Jason Stearns is a Partner in the Litigation Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and serves as the Managing Partner of the Tampa office. Mr. Stearns was previously a Partner with Freeborn & Peters, which combined with SGR in 2023.
Mr. Stearns practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. He has litigated several patent, copyright, and trademark infringement claims in federal courts throughout the country. In addition, he also represents clients in various industries with regard to contract, fraud, trade secret, and other business disputes.
Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Stearns worked at Phelps Dunbar LLP. He also clerked for a federal judge and served in the U.S. Navy aboard two nuclear powered submarines as a nuclear propulsion plant operator and diver.
Mr. Stearns is an Adjunct Professor at Stetson University College of Law, where he teaches courses on Electronic Discovery, Federal Pre-Trial Practice, International Sales, and Arbitration.
Mr. Stearns earned his B.A. from Valdosta State University, and his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, cum laude. He was a member of the Stetson Law Review, a member of the Moot Court Board, received the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, and a member of the National Order of Barristers.
Author, “Reshaping the paradigm: How the Florida Supreme Court’s adoption of the federal summary judgment standard will improve the Florida court system,” Westlaw Today (February 23, 2021).
Co-Author, “Sixth Circuit Affirms Finding of Validity of Hiller LLC’s Copyright,” Powerhouse Points – Quarterly Litigation Update (Fall 2020).
Moderator, “A View From the Bench During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Virtual Conversation with Members of the Judiciary for the Middle District of Florida,” The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, May 2020
Co-Presenter, “Witness Court Skills,” Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter, April 2018
Co-Author, “The opioid crisis and the products-completed insurance exclusion,” Thomson Reuters’ Westlaw Journal Insurance Coverage, (April 6, 2017)
Speaker, “Motion Practice Tips and Common Mistakes,” Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter, January 2017
Co-Presenter, “Daubert or Frye: Where Do We Go From Here,” Sarasota Bench Bar Conference, August 2017
Co-Presenter, “Daubert In Florida: The Past, Present, and Future”, Sarasota Bench Bar Conference, May 2016
Author, Navigating Intellectual Property, available at http://www.climbingbusinessjournal.com/navigating- intellectual-property-law/ (July 25, 2016)
Presenter, “Basic Intellectual Property”, Florida Bar “Basic Business Law” CLE, May 2016
Speaker, “What You Need to Know About Federal Court Practice,” Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter, July 2015
Speaker, ACC-WCFL CLE, “Intellectual Property Playbook,” July 2015
Presenter, “Basic Federal Practice”, Motions for Summary Judgment, Florida Bar, April 2014
Moderator, “Judicial Panel on E-Discovery,” Federal Bar Association, December 2013
Speaker, “Update in eDiscovery Case Law”, ESI Roundtable, December 2013
