Jonathan D. Brit
Overview
Jonathan Brit is a trial lawyer who represents leading technology companies and multinational enterprises in their most significant intellectual property and commercial disputes. A partner in Kirkland’s New York office, Jonathan litigates patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, false advertising and other business-critical disputes in federal and state courts nationwide and before the U.S. International Trade Commission. He has secured significant victories in high-profile, bet-the-company disputes through trial, dispositive motions and strategic early resolutions. Jonathan has served as trial counsel in more than ten jury trials, bench trials and ITC evidentiary hearings involving mission-critical technologies, intellectual property rights and other matters central to his clients’ businesses. He represents clients in disputes involving some of their most valuable assets, including patented technologies, globally recognized brands, proprietary information, copyrighted and creative works and other forms of intellectual property and sources of competitive advantage. Drawing on a background in aerospace, electrical and computer engineering, Jonathan is particularly adept at transforming complex technical concepts into persuasive themes for judges, juries, arbitrators and business stakeholders. Clients value Jonathan for his ability to combine technical fluency, trial advocacy and commercial judgment in disputes involving their most important business assets.
His practice also encompasses Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceedings and counseling clients on intellectual property strategy, risk and diligence in acquisitions, licensing transactions, private equity investments and other significant commercial matters.
In 2026, Jonathan received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award, the ABA’s highest recognition for outstanding pro bono legal service. He has also been recognized as a New York Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2018 and was named one of the 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by The LGBTQ+ Bar in 2024.
Jonathan maintains a pro bono practice focused on civil and human rights, equal justice and immigration matters. He represents individuals in federal trial and appellate courts in cases involving First Amendment violations, excessive force, discrimination and other constitutional issues, as well as in post-conviction and sentencing proceedings, including death penalty matters. He also represents individuals in immigration proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
Beyond his legal practice, Jonathan serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Center for Children and mentors aspiring scientists, engineers and lawyers. He also serves as Chair of the University of California Scholarship Committee 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. Within the Firm, he serves on the leadership committee of Kirkland’s Pride Affinity Group and is actively involved in the Firm’s inclusion initiatives.
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