Joe Adams practices business litigation with a focus on securities litigation, intellectual property matters and internal corporate investigations. He has successfully resolved disputes in federal courts, state courts, arbitration and before litigation.
Joe advises companies, boards of directors and individuals regarding securities matters, corporate governance disputes and internal investigations. His recent experience includes the defense of public companies, officers and directors in federal securities class actions and the successful representation of public companies in shareholder derivative actions in federal court and state court. In connection with his securities litigation practice, Joe frequently oversees internal corporate investigations and resolves issues raised by the SEC and other governmental agencies.
Joe also has substantial experience advising clients regarding trademark, copyright and Internet law. His experience includes prosecuting and defending claims of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, patent infringement, unfair competition and violations of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in federal court, state court and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
In addition to his securities and intellectual property practice, Joe also has assisted clients in a wide variety of other commercial disputes (both in litigation and before litigation), including cases involving employee benefits, professional liability and business torts.
Education
- Stanford Law School (J.D., 1997)
- Stanford Law Review
- Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance
- University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1994)
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Arizona
- Supreme Court of California
- United States District Court, District of Arizona
- United States District Court, Northern District of California
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships & Activities
- State Bar of Arizona
- Civil Jury Instructions Committee (2011-present)
- Unauthorized Practice of Law Advisory Committee (2005-2011)
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
- Intellectual Property Litigation Committee, Web Site Co-Chair (2005-present)
- International Trademark Association
- Enforcement Committee (2012-present)
- Trademark Reporter Committee (2008-2012)
- Federal Bar Association
- Stanford Law School Board of Visitors (2012)
- Stanford Law Chapter of Phoenix, Co-Chair (2012)
Representative Presentations & Publications
- Counsel on the Hot Seat: Managing Internal Investigations, Co-Author with Barbara Dawson, Association of Corporate Counsel Newsletter (December 2011)
- 2010 Securities Litigation Update, Presenter, Securities Regulation Section of the State Bar of Arizona (November 2010)
- Safeguarding Against D&O Claims Arising Out of the Financial Crisis, Presenter, Arizona Bankers Association’s Annual CEO & Bank Directors College (October 2010)
- The Anatomy of the Director-Led Investigation and the Role of Special Counsel to the Board, Co-Author with Barbara Dawson and Andreea Micklis, Snell & Wilmer Financial Services Litigation Bulletin (October 2010)
- Attorney-Client Privilege in the Context of Internal Investigations, Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Annual Retreat (April 2010)
- Establishing Procedures for Internal Investigations and Litigation Holds, Presenter, Litigation Master Series Session II for Lex Mundi and Association of Corporate Counsel (November 2009)
- Ethical Issues in Internal Investigations, Presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel Ethics Series (April 2009)
- Recent Supreme Court Case Favors Patent Holders that Tie, Co-Author with John Platt, Executive Counsel (August 2006)
Professional Recognition & Awards
- Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education (2009)
Other Professional Experience
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., Palo Alto, California
- United States District Court, District of Arizona, Law Clerk to Hon. Roslyn O. Silver (1997-1998)
