Jonathan D. Brit
Overview
Jonathan Brit is a trial lawyer whose practice includes high-stakes patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation. As a partner based in Kirkland’s New York office, Jonathan represents clients in complex commercial and intellectual property disputes in federal and state courts nationwide and before the U.S. International Trade Commission. He has achieved numerous favorable outcomes for clients in high-profile, bet-the-company cases at all stages of litigation, including multiple trial victories, successful dispositive motions and early resolution of cases. His litigation experience includes jury and bench trials, ITC evidentiary hearings, Markman hearings, summary judgment proceedings, and all aspects of fact and expert discovery. His practice also extends into PTAB matters, false advertising and advising clients on intellectual property aspects of strategic commercial deals, including M&A transactions, licensing, private equity investments and contract issues. With a background in aerospace, electrical and computer engineering, he is known for his deep understanding of the high-tech sector and ability to break down complex concepts. Multinational clients involved in IP disputes ranging across a broad spectrum of technologies rely on Jonathan’s extensive experience and zealous advocacy. Jonathan has been recognized as a “Rising Star,” New York Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, each year since 2018 and as one of the 40 Best LBGTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by The LGBTQ+ Bar.
Jonathan maintains a vibrant pro bono practice. He represents individuals in federal district and appellate courts in civil and human rights matters, including cases related to First Amendment violations, excessive force and discrimination. He also represents individuals in various state proceedings seeking relief from conviction and sentencing (including in death penalty matters) and in immigration proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). He remains dedicated to efforts that expand access to justice and public interest impact litigation. For his work in enhancing the human dignity of others and delivering volunteer legal services to our nation’s poor and disadvantaged, Jonathan received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award in 2026. Further, Jonathan is deeply involved in the New York City community, serves on the Board of Directors for the New York Center for Children, and is a mentor to aspiring scientists, engineers and lawyers. He serves his alma mater as the University of California Scholarship Committee Chair for the North Central Region of California, a role he has held since 2015, and is an active volunteer and mentor with the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Jonathan is also involved in Kirkland’s inclusion efforts, serving on the leadership committee of the Firm’s Pride Affinity Group.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, Jonathan has been involved in the following matters:
- Haemonetics Corp. v. Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, Fresenius Kabi AG, and Fenwal, Inc. (N.D. Ill.): Representing Fenwal and Fresenius in a multi-patent litigation related to plasmapheresis device technology.
- Representing a major American clothing company and owner of iconic global lifestyle brands in New York State Court litigation involving alleged breaches of contractual obligations.
- Delta Air Lines v. Marriott (N.D. Ga.): Representing Delta Air Lines in litigation involving claims that Marriott’s Delta Hotels chain infringes Delta’s trademark rights in its famous DELTA mark. Won dismissal of Marriott’s counterclaim and vast majority of defenses on summary judgment, as well as won numerous motions to compel during discovery.
- Video Codec and Object Detection Patent Litigation (D. Del.): Represented a prominent social media company in a patent infringement lawsuit concerning video codecs and object detection technology.
- Represented The Delfield Company LLC against Duke Manufacturing Co. (E.D. Mich.) in a defensive patent infringement action related to Delfield’s FlexiTop food display system.
- Copyright and Trade Secret Litigation (N.D. Cal.): Represented prominent social media company in a copyright and trade secret misappropriation lawsuit concerning use of datasets in AI research.
- Intellectual Ventures, et al. v. Honda Motor Co., American Honda Motor Company, Inc., and American Honda Finance Corp. — Represented Honda in both the Eastern District of Texas and the Northern District of Texas in defensive multi-patent litigation related to in-vehicle WiFi, communications, camera functionality, location-based mapping services, and other positional information.
- In the Matter of Certain Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) Products, Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same — (International Trade Commission Investigation No. 337-TA-1234). Represented Respondents, Kapsch TrafficCom entities, in an ITC investigation filed by Amtech Systems LLC related to RFID tolling products.
- Personalized Media Communications, LLC Litigation — Represented a leading computer and mobile device company in patent litigation brought by PMC related to digital rights management.
- Ericsson Inc. v. Samsung Electronics, Co. Ltd. — Represented Samsung in standards-essential patent litigation brought by Ericsson related to 5G wireless communications standards.
- Red Hat, Inc. & IBM v. Sequoia Technologies, Inc.; Sequoia v. HPE, Hitachi, and Super Micro —Represented Red Hat, IBM, and their customers in defensive action against a patent assertion entity on a patent related to storage management. Achieved favorable claim construction that forced patentee to stipulate to non-infringement.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Jonathan was involved in the following matters:
- Grecia v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (S.D.N.Y.) — Defended Samsung in a patent suit relating to digital content protection and secure financial transactions. Favorable result awarded during claim construction when the court found that all asserted claims are indefinite.
- In the Matter of Certain Magnetic Data Storage and Tapes and Cartridges Containing the Same (II) (International Trade Commission Investigation No. 337-TA-1076) — Representation of Fujifilm in ITC Investigation filed by Fujifilm related to magnetic tape data storage technologies.
- In the Matter of Certain Magnetic Tape Cartridges and Components Thereof (International Trade Commission Investigation No. 337-TA-1058) — Representation of Fujifilm in ITC Investigation filed by Sony related to magnetic tape data storage technologies.
- In the Matter of Certain Magnetic Tape Cartridges and Components Thereof (International Trade Commission Investigation No. 337-TA-1036) — Representation of Fujifilm in ITC Investigation filed by Sony related to magnetic tape data storage technologies.
- In the Matter of Certain Magnetic Data Storage Tapes and Cartridges Containing the Same (International Trade Commission Investigation No. 337-TA-1012) — Representation of Fujifilm in ITC Investigation of Sony's infringement of a number of Fujifilm patents related to magnetic tape data storage technologies.
- Multinational electronics company — United States District Court litigation matters.
- Multinational photography and imaging company — Litigation matters and client counseling.
- National software developer — Litigation and licensing matters.
Clerk & Government Experience
Law ClerkHonorable Chief Justice Maureen O'ConnorSupreme Court of Ohio2014
Prior Experience
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
“Limited Deference Owed USPTO After High Court Kisor Ruling,” Law360, June 2019
“A Groundswell of Support for Strengthening Patent Rights,” New York Law Journal, Volume 261, No. 98, May 2019
“The IoT and Intellectual Property, Chapter 16, The Internet of Things: Legal Issues, Policy, and Practical Strategies,” ABA Publishing, March 2019
“Aatrix, Berkheimer and the Future of Patent Eligibility,” Law360, September 2018
“Broadest Reasonable Interpretation v. Broadest Possible Interpretation,” Baker Botts PTAB Trials Blog, November 2017
“Making Patents Great Again?,” Intellectual Property Magazine, June 2017
“President Trump and IP: Making Patents Great Again?,” Thomson Reuters Expert Analysis, May 2017
“Where is Wonderland? China May Eliminate Hurdles to Software and Business Method Patents,” Baker Botts Intellectual Property Report, February 2017
Recognition
American Bar Association, Pro Bono Publico Award, 2026
Stand-out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2026
Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers, 2021–2026
Rising Star, New York Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2018–2025
40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40, The LBGTQ+ Bar, 2024
District of Columbia Courts, in Partnership with the District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Pro Bono Center - Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, High Honors - 2020, 2022, 2023; Honors - 2024
Memberships & Affiliations
National LGBTQ+ Bar Member
American Bar Association – Federal Circuit Committee, Trial and Appellate Rules and Procedure Committee, and the Subcommittee on Section 101
New York Intellectual Property Law Association
Scholarship Committee Chair for the North Central Region of California, University of California
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Courts
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Education
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of LawJ.D.
Dean's Highest Honors
Chief Marketing Editor, Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution
CALI Award, Legal Writing and Analysis & Patent Prosecution
- University of California, Los AngelesB.S., Aerospace Engineering
UC Honor Student
Dean's List