Background
Downs, Joseph Edward was born on February 1, 1932 in New York City. Son of Patrick Edwin and Marie (Von Helmling) Downs.
Downs, Joseph Edward was born on February 1, 1932 in New York City. Son of Patrick Edwin and Marie (Von Helmling) Downs.
Hofstra University (Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, 1955). New York University (Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, 1962). Member, Order of the Coif.
Recipient, University Founders’ Day Award.
Associate Editor, New York University Law Review, 1961-1962. Vice Chairman, Board of Editors, Annual Survey of American Law, 1961-1962.
John Norton Pomroy Scholar. Arthur Garfield Hays Research Fellow.
Chairman, Student Professional Ethics Committee, 1961-1962.
Acting Legal Officer, United States Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1958-1959. Litigation Associate, Kelley Drye & Warren, New York, New York, 1962-1967. Trial Attorney, New York Telephone Company, 1967-1968.
Senior Counsel, Litigation: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, 19681986.
The Richard Joshua Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston Salem, North Carolina, 1986-1988.
Senior antitrust associate, Kelley, Drye, Newhall, Maginnes & Warren, New York City, 1962-1966; trial lawyer, New York Telephone Сompany, New York City, 1966-1968; senior litigation counsel, Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio., 1968-1986; senior litigation counsel, Richard Joshua Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1986-1988; principal, Joseph Edward Downs & Associations, King, North Carolina, since 1988. Board directors various corporation clients.
With United States Navy, 1958-1959. Member American Bar Association, North Carolina Academy Trial Lawyers, North Carolina Bar Association, Lawyer-Pilots BarAssn., National Employment Lawyers Association, Frederick (Maryland.) Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Kernersville (North Carolina) Wildlife Rehabilitation League.
Married Mary Inez Orme, June21, 1968.