Experience 

Josh Yount has worked on a number of trial and appellate matters in both state and federal courts since joining Mayer Brown in 2001. Josh has written appellate, summary judgment, dismissal, and class certification briefs and argued motions in state and federal court. He also has deposed class representatives and party witnesses in federal litigation.  He has achieved significant success on appeal representing major corporate clients in the US Supreme Court and other appellate forums, and has been successful at obtaining both reversals and denials of class certification in class action litigation.

Josh's areas of focus include class certification defense, securities law, and appellate procedure.  He also has experience in accountant's liability, antitrust, telecommunications, tort, contract, insurer defense, products liability, and white-collar criminal litigation.

Before joining Mayer Brown, Josh was Law Clerk to Circuit Judge Ann Claire Williams (2000) after serving as a staff attorney with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (1998-1999).

Notable Engagements 

• Aided firm’s victory in the US Supreme Court in Credit Suisse v. Billing on the ground that the alleged agreement to rig the initial public offering process was immune from antitrust challenge.
• Obtained reversal of class certification in Miles v. Merrill Lynch, a securities fraud suit alleging manipulation of stocks recently taken public.
• Secured denial of class certification in Telco Group, Inc. v. Ameritrade, Inc., a suit alleging violation of best execution duties.
• Prevailed on appeal in Semprini v. General Motors, defeating a product liability claim based on a vehicle crash incompatibility theory.

Education 

University of Chicago Law School, JD, with honors, 1998; Executive Editor, University of Chicago Legal Forum • Illinois Wesleyan University, BA, summa cum laude, 1995

Admitted

• US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2009
• US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2009
• US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2008
• US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2008
• US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2002
• US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2000
• US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1998
• Illinois, 1998