the future is better tomorrow.
JONATHAN H. KIM
Updated October 2026
Summary
Jonathan H. Kim is a law clerk to Judge Jennifer L. Hall of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. He previously practiced at Quinn Emanuel in San Francisco, where his work included appellate briefing, intellectual property disputes, and litigation involving artificial intelligence. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he competed in moot court and mock trial and held positions in private practice and public service. He earned a B.A. in political science, summa cum laude, from UC San Diego.
I. Education
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
J.D., May 2025 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For a full list of honors and activities, see the Appendix.
University of California, San Diego
B.A., summa cum laude, Political Science, June 2020
II. About
My name is Jonathan Kim. I currently serve as a law clerk to Judge Jennifer L. Hall in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Before that, I practiced at Quinn Emanuel in San Francisco, working on appeals in the Ninth and Federal Circuits, intellectual property disputes, and litigation concerning artificial intelligence and other technologies.
At Penn Law, I spent much of my time on trial and appellate advocacy. I competed in moot court and mock trial, served as vice president of training for the Trial Team, and worked as a judicial extern, summer associate, and law clerk for public-interest organizations. I also edited the Journal of Law and Innovation and researched antitrust and intellectual property with faculty members.
Before law school, I studied political science at UC San Diego. During my time there, I worked with students on writing and public speaking, conducted research, coached mock trial, and helped co-found the Kumeyaay Community Garden.
I am most interested in communication, writing, and advocacy. I am also interested in the arts and in community projects that bring people together.
III. Professional Experience
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
At Quinn Emanuel, I prepared appellate briefs in the Ninth and Federal Circuits. I drafted complaints and dispositive motions in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret disputes. I prepared witness examinations and pretrial filings for arbitrations and federal court. I also advised companies on litigation and regulatory risk involving mass torts, product liability, Section 230, and mass-casualty matters.
Selected appellate matters to which I contributed as part of Quinn Emanuel teams include:
Amazon.com Servs., LLC v. Perplexity AI, Inc., 184 F.4th 1083 (9th Cir. 2026)
I was part of the Quinn Emanuel team representing Perplexity in an appeal over its AI shopping agent and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The Ninth Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction against Perplexity and remanded the case. Law.com recognized the successful appeal as a runner-up in its Litigator of the Week coverage.
I contributed to the team’s appellate work for Salesforce in a patent infringement suit concerning assignments of patent rights and constitutional standing. The Federal Circuit affirmed dismissal in Salesforce’s favor. Law.com’s Litigator of the Week series recognized members of the Quinn Emanuel team for the result.
IV. Legal Work & Advocacy
Judicial Extern, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Summer Associate, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Law Clerk, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Pro Bono Law Clerk, Animal Outlook
Summer Honors Law Clerk, California Department of Justice
Mock Trial Coaching
UC San Diego Mock Trial
Canyon Crest Academy
V. Writing & Research
Journal of Law and Innovation
Faculty Research
Research Assistant to Professors Herbert Hovenkamp, R. Polk Wagner, Gideon Parchomovsky, and Jennifer Leonard.
Selected Publication
A. Amorao, E. Johnston & Jonathan Kim, Sharing Lessons Learned: From Antiracist Programming to Antiracist Conferences, 3 Writers: Craft & Context 13, 13–23 (2022).
VI. Other Work & Interests
I helped co-found the Kumeyaay Community Garden at UC San Diego. The project brought students together with Kumeyaay community members to create a space for Indigenous plants, knowledge, and community events. The work included discussions with tribal leaders, faculty, and university administrators about allocating land and organizing workshops.
Outside work, I like urban hiking, backpacking, architecture, contemporary art, Japanese jazz.
Appendix: Honors & Activities
A. Penn Carey Law — Honors
- Dean’s Scholar.
- Jodi J. Schwartz and Steven F. Richman Scholar.
- Legal Practice Skills Program, Honors.
B. Penn Carey Law — Activities & Mentorship
- Journal of Law and Innovation, Volume 8 Symposium Editor; Volume 7 Associate Editor.
- West Coast Law Students Association, President.
- Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Academic Development Co-Chair.
- Internet, Technology & Society Collaboration, Treasurer.
- Korean Law Students Association, Member.
- Penn Graduate Boxing Club, Member.
- Morris Fellow.
- Penn Graduate School Mentoring Initiative.
- Penn Law Outreach Program, Mentor.
- University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Law Journal, Mentor.
C. Penn Carey Law — Trial & Appellate Advocacy
At Penn Carey Law, I competed in moot court and mock trial across a range of subjects, earning awards for both written and oral advocacy. I researched and wrote briefs, prepared oral arguments and witness examinations, and developed opening and closing statements. As vice president of training for the Trial Team at Penn, I helped other students develop case theories, prepare witnesses, and practice presenting arguments in court.
In moot court, I received Best Brief and was a quarterfinalist at the Giles S. Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition’s Western Regional. I was also a quarterfinalist in Penn Law’s Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition.
In mock trial, I received Best Trial Brief and Outstanding Advocate at the 12th South Texas Mock Trial Challenge. My team took first place in Penn Law’s 12th Englert Cup Trial Competition, and I placed second in Penn Law’s Opening Statement Competition. I also competed in the Buffalo-Niagara Trial Competition and the Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition.
D. UC San Diego — Honors & Competitions
- Dr. Joseph Watson Provost Award for Exemplary Leadership and Community Service (2020).
- Thurgood Marshall College Scholar & Citizen Award (2020).
- Thurgood Marshall College Provost Honors (2017–2020).
- Triton Research & Experiential Learning Scholar (2019–2020).
- Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society (2019).
- UC San Diego Student Employee of the Year (2020).