Jonathan E. Lass
Practice Areas
Experience
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Copyrights
- Cybersecurity, Data Protection, & Privacy
- Government Contracts & Procurement
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Technology
- Technology Licensing & Transactions
- Trademarks
Biography
Jonathan Lass, an Austin based partner at the law firm of Jackson Walker, specializes in technology and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Jonathan represents government agencies acquiring mission-critical technology and advises private sector clients on strategic acquisitions, sales of businesses and assets, and technology procurement.
Key public sector engagements include technology outsourcing transactions on behalf of the Texas Secretary of State, Texas Supreme Court (through its Office of Court Administration), Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Lottery Commission, Teacher Retirement System of Texas, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas System, the Austin Police Retirement System, and the Texas Counties and District Retirement System.
Key private sector engagements include domestic and international Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) transactions and technology transactions and projects. Recently, Jonathan advised clients in a variety of IT-oriented transactions and projects, including assisting clients in transitioning technology services from an on premises to a cloud-based service delivery, technology transformation projects, master services agreements, data center services, joint development arrangements, licensing, software as a service (SaaS), and cooperative research and development (CRADA) agreements. Jonathan also has a sub-specialty in energy and utilities, and has successfully negotiated Energy Management Systems (EMS), Open Metering Systems (OMS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Customer Care and Information Billing systems (CCIB) transactions on behalf of his clients.
Jonathan is a trusted advisor to his clients. He actively engages with each client, and understands that clear communication, robust exchange, and deep knowledge are foundational to achieving successful results. He considers active listening, creative problem solving, clear drafting, and strategic negotiation as the cornerstones of any successful transaction, project, or litigation. Because of Jonathan’s client-centered approach, he has a unique commitment to knowing and understanding his clients’ organization, constituents, and leadership and can provide helpful information to identify his clients’ interests and goals and develop a strategy that obtains optimal results.
In addition to Jonathan’s law practice, he invests substantial time and energy teaching, mentoring, and sponsoring law students at his alma mater, The University of Texas School of Law. His favorite class to teach is Negotiations, which he has taught at The University of Texas School of Law each semester since 2017. Prior to that, Jonathan taught Business Law and Ethics to undergraduate students at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas. Jonathan has also served on the Board of the Austin Symphony Orchestra since 2014.
Education
Bobby Jones Scholar, University of St. Andrews, Scotland
B.A., Emory University
J.D., University of Texas School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation as counsel to procure a Back Office Systems for Tollways for the State of Texas in 2024.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas Case Level Data Systems in 2024.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas Court Reminder Systems in 2024.
- Represented the Austin Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund in outsourcing of its Pension Administration Systems in 2022.
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation in outsourcing of its Managed Network Systems.
- Represented the Austin Police Retirement Systems in outsourcing of its Pension Administration Systems.
- Represented an energy technology services firm specializing in electric power smart grid modeling technologies in their sale to a private equity firm.
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in its technology transformation projects in years 2021-2022, including multiple public technology and operational procurements to support its critical information technology systems and operations.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas Uniform Case Management System.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas electronic filing system known as eFile Texas 2.0.
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation as lead counsel in the drafting, negotiation, and selection of vendors in connection with its Fully Managed Information Technology Services and Operations outsourcing project valued at approximately $1,000,000,000.
- Represented The University of Texas System in complex education technology, software, and services transactions entered into by the University of Texas System and its institutions.
- Represented the Texas Secretary of State to acquire all intellectual property and software underlying its voting systems so that the State of Texas could independently protect, maintain and support its voting systems.
- Represented the Texas Lottery Commission in the outsourcing of its lottery operations valued nearly $1 Billion.
- Represented electric utilities with software and systems implementations of its energy management systems (EMS), outage management systems (OMS), supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), geographic information system (GIS), and outsourcing technology transactions.
- Represented the President of a software company in the sale of its business to a Fortune 100 technology company.
- Represented Pure Austin in the sale of its business to LifeTime.
- Represented Obsidian Software in the sale of its business to ARM.
- Represented American Electric Power in the purchase of generation assets from Reliant Energy, an NRG Company.
- Represented a publicly-held corporation in obtaining a $20 Million credit facility.
- Represented accountancy, dental, medical, and veterinary practices to acquire or sell their professional practices.
- Represented a green device company in the sale of its business to a global, venture-backed technology company.
- Represented a Dubai-based business in a global, multi-level software launch.
- Developed open source software and social media policies for client companies.
- Successfully arbitrated trademark domain name dispute on behalf of Earth and Sky®.
- Held the position of Interim General Counsel to a publicly-held corporation.
- Adjunct Professor of the Year at The University of Texas School of Law (recognizing excellence in teaching and service), 2021-2022
- Adjunct Professor of the Year at The University of Texas School of Law (recognizing excellence in teaching and service), 2022-2023
- Member of the Austin Regional Committee for the University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association, 2023-Present
- Member of the Texas A&M Innovation Council through the Texas A&M University Center for Innovation
- Bobby Jones Scholar
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2021-2025
- Corporate Law, 2021-2025
- Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2024-2025
- Technology Law, 2024-2025
- Trademark Law, 2024-2025
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2023-2024
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2010-2013
- Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- Author, “Computer Usage Policies, Records Management, and Information Governance,” Chapter 3 of the textbook Essentials of E-Discovery (Second Edition), State Bar of Texas (2021)
- Speaker, “Public Sector Information Technology Outsourcing,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Martin Zelinsky, former General Counsel of the Department of Information Resources (DIR), and Brian Tulga, Cardinal Source Management Consulting (May 22, 2020)
- Speaker, “A View into Trade Secret Misappropriation” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (May, 2018) with Federal Judges Robert Pitman, Xavier Rodriguez, and David Horan
- Guest Lecturer, Texas A&M University EnMed Program (2017)
- Speaker, “Technology and Intellectual Property Law Issues as Viewed From the Federal Bench” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Judge Lee Yeakel, Judge Robert Pitman, and Judge Xavier Rodriguez (2017)
- Speaker, “Technology Law From the Bench” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Judge Lee Yeakel, Judge Robert Pitman, and Judge Xavier Rodriguez (2016)
- Speaker, “Information Governance in an Electronic World,” Women in eDiscovery, Austin Chapter (2016)
- Guest Lecturer, St. Mary’s University School of Law (San Antonio, Texas), in the area of Electronic Discovery (2015)
- Speaker, “Complex Technology and Intellectual Property Transactions,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2015)
- Speaker, “Ethics of e-Discovery,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Judge Lee Yeakel, Judge Robert Pitman, and Judge Xavier Rodriguez (2015)
- Contributor, “Austin Event to Examine Complex Technology Business Transactions,” Austin Business Journal, May 4, 2015 (Christopher Calnan)
- Author, “Computer Usage Policies, Records Management, and Information Governance,” Essentials of E-Discovery, State Bar of Texas (2014)
- Speaker, “Technology, Ethics, and Electronic Discovery,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Conference (2014)
- Speaker, “Cybersecurity: Developments, Challenges and a Modest Case for Self-Defense,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Best Practices in Electronic Discovery,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2013)
- Guest Lecturer, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering (2010-2013)
- Guest Lecturer, Concordia University MBA Program (2013)
- Speaker and Moderator, “Data Security Breaches – Lessons Learned,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2012)
- Contributor, “SXSW goes to court to protect its brand” Austin Business Journal, December 2, 2011 (Vicky Garza)
- Contributor, “Dachis, Defakto Trade Words Over Social Council Name,” Austin Business Journal, June 10, 2011 (Christopher Calnan)
- Guest Lecturer, Austin Entrepreneur Network course held at the Acton School of Business (2010)
- Speaker, “How to Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights in Software from Bankruptcy and Insolvency Risks through Software License Agreements and Source Code Escrow Agreements,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2009)
- Author, “How To Protect Intellectual Property,” Small Business Wiki (2008)
- Speaker, “How to Protect Your Intellectual Property,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2008)
- Contributor, “Local companies beware of foreign export laws,” Austin Business Journal, November 25, 2007 (Jean Kwon)
- University of Texas School of Law, Adjunct Professor
- University of Texas McCombs School of Business, Adjunct Professor
- University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association, Austin Regional Committee Member (2023-present)
- Austin Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, Nominations Committee Associate Vice President (2018-2019)
- University of Texas, Advisory Board Member
- Austin Bar Association Technology Law Section, Former Chairman
- University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference, Planning Committee Member
- Bobby Jones Scholars Foundation, Selection Committee
March 24, 2025
Spotlight
Jackson Walker Shortlisted for Managing IP’s Firm of the Year Awards for Patent and Trademark Disputes
Jackson Walker is honored to be shortlisted for the 2025 Managing IP Awards in the U.S. Regional Categories, including “Firm of the Year” for Patent and Trademark Disputes in the South!
September 17, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2024
Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2024 “Texas Super Lawyers” list.
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
May 8, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Jonathan Lass to Serve on Planning Committee at UT School of Law Technology Law Conference; Jennifer Wertz to Present on “Technology-Focused Bankruptcy & Insolvency”
Jackson Walker partner Jonathan E. Lass served on the planning committee and as a presiding officer for The University of Texas School of Law’s 37th Annual Technology Law Conference. Additionally, Jackson Walker partner Jennifer F. Wertz will be a presenter on Thursday, May 23.
September 19, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
May 24, 2023
Attorney News
Jonathan Lass Named Adjunct Professor of the Year by the University of Texas School of Law
For the second year in a row, Jonathan Lass was named the recipient of the 2022-2023 Adjunct Professor of the Year Award by the Student Bar Association of the University of Texas School of Law. This award, which recognizes extraordinary commitment to excellence in teaching and service, was presented at the Celebration of Service on April 18, 2023, at the University of Texas School of Law.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
May 9, 2022
Attorney News
Jonathan Lass Awarded as an Adjunct Professor of the Year
Jonathan Lass was named a recipient of the Adjunct Professor of the Year Award by the Student Bar Association of The University of Texas School of Law. The award, which recognizes excellence in teaching and service, was presented at the Justice Center Celebration of Service & Student Bar Association Teaching Awards on April 21, 2022.
August 19, 2021
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
Mediator Certification, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution Certificate, The University of Texas School of Law
Practice Experience
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation as counsel to procure a Back Office Systems for Tollways for the State of Texas in 2024.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas Case Level Data Systems in 2024.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas Court Reminder Systems in 2024.
- Represented the Austin Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund in outsourcing of its Pension Administration Systems in 2022.
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation in outsourcing of its Managed Network Systems.
- Represented the Austin Police Retirement Systems in outsourcing of its Pension Administration Systems.
- Represented an energy technology services firm specializing in electric power smart grid modeling technologies in their sale to a private equity firm.
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in its technology transformation projects in years 2021-2022, including multiple public technology and operational procurements to support its critical information technology systems and operations.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas Uniform Case Management System.
- Represented the Supreme Court of Texas through its Office of Court Administration as lead counsel to procure a Texas electronic filing system known as eFile Texas 2.0.
- Represented the Texas Department of Transportation as lead counsel in the drafting, negotiation, and selection of vendors in connection with its Fully Managed Information Technology Services and Operations outsourcing project valued at approximately $1,000,000,000.
- Represented The University of Texas System in complex education technology, software, and services transactions entered into by the University of Texas System and its institutions.
- Represented the Texas Secretary of State to acquire all intellectual property and software underlying its voting systems so that the State of Texas could independently protect, maintain and support its voting systems.
- Represented the Texas Lottery Commission in the outsourcing of its lottery operations valued nearly $1 Billion.
- Represented electric utilities with software and systems implementations of its energy management systems (EMS), outage management systems (OMS), supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), geographic information system (GIS), and outsourcing technology transactions.
- Represented the President of a software company in the sale of its business to a Fortune 100 technology company.
- Represented Pure Austin in the sale of its business to LifeTime.
- Represented Obsidian Software in the sale of its business to ARM.
- Represented American Electric Power in the purchase of generation assets from Reliant Energy, an NRG Company.
- Represented a publicly-held corporation in obtaining a $20 Million credit facility.
- Represented accountancy, dental, medical, and veterinary practices to acquire or sell their professional practices.
- Represented a green device company in the sale of its business to a global, venture-backed technology company.
- Represented a Dubai-based business in a global, multi-level software launch.
- Developed open source software and social media policies for client companies.
- Successfully arbitrated trademark domain name dispute on behalf of Earth and Sky®.
- Held the position of Interim General Counsel to a publicly-held corporation.
Recognition & Accolades
- Adjunct Professor of the Year at The University of Texas School of Law (recognizing excellence in teaching and service), 2021-2022
- Adjunct Professor of the Year at The University of Texas School of Law (recognizing excellence in teaching and service), 2022-2023
- Member of the Austin Regional Committee for the University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association, 2023-Present
- Member of the Texas A&M Innovation Council through the Texas A&M University Center for Innovation
- Bobby Jones Scholar
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2021-2025
- Corporate Law, 2021-2025
- Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2024-2025
- Technology Law, 2024-2025
- Trademark Law, 2024-2025
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2023-2024
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2010-2013
- Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Publications & Speeches
- Author, “Computer Usage Policies, Records Management, and Information Governance,” Chapter 3 of the textbook Essentials of E-Discovery (Second Edition), State Bar of Texas (2021)
- Speaker, “Public Sector Information Technology Outsourcing,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Martin Zelinsky, former General Counsel of the Department of Information Resources (DIR), and Brian Tulga, Cardinal Source Management Consulting (May 22, 2020)
- Speaker, “A View into Trade Secret Misappropriation” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (May, 2018) with Federal Judges Robert Pitman, Xavier Rodriguez, and David Horan
- Guest Lecturer, Texas A&M University EnMed Program (2017)
- Speaker, “Technology and Intellectual Property Law Issues as Viewed From the Federal Bench” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Judge Lee Yeakel, Judge Robert Pitman, and Judge Xavier Rodriguez (2017)
- Speaker, “Technology Law From the Bench” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Judge Lee Yeakel, Judge Robert Pitman, and Judge Xavier Rodriguez (2016)
- Speaker, “Information Governance in an Electronic World,” Women in eDiscovery, Austin Chapter (2016)
- Guest Lecturer, St. Mary’s University School of Law (San Antonio, Texas), in the area of Electronic Discovery (2015)
- Speaker, “Complex Technology and Intellectual Property Transactions,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2015)
- Speaker, “Ethics of e-Discovery,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference with Judge Lee Yeakel, Judge Robert Pitman, and Judge Xavier Rodriguez (2015)
- Contributor, “Austin Event to Examine Complex Technology Business Transactions,” Austin Business Journal, May 4, 2015 (Christopher Calnan)
- Author, “Computer Usage Policies, Records Management, and Information Governance,” Essentials of E-Discovery, State Bar of Texas (2014)
- Speaker, “Technology, Ethics, and Electronic Discovery,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Conference (2014)
- Speaker, “Cybersecurity: Developments, Challenges and a Modest Case for Self-Defense,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Best Practices in Electronic Discovery,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2013)
- Guest Lecturer, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering (2010-2013)
- Guest Lecturer, Concordia University MBA Program (2013)
- Speaker and Moderator, “Data Security Breaches – Lessons Learned,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2012)
- Contributor, “SXSW goes to court to protect its brand” Austin Business Journal, December 2, 2011 (Vicky Garza)
- Contributor, “Dachis, Defakto Trade Words Over Social Council Name,” Austin Business Journal, June 10, 2011 (Christopher Calnan)
- Guest Lecturer, Austin Entrepreneur Network course held at the Acton School of Business (2010)
- Speaker, “How to Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights in Software from Bankruptcy and Insolvency Risks through Software License Agreements and Source Code Escrow Agreements,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2009)
- Author, “How To Protect Intellectual Property,” Small Business Wiki (2008)
- Speaker, “How to Protect Your Intellectual Property,” University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference (2008)
- Contributor, “Local companies beware of foreign export laws,” Austin Business Journal, November 25, 2007 (Jean Kwon)
Community Involvement
- University of Texas School of Law, Adjunct Professor
- University of Texas McCombs School of Business, Adjunct Professor
- University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association, Austin Regional Committee Member (2023-present)
- Austin Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, Nominations Committee Associate Vice President (2018-2019)
- University of Texas, Advisory Board Member
- Austin Bar Association Technology Law Section, Former Chairman
- University of Texas School of Law Technology Law Conference, Planning Committee Member
- Bobby Jones Scholars Foundation, Selection Committee
Certifications & Qualifications
Mediator Certification, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution Certificate, The University of Texas School of Law