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Overview
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Experience
Introduction
John is a versatile, go-to litigator who brings a practical approach to help companies navigate their most complex and high-risk challenges.
John Gray advises leading technology companies nationwide in complex commercial and IP litigation, with particular focus on trade secrets and critical business disputes. Clients turn to him for practical guidance, strategic judgment, and the ability to move seamlessly across subject areas, procedural stages, and forums.
With more than 15 years of litigation experience, John guides clients through the full dispute lifecycle, from early case assessment, pleadings, and discovery through dispositive motions, evidentiary hearings, settlement, trial, and appeal. His practice centers on IP and technology disputes, including trade secret misappropriation, copyright and trademark enforcement, patent litigation, licensing, false advertising, and marketing law, especially in cases involving emerging technologies, including AI and machine learning. He also regularly handles broader commercial matters involving contract disputes, business tort claims, and other high-stakes business conflicts.
John serves as a lawyer representative to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, promoting open communication between judges and lawyers and providing support and advice in the court’s functioning. He worked twice on Ashurst Perkins Coie’s Pro Bono Team of the Year. Outside his legal practice, John actively serves the community, regularly raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and local nonprofit organizations.
Education & credentials
- Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, Associate Note and Comment Editor, Arizona State Law Journal, 2009
- Arizona State University, B.S., Political Science, Emphasis in Public Advocacy and Lobbying, summa cum laude, 2005
- Arizona
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- The Hon. Michael Daly Hawkins, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Phoenix, AZ, Legal Extern, 2008
- Perkins Coie Brown & Bain, P.A., Phoenix, AZ, Summer Associate, 2008
- Hon. David G. Campbell, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, Legal Extern, 2007-2008
- Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre & Friedlander, P.A., Phoenix, AZ, Summer Law Clerk, 2007
- Office of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Office of Boards and Commissions, Deputy Director, Phoenix, AZ, 2005-2006
- Hon. G. Murray SnowU.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
Professional recognition
Ranked by Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" in Intellectual Property, 2026
Recommended in Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000, 2023; Trade Secrets, 2023
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation; Copyright Law, 2023-2026; Trade Secrets Law, 2025-2026; Trademark Law, 2026
Recognized as "Young Lawyer of the Year Finalist (Beyond Practice)" by The American Lawyer, 2022
Recognized as a “40 Under 40” by the Phoenix Business Journal, 2020
Listed as a “Rising Star” in Southwest Super Lawyers, 2015-2023
Impact
- State Bar of Arizona, Civil Practice and Procedure Committee
- Arizona Asian American Bar Association, Board of Directors
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), 2014 Convention Local Host Committee
- ABA Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy
- Arizona Bar Leadership Institute
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Arizona
- Maricopa County Bar Association
- HustlePhx, Workshop Speaker and Facilitator
- Phoenix Children's Hospital, Emerging Leaders
- 2018 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society “Man of the Year” – raised nearly $230,000 in 10 weeks
Zebra Technologies Corporation et al. v. Intermec Inc. et al.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Represented Intermec Inc. in a multipatent competitor litigation involving scanner, printer, RFID, and battery technologies.
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. v. Avago Technologies, Ltd., et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
Represented TriQuint in asserting antitrust and patent infringement claims, and in defending against patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims, related to semiconductor components in wireless communication devices.
Move, Inc. v. Zillow, Inc.
King County Superior Court, State of Washington
Represented the defendant Zillow in an employment-related unfair competition / trade secrets case against its largest competitor in which the plaintiffs sought approximately $2 billion in damages. After the Court dismissed more than $1 billion of plaintiffs’ claimed damages, found in favor of Zillow on allegations of spoliation, and granted several of the client’s motions for partial summary judgment including dismissal of most of plaintiffs’ tort-based claims, case settled on what was scheduled to be the first day of trial.
Golf Course Property and Contract Dispute
Represented golf course developer in multiweek jury trial and on appeal in litigation alleging various contractual and property restrictions on redevelopment.
Realtime Data, LLC v. Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. & Dell Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Represented Microsoft, HP, and Dell in a patent infringement suit involving accelerated loading of operating systems.
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