Joel S. Nolette

Joel advocates on behalf of corporate and individual clients in a broad spectrum of matters, including complex commercial disputes, regulatory issues, statutory interpretation controversies, and constitutional cases. He has experience in all phases of litigation, from pre-suit counseling through appeal. He has written briefs in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court; the First, Second, Ninth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits; and federal district courts.

Representative Matters

• Represented a coalition of firearms-industry members in a Supreme Court amicus brief opposing Mexico’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers, resulting in a unanimous decision that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act barred the foreign government’s suit.

• Represented a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of Members of Congress in a D.C. Circuit amicus brief supporting the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, resulting in a decision upholding the law under the First Amendment and other constitutional provisions. Subsequently represented the Select Committee on the CCP’s Chair and Ranking Member in a Supreme Court amicus brief supporting the D.C. Circuit’s decision, which the Court unanimously affirmed.

• Defended a data broker in successive privacy and unfair-trade-practices lawsuits, resulting in favorable dismissals of the cases.
• Defended a tribal corporation in breach-of-contract litigation based on a contract subject to arbitration, resulting in a favorable voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit.
• Defended a beverage manufacturer against commercial tort claims in arbitration, resulting in a favorable settlement of the dispute.
• Represented an energy company in a product liability dispute, resulting in a favorable settlement of the claims.
• Represented telecommunications trade associations in an amicus brief before the Supreme Court in a constitutional challenge to SEC administrative proceedings, resulting in a favorable decision on the scope of the Seventh Amendment right to jury trial in such proceedings.
• Represented a religious organization in an amicus brief before the First Circuit in support of the Boston City Council’s custom of opening its legislative sessions with an invocation, resulting in a favorable decision affirming the constitutionality of that custom.
• Counseled corporate clients on potential challenges to federal regulations across a range of subjects.
• Counseled immigration clients and represented them in federal, state, and immigration courts.

Professional Experience

• Litigation Associate, Private Law Practice (2017-2019)
• Law Clerk, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Office of Senator Mike Lee (2015-2017)
• Judicial Intern, The Honorable Edward J. McDonough Jr., Massachusetts Superior Court (2015)

Affiliations

• The Federalist Society
• The Catholic Bar Association
• Society for the Rule of Law