David Okafor

David Okafor represents the next generation of corporate counsel at Sterling & Associates. A graduate of DePaul University College of Law where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law, David brings a deep understanding of the intersection between technology, intellectual property, and business.

Before joining Sterling & Associates in 2020, David gained experience at a Chicago IP boutique and as in-house counsel at a technology startup, giving him both private practice rigor and a practical understanding of the business needs of technology companies.

David's practice centers on intellectual property protection and commercial contracts for technology, SaaS, and creative industry clients. He handles trademark registration and enforcement, trade secret protection, software licensing, SaaS agreements, data privacy compliance, and IP due diligence in the context of M&A transactions.

On the commercial contracts side, David drafts and negotiates a wide range of business agreements including master service agreements, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, and licensing arrangements. His approach combines meticulous legal drafting with an understanding of the commercial dynamics that drive deal negotiations.

David is also the firm's resident expert on data privacy and cybersecurity law, advising clients on compliance with the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act, CCPA, and emerging federal privacy legislation.

An active contributor to the legal community, David mentors law students at DePaul and serves on the Chicago Bar Association's IP Committee.