Jonathan Steinsapir

Jonathan Steinsapir’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation matters and counseling in the entertainment, music, technology, finance, real estate, and other general commercial sectors. Mr. Steinsapir has handled all phases of complex intellectual property disputes, including dozens of copyright, patent, and trademark cases in federal courts throughout the country. He also has extensive experience with contract cases, including cases involving licensing and output agreements. He has represented both employees and employers in trade secret and non-compete matters. Mr. Steinsapir is also beginning to develop an appellate practice, successfully arguing numerous appeals in both the Ninth Circuit and the California Court of Appeal. He has also worked on other appellate matters in the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Ninth and Federal Circuits.

Recognized for his expertise in patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property issues, Mr. Steinsapir is frequently asked to comment on pending matters of interest by mainstream media publications, entertainment industry publications, and legal publications, including The Los Angeles Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Los Angeles Daily Journal, The San Francisco Daily Journal, and Law360.

In 2014, his first year of eligibility, Mr. Steinsapir was named by his peers as a “Super Lawyer” in Intellectual Property Litigation in Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine. Before that, from 2009 through 2013, Mr. Steinsapir was chosen every year as a “Rising Star” in the same magazine in Intellectual Property Litigation.

Following law school, Mr. Steinsapir clerked for the late Hon. Cynthia Holcomb Hall of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then clerked for Judge Margaret M. Morrow of the Central District of California. From August through December 2001, Mr. Steinsapir worked in the Pentagon for the Office of the General Counsel to the Secretary of Defense. After the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon, he traveled to Uzbekistan as the Pentagon’s only on-site legal advisor during the negotiation of an executive agreement mandating the cleanup of former Soviet biological weapons sites.

Mr. Steinsapir graduated from UCLA School of Law and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He graduated with Honors from UCSD in 1998 with a BA in Political Science and two minors, in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies. Mr. Steinsapir was born and raised in Santa Monica. He was formerly the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee for the Board of Trustees of Hill & Dale Family Learning Center in Santa Monica.

Prior to joining the firm at the end of 2007, Mr. Steinsapir was associated for several years with the law firm of Irell & Manella, LLP.