Z.W. Julius Chen, Partner, Supreme Court and Appellate | Akin

Z.W. Julius Chen

Partner

Areas of Focus

Z.W. Julius Chen, Partner, Supreme Court and Appellate | Akin

Z.W. Julius Chen

Partner

chenj@akingump.com

Areas of Focus

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Biography
  • Focuses his practice on federal and state appellate litigation—with particular experience in administrative and constitutional law, financial restructuring, intellectual property, and complex commercial and securities matters.
  • Regularly advises investment funds and consultancies on litigation trends and risks.

Julius represents clients at all stages of appellate litigation. He is the principal drafter of hundreds of briefs filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal courts of appeals, and state appellate courts, and he has argued cases in the 6th, 9th, 11th, D.C., and Federal Circuits, as well as the Florida Supreme Court.

Julius’s practice spans the range of the firm’s litigation and regulatory matters. In particular, he has been involved in many of the firm’s most significant cases involving constitutional and Administrative Procedure Act challenges; high-stakes bankruptcy appeals on behalf of debtors and creditors; patent-related appeals arising out of district court and inter partes review proceedings; and business disputes in the Delaware Supreme Court and New York appellate courts.  

In addition, Julius frequently provides litigation analyses for clients across a variety of industries—including banking and finance, communications, energy, healthcare, mass torts, and media. Clients also routinely seek Julius’s advice on the legality of a range of government actions.

Previously, Julius served as editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law Review. He clerked for Judge Judith W. Rogers on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and for Judge T.S. Ellis III on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Julius is the Hiring Partner for Akin’s Washington, D.C. office.

Representative Work

Administrative and Constitutional Law

  • Representing an aerospace company in D.C. Circuit appeals defending Federal Communications Commission satellite license modification order.
  • Successfully briefed and argued D.C. Circuit appeal finding that the Federal Aviation Administration had constructively denied a pilot’s application.
  • Successfully briefed and argued 9th Circuit appeal defending the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on behalf of a coalition of tribes and stakeholders.

Financial Restructuring

  • Represented FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. in a dozen 6th Circuit appeals arising out of rejection of FERC-regulated power purchase agreements and plan confirmation.
  • Successfully defended judgment and opposed petition for certiorari in a restructuring proceeding involving bankruptcy claims worth more than $500 million.
  • Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors or ad hoc creditor groups in successful bankruptcy appeals involving, among other companies, Sears Holdings Corp., Purdue Pharma L.P. and PG&E Corp.

Intellectual Property

  • Successfully briefed and argued multiple appeals defending inter partes review final written decisions.
  • Drafted successful Federal Circuit briefs on venue, patentability, claim construction, invalidity, and ongoing royalty issues arising out of district court litigation.

Complex Commercial and Securities

  • Successfully represented AT&T in appeal concerning alleged breach of partnership agreements in the Delaware Supreme Court.
  • Prevailed in New York Appellate Division—First Judicial Department appeal affirming dismissal of claims relating to interpretation of an indenture. 

Education
  • J.D., Columbia Law School, with highest honors, 2009

  • B.A., Princeton University, magna cum laude, 2005

Clerkships
  • U.S.C.A., D.C. Circuit

  • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Virginia

Bar Admissions
  • District of Columbia

  • New York

Recognitions
  • Washington Business Journal, Diversity in Business, 2023.
  • The National Law Journal, Legal Awards: DC Rising Star, 2022.
  • Bloomberg Law, They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40, 2022.
  • Diversity Journal, Asian Leaders Worth Watching, 2022.
  • Washington Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2020.
  • The Legal 500 US, Appellate: Supreme Courts (States and Federal), 2020-2022, 2025; Appellate: Courts of Appeals / Supreme Courts (States and Federal), 2023-2024; Patents: Litigation (Full Coverage), 2021 and 2023-2024.
  • Euromoney, Expert Guides, Rising Stars, United States: Litigation, 2020-2022.
  • Akin, Stark Ritchie Pro Bono Counsel Award.
  • Columbia Law School, Charles Bathgate Beck Prize.
  • LexisNexis, James William Moore Federal Practice Award.
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund, Robert T. Matsui Annual Writing Competition Award. 
  • Princeton University, Prize in American History.
Affiliations and Public Service
  • Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court.
  • Georgetown Supreme Court Institute Moot Court Program.
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Speeches and Publications
  • “2019 Supreme Court Term: A Conversation About (Surprising) Decisions Promoting Diversity and Inclusion,” Akin Webinar, September 16, 2020.
  • “Who Counts? The 2020 Census and the Citizenship Question,” National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Convention, Austin, November 9, 2019.

Insights and Achievements

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