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Joachim B. SteinbergCIPP/US

Counsel | CIPP/US | He/Him/His
Counsel | CIPP/US | He/Him/His
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Areas of Focus

Overview

Based in both San Francisco and New York, Joachim B. Steinberg (CIPP/US) supports clients in commercial, intellectual property, and technology litigation in courts across the country. He has represented clients in federal and state courts and in arbitration, including trial advocacy and arguments before the Second Circuit.

Joachim represents clients with copyright, trademark, trade secrets, antitrust, and privacy matters. From initial investigations through appeal, he has successfully litigated—or resolved without litigation—claims of trademark infringement, breach of fiduciary duty, theft of trade secrets, and unfair competition.

Joachim’s experience crosses multiple industries, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, software, aeronautics, and video games. He has represented clients ranging from early-phase start-ups to publicly traded companies and large public institutions in all business phases. Joachim actively follows the latest technological developments and has played a leading role in organizing Crowell’s AI Working Group.

Joachim clerked for both the Honorable Eric Clay in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Honorable Theodore Katz in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

While at NYU Law, Joachim was named best oralist in the final round of the Orison S. Marden Moot Court Competition. He was also a Robert McKay Scholar, development editor for the NYU Annual Survey of American Law, and a student advocate for the New York Civil Liberties Union and was awarded a Vanderbilt Medal for his contributions to the law school. After completing his J.D., Joachim attended the University of Oxford, where he wrote a thesis on conflict of laws and international sales and briefly captained a cricket team. Before attending law school, Joachim taught elementary school in the Bronx.

Joachim also has an established record of community engagement and pro bono service, including immigration asylum work, Section 1983 civil rights litigation, and First Amendment appellate advocacy. He recently represented a domestic violence survivor on appeal, leading to a published California appellate decision. He has served on charitable boards and currently holds leadership or committee roles with the Copyright Society, the International Trademark Association, and the Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco.

Outside of work, Joachim’s interests include Arsenal Football Club, cooking, and whatever train-related activities currently capturing his toddler’s enthusiasm. 

 

 

Career & Education

    • University of Chicago, A.B., general and departmental honors, history
    • New York University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
    • University of Oxford, M.St., legal research
    • University of Chicago, A.B., general and departmental honors, history
    • New York University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
    • University of Oxford, M.St., legal research

    • New York
    • California
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • New York
    • California
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • Supreme Court of the United States

  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • ABA
      • Intellectual Property Section Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, 2023–2024
      • Intellectual Property Section Committee on Copyright and New Technologies, 2024–Present
      • Vice-Chair, Intellectual Property Section Digital Games Committee, 2024–Present
    • Copyright Society
      • Member, 2018–Present
      • Co-Chair, Northern California Chapter, 2021–Present
      • Membership Committee, 2024
      • Copyright Adjacent Committee, 2025
    • International Trademark Association
      • Member 2023-Present
      • Committee on Geographic Indicators, 2024
    • Board of Directors, Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco, 2021–Present
    • Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2022–Present
    • Bar Association of San Francisco Delegation to the California Conference of Bar Associations
      • Delegate, 2016–Present
      • Chair, 2022
    • Chairman of the Board of Directors, San Francisco City Football Club, 2016–2022
    • Member, Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court, 2016–2018
    • Board of Directors, AIDS Legal Referral Panel, 2014 – 2018

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • ABA
      • Intellectual Property Section Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, 2023–2024
      • Intellectual Property Section Committee on Copyright and New Technologies, 2024–Present
      • Vice-Chair, Intellectual Property Section Digital Games Committee, 2024–Present
    • Copyright Society
      • Member, 2018–Present
      • Co-Chair, Northern California Chapter, 2021–Present
      • Membership Committee, 2024
      • Copyright Adjacent Committee, 2025
    • International Trademark Association
      • Member 2023-Present
      • Committee on Geographic Indicators, 2024
    • Board of Directors, Jewish Bar Association of San Francisco, 2021–Present
    • Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2022–Present
    • Bar Association of San Francisco Delegation to the California Conference of Bar Associations
      • Delegate, 2016–Present
      • Chair, 2022
    • Chairman of the Board of Directors, San Francisco City Football Club, 2016–2022
    • Member, Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court, 2016–2018
    • Board of Directors, AIDS Legal Referral Panel, 2014 – 2018

Joachim's Insights

Webinar | 06.11.25

Section 230: Implications for Digital Platforms, Online Businesses and E-Commerce

Section 230 was enacted as part of the United States Communications Decency Act (CDA), providing immunity to interactive computer service providers for third-party content. Known as “the 26 words that created the internet,” this statute is responsible for the development of the modern internet as we know it. 

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Representative Matters

  • Represented a technology start-up in an appeal before the Second Circuit in a trademark infringement case.
  • Provided legal services for a major producer of airplane parts in trade secrets litigation over critical internal technology.
  • Represented a municipality in antitrust litigation against several large banks for rate-fixing related to variable rate bonds.
  • Represented a video-game company in intellectual property claims related to the “print on demand” industry, securing a favorable settlement.
  • Represented a Canadian technology company in patent and trademark litigation over virtualization software, leading to a substantial jury verdict.
  • Assisted client in FINRA arbitration proceedings.
  • Argued a summary judgment motion in a civil rights case against a police department.

Joachim's Insights

Webinar | 06.11.25

Section 230: Implications for Digital Platforms, Online Businesses and E-Commerce

Section 230 was enacted as part of the United States Communications Decency Act (CDA), providing immunity to interactive computer service providers for third-party content. Known as “the 26 words that created the internet,” this statute is responsible for the development of the modern internet as we know it. 

View All Insights

Insights

Webinar | 06.11.25

Section 230: Implications for Digital Platforms, Online Businesses and E-Commerce

Event | 04.23.25

Copyright, Meet Antitrust

Speaking Engagement | 04.23.25

"Copyright, Meet Antitrust," The Copyright Society

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.01.25

D.C. Circuit Rejects Copyrightability of Artwork Created Autonomously by AI

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Practices

Industries

Joachim's Insights

Webinar | 06.11.25

Section 230: Implications for Digital Platforms, Online Businesses and E-Commerce

Section 230 was enacted as part of the United States Communications Decency Act (CDA), providing immunity to interactive computer service providers for third-party content. Known as “the 26 words that created the internet,” this statute is responsible for the development of the modern internet as we know it. 

View All Insights