John Stokes

John served as lead counsel for industrial-scale bitcoin miner Rhodium in this make-or-break dispute with its landlord over the alleged termination of hosting contracts valued in the hundreds of millions. In a case spanning multiple forums—state court, arbitration, and ultimately bankruptcy court—John prevailed after a week-long trial in the Southern District of Texas. Earlier in the case, John obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction for his client that allowed it to stay in business while the case unfolded.

• Client’s press release

John played a central role—including arguing the dispositive motions and delivering closing argument following a six-day federal bench trial—in this pathbreaking case challenging the fire-sale liquidation of philanthropists’ $100 million stock donation (New York Times article).

John served as the lead author of post-trial (and appellate) briefs in the successful defense of this $180 million false advertising litigation, which the Daily Journal named a Top Defense Result of 2021. Following an adverse jury verdict on liability and a subsequent bench trial, the judge requested submissions from the parties regarding the damages and other relief to be awarded. John’s briefing convinced the judge that the plaintiff had acted with unclean hands and had not proved causation.

In an eight-figure defamation case arising from a hotly disputed city council election, John won complete pleading stage dismissal of a contribution claim against his client. The other individual defendant was ultimately hit with a $5 million judgment following trial.

On behalf of a Fortune company, John led the design of a nationwide litigation campaign to stop certain persistent illegal payment practices that presented a significant challenge to the client’s business.

John successfully briefed and argued this major Tenth Circuit appeal about the enforceability of individual arbitration agreements in representative actions brought under ERISA. The case will determine “workers’ access to remedies in court for a vast array of ERISA claims,” and could mark a “major shift” in the regulation of employee benefit plans. John served as lead author of briefing in an earlier appeal presenting a similar issue, obtaining a Seventh Circuit victory that Law360 identified as one of the top five benefit rulings of 2021.

• Listen to John’s Argument (begins at 15:39)

John briefed and argued this significant Fifth Circuit appeal presenting the same arbitration question he prevailed upon in the Tenth Circuit. Shortly after oral argument, the case settled.

• Listen to John’s Argument (begins at 13:23)

John successfully argued this precedent-setting appeal in the Second Circuit, defining the scope of remedies available under ERISA. He then litigated the case on remand to a favorable resolution in the district court.

John served as the lead author of the briefs and second chair at oral argument in this major copyright case before the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm won a unanimous victory that Managing IP named its “Impact Case of the Year.”

John successfully argued this civil rights appeal in the Ninth Circuit involving a novel procedural issue of federal law. He was appointed by the Ninth Circuit to represent Mr. Green, prevailing against the Nevada Attorney General’s office on a notoriously difficult issue for federal civil rights plaintiffs.

As lead author of the briefs, John persuaded the Eighth Circuit to reverse the grant of summary judgment in this nine-figure certified class action concerning guaranteed investment contracts.

John served as lead counsel before U.S. Supreme Court in this case presenting a significant question about the arbitrability of ERISA representative actions. Facing an elite Supreme Court team and despite the predictions of industry watchers, John persuaded the Court to deny certiorari.

• Read our Brief in Opposition