Joseph G. Adams

Bar Admissions

• Arizona
• California

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of Arizona
• Supreme Court of California
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
• United States District Court, Central District of California
• United States District Court, District of Arizona
• United States District Court, Northern District of California

Education

• Stanford Law School (J.D.)
  • Stanford Law Review
  • Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance
• University of Notre Dame (B.A.)

Awards & Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Commercial Litigation (2023-2025); Securities Litigation (2025)
• “Above and Beyond” Litigation Award, Volunteer Lawyers Program Pro Bono Awards (2014)
• Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education (2009)

Representative Experience

Securities and Shareholder Matters

• Represented a public company in multiple shareholder derivative lawsuits in both state and federal court following an accounting restatement
• Represented a technology company and its senior executives following a failed merger with another company
• Represented a large financial institution in a six-day arbitration hearing regarding allegations of improper advice and unsuitable investments
• Represented a public company in connection with shareholder a suit to inspect books and records in the Delaware Court of Chancery
• Represented a public company in an SEC investigation relating to alleged material misstatements in connection with a transaction with a business partner
• Represented an individual in an SEC investigation focused on alleged insider trading
• Represented the board of directors of a public healthcare company in connection with an anonymous complaint about alleged wrongdoing by senior management
• Represented a public company in connection with retaliation claims brought by an alleged whistleblower under Sarbanes-Oxley

Commercial Litigation and Partnership Disputes

• Represented the seller of a closely-held business in litigation with former business partner regarding the distribution of proceeds from the sale
• Represented consumer products company in trade secret and breach of contract claim brought by a former business partner
• Represented a public company in negotiations to resolve a dispute with a software provider
• Represented a real estate investor in federal court litigation regarding a partnership dispute with an investor
• Represented an individual in a partnership dispute regarding his ownership interest in the company and attempts to separate from his partner

ERISA and Employee Benefits Litigation

• Represented a large healthcare institution and its health plan in a class action involving handling of preexisting conditions
• Represented a health trust in a class action alleging failure to make appropriate medical payments under the terms of the plan
• Represented a construction company in federal court litigation related to a claim that it owes additional contributions to its pension fund
• Represented a former CEO of a large private company regarding deferred compensation owed to him and allegations of wrongdoing
• Represented a technology company in federal court litigation regarding calculation of pension benefits by a former employee
• Represented a manufacturing company in an arbitration proceeding against the former administrator of its pension plan
• Conducted an internal investigation for an insurance company regarding the handling of long-term disability claims and compliance with ERISA

Intellectual Property Matters

• Represented a consumer products company in a federal court trial of claims regarding trademark and copyright infringement
• Represented a security company in a federal court preliminary injunction hearing regarding trademark infringement and unfair competition
• Represented a technology company to prosecute claims in federal court against a competitor who was making false claims of infringement
• Represented an airline company in a trademark proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
• Represented numerous companies in negotiating and resolving claims of copyright and trademark infringement

Previous 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

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Fellow (2024-Present)
• Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education
  • Secretary (2024-Present)
  • Board of Directors (2022-Present)
• Arizona Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness
  • Appointed by Chief Justice Brutinel (2020-Present)
• Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (2015-2018)
• Stanford Law School Board of Visitors (2012-2015)
• State Bar of Arizona
  • Civil Jury Instructions Committee (2011-2014)
• Stanford Law School Phoenix Regional Chapter
  • Chair
• American Bar Association
  • ABA Business Law Section
    • Business and Corporate Litigation Committee
    • ERISA and Pension Litigation Subcommittee
    • Vice Chair
• International Trademark Association
• Federal Bar Association

Community Involvement

• Xico
  • Board of Directors (2025)

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “The Department of Justice Offers Individual Corporate Wrongdoers a “Get Out of Jail Free Card” in New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (May 9, 2024)
• “Department of Justice Announces Groundbreaking Whistleblower Program in its Ongoing Effort to Incentivize Voluntary Self Disclosures,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 7, 2024)
• “Tenth Circuit Allows ERISA Arbitration, So Long As There are No Limitations in Remedies,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Benefits Blog (February 21, 2023)
• Faculty Member, AICPA’s Expert Witness Skills Workshop (November 14-16, 2022)
• “SDNY Mootness Fee Refusal May Shake Up A Common Tactic,” Author, Law360 (February 24, 2022)
• “Federal Court Rejects Request for ‘Mootness Fee’ in Merger Litigation,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (February 22, 2022)
• “Tell Me Everything: How Much Information Must a Shareholder Provide to a Corporation to Inspect Books and Records Under Section 220?,” Author, The Delaware Court of Chancery, Delaware Supreme Court, and Delaware Bankruptcy Blog (February 8, 2021)
• “Delaware Court of Chancery Permits Caremark Claim Alleging Directors’ Failure to Monitor Critical Company Business Operations,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October 29, 2019)
• “Arizona Supreme Court addresses fiduciary duties owed to LLCs,” Author, Record Reporter (September 23, 2019)
• “Working Effectively with Experts,” Panelist, Snell & Wilmer Presentation with Alvarez & Marsal (May 15, 2019)
• “Crisis and Investigation Management in the Era of 24/7 News Cycles,” Co-Presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel (April 16, 2019)
• “U.S. Supreme Court Expands Scope of SEC’s Anti-Fraud Rule in “Copy-Paste” Case,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 2019)
• “Overview of Hot Topics in Director and Officer Liability,” Co-Presenter, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (March 13, 2019)
• “Internal Investigations: Overview and Current Developments,” Panelist, Snell & Wilmer Seminar (June 2016)
• “Internal Investigations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Understanding the New World Order,” Panelist, Association of Corporate Counsel, Nevada (May 2016)
• “The SEC’s Annual Report on the Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Program Shows Increased Activity,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 2016)