LAWYER PROFILE
John M Desmarais

John M Desmarais

USA 2026

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Ranked in 3 practice areas

About

Provided by Desmarais LLP

Practice Areas

John Desmarais is the founding partner of Desmarais LLP, an intellectual property trial boutique.

Career

John M. Desmarais is the founding partner of Desmarais LLP, and a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. In 1988, after graduating from NYU Law School, Mr. Desmarais started his career at Fish & Neave. Then, after practicing in the area of intellectual property litigation and counseling for several years, he left private practice to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where for three years (1992-1995) he tried criminal jury trials for the federal government. After leaving the government, Mr. Desmarais returned to the practice of intellectual property litigation at Fish & Neave, and later joined the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis. From 1997-2009, he was a partner at Kirkland and served as a member of the Firm Management Committee from 2004-2009. After 13 years at Kirkland, he left to found Desmarais LLP, an IP trial boutique. Mr. Desmarais is a member of the bars of California, New York and Washington, D.C., the U.S. Supreme Court, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and various other federal district courts and courts of appeal. Mr. Desmarais is also registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Desmarais obtained a degree in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College and a law degree from New York University.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association, California Bar Association, New York Bar Association, Federal Bar Council, New York County Lawyers' Association, New York Intellectual Property Law Association, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Publications

“The Sedona Conference Commentary on Patent Damages & Remedies,” 15 The Sedona Conference Journal 53 (WG9 Editor-in-Chief, Chair) (Fall 2014), “State Responses to Leaking Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks” 1987 Annual Survey of American Law 731

Personal

Manhattan College, B.Ch.E., 1985, New York University School of Law, J.D., 1988

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Litigation: Trial Lawyers - USA - Nationwide

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Individual Editorial

Founding partner of Desmarais LLP, John Desmarais is renowned for his trial work in the intellectual property space. He is based in New York and has a wealth of experience representing high-profile clients in major disputes across the country.

Intellectual Property: Patent - New York

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Individual Editorial
John Desmarais is a leading IP litigator with extensive experience representing major technology-sector clients in high-stakes patent disputes.

Intellectual Property - USA - Nationwide

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Individual Editorial

John Desmarais maintains a strong reputation as a leading IP litigator with extensive experience representing major technology-sector clients in high stakes patent disputes.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • John is one of the best trial lawyers I've ever seen.

    Litigation: Trial LawyersChambers Guide to the USA
  • John is a great strategic advocate.

    Litigation: Trial LawyersChambers Guide to the USA
  • John provides great client service. He is strategic and a great advocate.

    Intellectual Property: PatentChambers Guide to the USA
  • John is excellent across the board. He gets results.

    Intellectual Property: PatentChambers Guide to the USA
  • John is a terrific attorney.

    Intellectual Property: PatentChambers Guide to the USA
  • John is the best of the best.

    Intellectual Property: PatentChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Desmarais LLP (7)

California

New York

Unknown

USA - Nationwide

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