Morgan K. Ward, PhD, MBA

Prof. Morgan K. Ward, PhD, MBA

Atlanta, GA 30319
Office: 773-294-0403
Introduction

Dr. Ward is a consumer behavior expert specializing in branding, advertising, and consumer perception in intellectual property and false advertising cases. A former marketing professor with over 20 years of experience and a record of peer-reviewed publications in leading marketing journals, she provides litigation-ready insights grounded in behavioral science. Her work includes survey design, expert reports, and testimony in cases involving trademark infringement, trade dress, and consumer confusion. Dr. Ward has been retained by both plaintiffs and defendants, has been deposed on several occasions, and has testified at trial.


Areas of Expertise
  • Advertising
  • Apparel & Textile Industry
  • Intellectual Property
  • Licensing
  • Marketing
  • Public Opinion & Survey Research
  • Retail Store Design & Operations
  • Statistics
  • Trademarks
  • Undue Influence

Expert Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
A: Ph.D., Marketing – University of Texas at Austin
M.B.A., Marketing – University of Texas at Austin
Graduate Fellow – Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
B.S., Business Management (Textiles & Apparel) – Cornell University
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: American Bar Association (Member)
American Marketing Association (Member)
Association for Consumer Research (Member)
Society for Consumer Psychology (Member)
Society for Personality and Social Psychology (Member)

Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: I have over a decade of experience teaching consumer behavior, marketing strategy, and advertising at the undergraduate, MBA, and executive MBA levels. I served as an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Emory University and Southern Methodist University, where I taught courses on consumer decision-making, branding, and integrated marketing.

I have also been invited to present my research on consumer psychology, symbolic consumption, and behavioral signaling at institutions such as Yale University, Northwestern University, and the University of Miami, as well as at leading academic conferences including the Association for Consumer Research and the Society for Consumer Psychology.
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: I have been retained as an expert on two occasions—serving both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving consumer behavior, branding, trademark, and trade dress.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: I have been retained as an expert in consumer behavior, brand perception, trademark infringement, trade dress, false advertising, and consumer confusion. My work has involved evaluating source confusion, secondary meaning, false affiliation, brand dilution, and the impact of marketing and retail strategies on consumer interpretation. I also provide expertise in survey design, perceptual analysis, and methodological critique for litigation purposes.
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: Half of my cases have been on the plaintiff side
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: Half of my cases have been on the defendant side
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: I have had my deposition taken on two occasions in matters involving trademark, trade dress, and consumer perception.
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: The most recent deposition was taken in April 2025
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: I have been qualified on two occasions to give expert testimony
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: I have testified on one occasion
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: I have worked with the legal industry as an expert for over 14 years, beginning in 2010. My work spans trademark, trade dress, consumer confusion, and false advertising matters.
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: I offer expert consulting, survey design and analysis, expert reports, rebuttal reports, declarations, methodological critique, deposition and trial testimony, and litigation-focused consumer perception analysis. My work includes evaluating source confusion, secondary meaning, false affiliation, and the impact of marketing claims and product design on consumer interpretation.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: My standard consulting rate is $495 per hour. I offer an initial consultation at no charge to determine fit and case alignment.

Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: My rate for document review is $495 per hour.

Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: My rate for deposition testimony is $595 per hour, billed in four-hour minimum increments.

Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: My rate for trial testimony is $695 per hour, with a minimum billing of one full day.

Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Travel Time (non-testimony) & Project Coordination/ Admin: $250 per hour
Travel expenses: Billed at actual cost (airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation)
Copying and materials: No charge for routine materials; large-volume printing billed at cost
Retainer: May be required for new clients or cases with expedited timelines


References

Available Upon Request