JOSHUA C. STOKES, PARTNER

Joshua Stokes focuses on partnership disputes and complex business litigation. He represents founders, partners, companies, and investors in high-stakes disputes involving ownership and control, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, unfair competition, trade secrets, and contract claims. Joshua handles matters from pre-dispute strategy and investigation through trial and appeal and has extensive experience litigating in state and federal courts nationwide across industries including technology, health care, financial services, energy, and hospitality.

Joshua also maintains a significant antitrust practice. He has played key roles in high-profile matters, including a six-week federal trial in the Northern District of California involving alleged “pay-for-delay” claims, where he drafted and argued trial motions, examined witnesses, negotiated jury instructions, and drafted post-trial briefing. He has litigated complex, multi-billion-dollar MDL proceedings, secured summary judgment in high-value price-fixing litigation, and secured dismissals on the pleadings in exclusive dealing and group boycott cases.

Prior to joining Sklar Kirsh, Joshua was a partner at Berry Silberberg Stokes PC and previously practiced at Crowell & Moring LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He earned his A.B. in Politics from Princeton University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he served as Articles Editor of the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law and Co-Chair of the Moot Court Board. He clerked for the Honorable Jon P. McCalla of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and is admitted to practice in California and Texas.

Joshua earned his A.B. in Politics from Princeton University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he served as Articles Editor of the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law and Co-Chair of the Moot Court Board. He is admitted to practice in California and Texas and was recognized as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers from 2008 through 2012.

Publications

“Pleading an Antitrust Conspiracy in a Post-Twombly World,” Fall 2015 Competition Journal (Fall2015). Authors: Joshua Stokes and Jordan Ludwig.

“4 Antitrust Tips For Bidding On Land For O&G Production,” Law360 (December 12, 2014). Co-Authors: Joshua Stokes, Mary Anne Mason, and Beatrice B. Nguyen.

“So You’re Thinking of Opting Out…Considerations for Corporate Plaintiffs in Price-fixing Cases,” The Antitrust Counselor, Vol. 8.4 (June 2014). Co-Authors: Jerome A. Murphy, Joshua Stokes, and Matthew J. McBurney.

“A Primer on National Tax Reform Proposals,” Orange County Lawyer Magazine, Vol. 54, No. 8, Page 22 (August 2012). Co-Authors: Joshua Stokes and Timothy D. Evans.

“Attacking Class Certification Motions,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (December 15, 2009). Co-Authors: Michael L. Cypers and Joshua Stokes