Jack Simms is an Of Counsel in Quinn Emanuel’s Austin, Texas office. He joined the firm in 2025.
Jack is a first chair litigator with a national practice focused on complex commercial disputes and antitrust litigation. For nearly twenty-five years, Jack has represented defendants and plaintiffs in a variety of high stakes matters involving commercial and antitrust disputes across a range of industries. Jack regularly represents businesses in disputes concerning breaches of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, tortious interference and civil RICO claims. He has also represented clients in large antitrust cases involving credit cards, technology, ag-biotech and cigarettes. Jack has represented clients in a range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, agribusiness, technology, communication and renewable energy. He has particularly deep experience in agribusiness (seeds and traits) where he has represented and counseled clients for over fifteen years.
Before joining Quinn Emanuel, Jack was a litigation and antitrust partner in the Washington, DC office of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, LLP. Jack also spent three years as a senior in-house litigation counsel for DuPont managing commercial, antitrust and IP litigation matters involving competitors and key products. Immediately prior to joining Quinn Emanuel, Jack led the commercial litigation practice at Chambers-recognized boutique firm.
Jack earned his law degree at the Northwestern University School of Law. He graduated from Haverford College, where he was a captain of the men’s lacrosse team, a two-time all-conference honoree, and a member of the Haverford Men’s Lacrosse 25th and 50th Anniversary all-star teams. Prior to law school, Jack was an Admission Officer, history teacher, and lacrosse coach at an independent school in Westchester County, New York.
- Monsanto v. DuPont and Pioneer. Lead trial counsel for DuPont and Pioneer defending claims brought by Monsanto relating to Pioneer’s distribution agreements and co-branding. After a two-week AAA hearing, secured complete defense victory and defeated claims for injunctive relief and over $800 million in damages. This was the first time DuPont or Pioneer had secured a trial victory over its chief competitor, Monsanto.
- Monsanto v. DuPont and Pioneer. Represented DuPont and Pioneer in antitrust claims related to Monsanto’s use of the regulatory process and business practices in soybean licensing.
- Monsanto v. Pioneer et al. Represented Pioneer and its then-recently acquired affiliate seed companies defending breach and tort claims. Asserted antitrust counterclaims against Monsanto based upon, among other things, its soybean licensing practices.
- American Express v. Visa & MasterCard. Antitrust case brought by American Express concerning exclusive dealing contracts and restrictive rules between Visa, MasterCard, and the banks issuing their credit cards in the United States that prevented any bank from doing a deal with American Express. The case resulted in a $4 billion settlement for American Express, which in 2010 was considered one of the largest recorded settlements.
- Smith Wholesale v. Philip Morris, USA. Represented Philip Morris in Sherman Act and Robinson-Patman Act claims brought by 31 different cigarette wholesalers concerning PMUSA’s market share based incentive pricing program. Despite the Court’s initially enjoining PMUSA’s program, client secured summary judgment, and the Court ruled that its prior injunction was improvidently granted. Affirmed on appeal.
- Burrell et al v. Stine Seed et al. Represented Stine Seed Company in dispute brought by African American farmers in Memphis, TN. Plaintiffs sued in federal court for civil RICO violations, race discrimination, and fraud. Stine Seed prevailed on its motion to dismiss and on appeal. Case refiled in Tennessee State Court. Jack argued summary judgment in the case shortly before joining Quinn Emanuel.
- Altour Holdings v. Noskeau. Represented Altour Holdings, in litigation against two former corporate officers who attempted to start a competing company. Client sued in SDNY and Texas state court; led the Texas state action.
- San Miguel et al v. Peeler, et al. Represented the owners of a 25,000-acre cattle ranch in South Texas in a two-year dispute against two Texas electric cooperatives and one of North America’s largest mining companies for widespread groundwater, surface water, and soil pollution from a lignite coal plant and mine. The case involved the largest eminent domain award in the history of the State of Texas.
- Cielo v Acciona. Represented Acciona, Spanish conglomerate with wind farm operations in South Texas in commercial dispute with developer. The case was filed in Cameron County, TX and the client filed a parallel proceeding in New York State Court.
- Saluri v. Stine Seed and Harry Stine. Represented Stine Seed Company and Harry Stine, its founder, against claims brought by former Stine Seed General Counsel related to his alleged interest in the company.
- D.E. Shaw et al v Archon. Represented hedge funds in breach of contact action against issuer of preferred shares. Secured pre-discovery summary judgment on liability.
- Victory Brands v. Philip Morris, USA. Represented Philip Morris in Sherman Act claims brought by cigarette manufacturer. Achieved successful dismissal on the pleadings.
- Monsanto v. Pioneer. As an in-house counsel, represented Pioneer in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Monsanto concerning Pioneer’s laser assisted seed chipping enabling technology. Pioneer asserted patent counterclaims concerning its seed sorting technology.
- DuPont v. Heraeus. As an in-house counsel, represented DuPont in patent infringement case against Heraeus, a competitor in the manufacture of front side photovoltaic paste for solar cells.
- DuPont v. SunEdison. As an in-house counsel, brought patent infringement claims against SunEdison for infringing patents that covered DuPont’s PV paste used in solar cells.
- Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
(J.D., 2000) - Haverford College
(B.A., Political Science, 1995)
- The State Bar of Texas
- District of Columbia
- Illinois (voluntarily inactive)
- United States District Court:
- Western District of Texas
- Northern District of Illinois
- Wittliff Cutter, PLLC
- Partner, 2016-2025
- E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (DuPont)
- Corporate Counsel, 2012-2015
- Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP
- Partner, 2008-2012
- Associate 2006-2007
- Associate 2004-2005
- Perry & Haas, LLP
- Partner, 2005
- Baker & McKenzie
- Associate, 2000-2004