporate governance. Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Alabama Bar since 1986, the Florida Bar since 1988, and the State Bar of Georgia since 1997. He was a shareholder in the Pensacola, Florida Bar Registered (AV rated) of Preeminent law firms, Smith, Sauer, DeMaria & Johnson from 1988-1996. In 1996 he was Vice President and President-Elect of the six hundred (600) members Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association. During 1993 through to 1996 he served on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors. Mr. Johnson earned a degree in History/Political Science, with high honors, at Auburn University in 1982 and Juris Doctorate at Samford University – Cumberland School of Law, with high honors in 1986. Mr. Johnson graduated in the top five percent (5%) of his class and was a member of the academic honor society, Curia Honoris. Mr. Johnson received five (5) book awards in law school – meaning he obtained the highest grade in Constitutional Law, Evidence, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, and Federal Civil Procedure. He has served on the Board of Directors for Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. since 1999. He is the Chair of the Audit Committee, and has served in various positions for this emerging biotech company including assisting in business development and licensing, financing and general corporate governance. Since 2001, Mr. Johnson has served on the Board of Directors of Patriot Scientific, Inc. He is Chair of the Compensation Committee and serves on the Audit Committee, as well as the Executive Committee and is Patriot Scientific Co-Chair to the holding company for intellectual property licensing and enforcement.