Mueller_Joseph

Joseph J. Mueller

Partner

  • Co-Chair, Trial Practice

Joe Mueller is a first-chair trial lawyer who has worked on dozens of trials in courts across the country. Many of his cases involve intellectual property disputes, and he has led trial teams in high-stakes trials for some of the world’s top technology companies. His trial experience extends to many other substantive areas, involving a wide variety of disputes. His recognitions include being ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, honored as an Intellectual Property Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, named the 2021 Boston Lawyer of the Year for Intellectual Property Litigation by Best Lawyers in America and featured as a litigation leader alongside fellow Trial Practice co-chair Hallie Levin in Litigation Daily.

Mr. Mueller’s advocacy work extends beyond trials. He has considerable appellate experience, and has argued before federal and state appeals courts including the United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Fourth Circuit and Ninth Circuit. He has also worked on projects involving a wide array of government agencies, and the formulation and implementation of policy strategies for interactions with those agencies.

In addition to his courtroom skills, Mr. Mueller sets and executes strategies for interdisciplinary matters, including those involving multiple substantive bodies of law, such as intellectual property, antitrust and competition law, and contract law; litigation and regulatory work; and US and foreign proceedings. He is skilled in considering the various substantive, procedural and international variables in such matters, and crafting clear and consistent strategies for success. 

Beyond his domestic practice, Mr. Mueller has in-depth knowledge regarding strategies for international litigations and regulatory proceedings. He has experience with courts and agencies throughout Europe and Asia. 

Earlier in his career Mr. Mueller served as a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Special District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted cases involving violent crimes, financial fraud, and many other offenses. While at the Middlesex DA's Office, Mr. Mueller tried a variety of criminal cases to juries and judges.

Mr. Mueller has worked on significant pro bono matters involving disability rights, political asylum, detainee rights, public school disciplinary procedures, and healthcare. Over the years, he has received the Boston Bar Association's President's Award and the firm's John H. Pickering Award for his exemplary pro bono service.

Professional Activities

At the appointment of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Mr. Mueller served as a Special Prosecutor for the Eastern District. He has also served on multiple special committees for the Eastern District.   

Mr. Mueller is an adjunct professor of law at Boston College Law School, where since 2011 he has taught a biennial course on patent litigation. From 2004 to 2007, he held principal responsibility for the school's international law advocacy programs—the Jessup International Law Moot Court program and the European Union Law Moot Court program.

Mr. Mueller is on the board of directors of Discovering Justice, a nonprofit organization focused on youth education regarding the law and the justice system.

Mr. Mueller is a member of the Boston Bar Association, the Federal Circuit Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

  • Joe Mueller Named an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property

    IP Stars identifies lawyers based on their knowledge, outcomes achieved for clients and unique strengths in the given practice area.

    June 29, 2020
    Read More
  • Joe Mueller Named Boston Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year

    Best Lawyers in America names only one lawyer for each legal practice specialty and location as Lawyer of the Year.

    August 26, 2020
    Read More

Recognition

  • Award Text

    Recognized as a Leading IP Lawyer

    Chambers USA

    2018–2023

  • Award Text

    Named an IP Trailblazer

    The National Law Journal

    2019

  • Award Text

    Selected as the Boston IP Litigation Lawyer of the Year

    Best Lawyers in America

    2021

  • Named a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated and selected by clients.
  • Regularly recognized by Chambers USA Guide in Massachusetts for intellectual property.
  • Named among the 2020–2024 Best Lawyers in America for his intellectual property practice and in 2023 and 2024 for his patent litigation.
  • Named the 2021 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America for intellectual property litigation in Massachusetts.
  • Named a "Top 100 Trial Attorney" (2024) and "Litigation Star" (2022-2024) by Benchmark Litigation
  • Named to the 2022 and 2023 edition of IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals guide for his litigation practice.
  • Named to Boston Magazine’s inaugural Top Lawyers list in 2021 and 2022 in the area of civil litigation/defense.
  • Named a 2019 Intellectual Property Trailblazer by The National Law Journal.
  • Named a Litigator of the Week by The American Lawyer and a Winning Litigator by The National Law Journal in 2017 for his significant trial victory for Intel Corporation in a $2 billion patent infringement suit brought by AVM Technologies.
  • Texas Lawyer selected client Apple's success in Core Wireless Licensing v. Apple as a Top IP Defense Win in 2015 in their Top Texas Verdicts & Settlements supplement.
  • Selected as a 2014–2023 IP Star by Managing IP, a guidebook that identifies leading IP lawyers in the United States.
  • Recognized for intellectual property - patent litigation in the 2018 edition of The Legal 500 United States.
  • Recognized as a 2014 Boston Rising Star by The National Law Journal, a list honoring 40 outstanding lawyers age 40 or under who "have accomplished big feats" and are also "improving their communities".
  • Named a 2013 "40 under 40" honoree by the Boston Business Journal, among “business and civic leaders who collectively represent the next wave of talent and commitment in the Boston economy”.
  • Selected for inclusion in the 2016–2021 editions of Massachusetts Super Lawyers, published in Boston Magazine, and was listed as a Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2009–2014.
  • Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America list.

Insights & News

Credentials

  • Education

    • BA, Government, Harvard University

      cum laude
    • JD, Boston College Law School

      summa cum laude Order of the Coif
  • Admissions

    • Massachusetts

  • Clerkships

    • The Hon. Paul R. Michel, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

    • The Hon. Patti B. Saris, US District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Credentials