Simmons, Joshua L.

Recognized as a “Next Generation Lawyer” (Legal 500), Joshua Simmons focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and counseling, as well as regulatory and legislative policy. This “Top Attorney” (Law360) and “big-picture thought leader” (WTR) litigates copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret cases—particularly complex cases and those of first impression—along with contract, licensing, and domain name disputes. He also advises on IP matters that intersect with antitrust, computer and Internet fraud, false advertising, publicity right, privacy, and social media issues.

Josh routinely is recognized for his appellate and trial court representations in intellectual property, media, and entertainment cases. Law360 named Josh a “Rising Star” in media and entertainment. World Trademark Review ranked him for trademark enforcement and litigation, with clients attesting to him being a “tremendous asset” who combines “elite legal acumen with a unique understanding of the process of creating entertainment.” Legal 500 recognized Josh for his copyright, trademark litigation, trade secrets, and media and entertainment practices. Super Lawyers repeatedly has named Josh a “Rising Star.” And Josh was part of the Kirkland team Managing Intellectual Property honored for “Milestone Case of the Year” Oracle v. Google.

Josh’s high-profile matters involve computer software and services, consumer and leisure products, financial services, health care and pharmaceuticals, media and entertainment—such as electronic games, film, news, publishing, sports, television and theatre—and telecommunications. They have been featured in the mainstream media, legal periodicals, and trade press.

In addition to maintaining a full-time litigation practice, Josh is a frequent speaker and has authored numerous articles on emerging trends in intellectual property. He also is an active member of the intellectual property bar:

• At the ABA Intellectual Property Law Section, he chairs its Copyright Law Reform Task Force, serves on its governing Council, and is a Council Liaison to its Copyright Division.
• He is Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property Owners Association’s Software Related Inventions Committee, and its liaison to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law, Copyright project.
• He chairs the Copyright Society’s Media Library Committee.
• He is a member of the Board of Advisors to Columbia Law School’s Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts.

Josh’s pro bono includes representing asylum seekers before the Department of Homeland Security and the American Theatre Wing, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Fashion Law Institute, and others in IP-related matters.