About Joseph R.
Joseph R. Palmore is a partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP, a prominent law firm located in Washington, D.C. He co-chairs the Appellate and Supreme Court practice while also serving as the managing partner of the firm's D.C. office. Since 2020, Mr. Palmore has been recognized in Best Lawyers for his exceptional legal skills. Additionally, he has been selected to Super Lawyers from 2017 to 2025, underscoring his reputation in the legal community. In 1991, Mr.
Palmore earned his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Harvard University. His academic journey continued at the University of Virginia, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Legal History in 1998. That same year, he graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. This strong educational foundation laid the groundwork for a distinguished legal career. Before joining Morrison & Foerster, Mr. Palmore served as an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice. In this capacity, he represented the United States before the Supreme Court.
Notably, he was part of the legal team that defended the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in the landmark case NFIB v. Sebelius, for which he received the Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service. Prior to his role at the Department of Justice, he was Deputy General Counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, where he oversaw federal appellate litigation. In his current position, Mr. Palmore has argued 12 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and over 45 in various appellate courts across the nation. His practice encompasses many issues, including antitrust, class actions, communications, false advertising, intellectual property, and securities. He has secured significant victories in multiple circuits, including the Second and Ninth Circuits, demonstrating his adeptness in navigating complex legal challenges.
Mr. Palmore is a Fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and actively participates on the Technology Litigation Advisory Committee of the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center. He is also a master in the Coke Appellate Inn at Court, where he previously served as an officer. In 2016, he played a pivotal role in advising the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary regarding the professional qualifications of the Honorable Merrick Garland for an Associate Justice position on the Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice law in both the District of Columbia and New York, adding to his professional reach.
