John B. Quinn

For persons of a similar name, see John Quinn (disambiguation).
John B. Quinn
Born1951 (age 72–73)
EducationClaremont McKenna College (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
OccupationLawyer

John B. Quinn is an American lawyer and one of the founding partners of the law firm known today as Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.[1] In 2011, Quinn was listed as one of America's "Most Influential Lawyers" by the National Law Journal.[2] In a 2016 poll by Bloomberg Big Law Business, readers voted Quinn the country's “Most Famous Practicing Lawyer” at a top U.S. firm.[3]

Career

Quinn attended Claremont McKenna College and Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and a Knox Fellow. He graduated in 1976 and joined the law firm of Cravath Swaine & Moore in New York, practicing corporate law between 1976 and 1979.

In 1986, he co-founded the law firm today known as Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, a litigation-only law firm headquartered in Los Angeles. Quinn has been general counsel to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that gives out the Oscars, since 1986.[4][5]

In 2012, Quinn obtained a dismissal for Mattel with prejudice of a Sherman Act suit brought by a MGA Entertainment Inc.[6][7]

In 2015, Quinn represented Nestlé USA, Inc. and Nestlé Dreyer’s Ice Cream Company in an antitrust action brought by Clemmy’s involving an alleged conspiracy to exclude competition in a claimed market for ice cream. The Court ruled that Clemmy’s hadn’t presented enough evidence to warrant the case reaching a jury trial.[8]

In 2018, Quinn was lead trial counsel for Japanese entertainment company Tsuburaya Productions Co., Ltd. in a dispute concerning ownership of rights of the “Ultraman” superhero character. The jury would find in favor of Tsuburaya. [9]

Quinn launched his legal podcast Law, disrupted in March 2022. Guests have included fellow lawyers, the Mayor of New York Eric Adams, and Johnny Depp trial lawyer Camille Vasquez.[10][11]

In October 2022, at that year's Saudi-backed Future Investment Initiative Institute conference, Quinn told the New York Times that "the Saudis understand the oil market better than anybody else in the world. I think you have to take them seriously on the merits when they say we sense a declining demand, we need a stable market ... What's the U.S. argument? We asked you to [increase supply] and you didn't do it?"[12]

Personal life

In 2013 Quinn opened Q Sushi in downtown LA with Chef Hiroyuki Naruke of Tokyo. It is an omakase menu of Chef Hiro's interpretation of artisan Edo-style sushi. In 2019, Q received a Michelin Guide star.[13]

Quinn brought the Museum of Broken Relationships to Los Angeles in June 2016.[14]

Quinn has twice completed the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.[15]

In July 2024, Quinn was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree by Busan University of Foreign Studies in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of business litigation and global leadership.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Three Questions for Quinn Emanuel's John Quinn" Wall Street Journal (March 26, 2009)
  2. ^ "Most Influential Lawyers: John Quinn - Quinn Emanuel Urqhart & Sullivan" National Law Journal (March 28, 2011)
  3. ^ Block, Josh (October 28, 2016). "Big Law's Most Famous Practicing Lawyer is..." Bloomberg Big Law Business. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  4. ^ Spiezio, Caroline (March 2, 2018). "Quinn Emanuel's John Quinn Has Another Starring Role: General Counsel of the Academy". Law.com Corporate Counsel. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  5. ^ Marikar, Sheila (July 6, 2016). "What Becomes of the Brokenhearteds' Stuff". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "Mattel defeats Bratz doll maker antitrust lawsuit". Reuters. February 22, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "LA 500: John B. Quinn". LA Business Journal. August 11, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "Bad news for Clemmy's in 'David vs Goliath' unfair competition lawsuit against Nestlé USA". Dairy Reporter. June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  9. ^ "UM CORPORATION v. TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS CO., LTD". Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Episodes - Law Disrupted Podcast". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Never Ask a Question You Don't Know the Answer To? Eh, Maybe It's Worth a Try". Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  12. ^ Kelly, Kate; Nereim, Vivian (October 28, 2022). "Saudis Find More Sympathetic American Ears at Business Forum". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  13. ^ Stokes, Samantha. "John Quinn's Bet Pays Off". Law.com.
  14. ^ Marikar, Sheila (6 July 2016). "What Becomes of the Brokenhearteds' Stuff". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  15. ^ Beck, Susan. "The Mighty Quinn". Law.com. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Busan University of Foreign Studies Awards Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree to John B. Quinn, Founder of Global Law Firm Quinn Emanuel". koreapost.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.