Jones Day adds IP partners in San Francisco and Amsterdam growing Firm's depth in AI and emerging technologies
Sean M. Callagy and Joris Willems have joined Jones Day as partners in its Intellectual Property Practice. Mr. Callagy joins the Firm's San Francisco Office and Mr. Willems joins the Firm's Amsterdam Office. Their combined experience spanning intellectual property litigation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and complex technology transactions deepens Jones Day's ability to serve clients navigating the rapidly evolving technology landscape on a global scale.
"Sean and Joris are the kind of lawyers who make Jones Day's Intellectual Property Practice distinctive—deeply experienced, versatile, and committed to excellence for clients," said Anthony M. Insogna, who leads Jones Day's global Intellectual Property Practice. "Sean brings formidable courtroom experience in cutting-edge copyright, patent, and technology disputes, including matters at the forefront of AI and machine learning. Joris is one of Europe's most highly regarded technology and AI lawyers, with a track record of advising major global companies on digital transformation and regulatory compliance. Together, they add to our strong capabilities advising clients on the most complex and consequential intellectual property and technology challenges, in venues around the world."
Mr. Callagy has a wide range of experience in intellectual property and commercial litigation, with particular depth in copyright, software, and trade secret matters. He has represented clients ranging from startups to major multinational technology companies in federal and state courts, including claims implicating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital services. Mr. Callagy's notable work includes counseling major technology companies in connection with potential copyright claims arising from the use of copyrighted datasets for machine learning purposes and defending multinational technology companies in copyright and trademark claims involving digital services. He clerked for the Honorable Harold R. DeMoss, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Honorable Micaela A. Alvarez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. A Fulbright Fellow who studied and taught in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Callagy is fluent in German. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of California.
"We are excited to welcome Sean to our West Coast team," said Aaron Agenbroad, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's San Francisco Office. "Sean's deep experience litigating high-stakes intellectual property and technology cases—including matters involving AI and machine learning—makes him an outstanding addition not only to our San Francisco Office and our growing presence across the West Coast, but to serve clients around the world. His international perspective, including his time as a Fulbright Fellow in Germany, and his proven ability to handle complex, multi-faceted disputes will be a tremendous asset to clients around the world."
Mr. Willems is one of Europe's leading technology and AI lawyers. His practice focuses on digital transformation and advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data centers and digital infrastructure, cloud services, and complex commercial contracts. Mr. Willems has extensive experience advising major global institutions—including leading European banks, media companies, and technology firms—on matters ranging from AI governance and regulatory compliance under the EU AI Act and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) to large-scale technology sourcing and IT disputes. His notable engagements include advising a leading global technology and e-commerce company on the development of a groundbreaking generative AI platform, involving contracts with partners such as Anthropic AI and OpenAI, and training one of Europe's largest banks on legislative implementation to include AI Act, DORA, and NIS2. Mr. Willems is ranked by Chambers, Legal 500 EMEA, and is a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer. He serves as Chair of the Dutch Association of AI and Robotics Law (NVAIR). He received his Meester title (J.D. and LL.M.) from the University of Amsterdam, where he was a student assistant at the renowned Institute of Information Law (IViR), and studied as an exchange student at Columbia University.
"Joris is a tremendous addition to Jones Day and to our Amsterdam Office," said Yvan Desmedt, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day's Amsterdam Office. "His deep experience in AI governance, cybersecurity, and complex technology matters—combined with his extensive international experience across Europe and Asia—uniquely positions him to serve our clients throughout the Netherlands, across the European continent, and globally. As companies face an increasingly complex regulatory environment around AI and digital transformation, Joris's practical, commercially minded approach will be invaluable to clients seeking trusted counsel who can bridge legal and business strategy at the highest levels."
"Jones Day's global presence, its culture of true partnership, and its deep bench of intellectual property talent make it the ideal place to serve clients facing the most important technology and IP challenges of our time," said Mr. Callagy. "The opportunity to collaborate seamlessly with colleagues across more than 40 offices worldwide—combining local knowledge with global reach—is something no other firm offers in quite the same way," added Mr. Willems. "We are excited to be part of a team that is as committed to innovation in its service of clients as the clients themselves are in their industries."
Jones Day's global Intellectual Property Practice of over 225 professionals continues to grow, driven by patent and trade secret litigation, as well as technology driven deals and strategy IP portfolio assessment and development. In the last three years alone, the Practice tried more than 20 U.S. patent cases in the United States' most active forums. Built for seamless cross-border representation spanning Europe, Asia, and Australia, Jones Day IP handles significant IP litigation in the U.K., the UPC, Germany, France, China and Australia. Jones Day counsels its clients on their key IP transactions and complex, cross-jurisdictional structures in life sciences and technology.
