Joshua Horowitz is a trial and appellate lawyer whose practice spans federal and state criminal defense, technology litigation, and complex civil matters. TechCrunch has described his combined trial skill and technical expertise as “a rare skill for those in the legal profession.”
He has been selected by the federal judiciary and his peers to serve on the Criminal Justice Act panels for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and was named a Top 40 Under 40 criminal lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Recent results include non-jail and below-Guidelines sentences in federal narcotics, fraud, and civil rights cases for clients facing years in prison.
His technical expertise sets him apart. He has been qualified as an expert witness in computer forensics in state and federal courts throughout the country. He has worked on some of the most technologically complex cases of the modern era, including the Silk Road and Pulse Nightclub prosecutions. As co-counsel in a Philadelphia murder trial, he meticulously reviewed the prosecution's cell phone forensic evidence, developed the strategy to challenge it, and dismantled the prosecution's forensics experts on cross-examination, leading to a full acquittal.
On appeal, he obtained reversal and dismissal in an Internet defamation matter at the Appellate Division, First Department, and reversal of a summary judgment order in a trade secrets and non-competition case at the Second Department, then secured a favorable resolution at trial before the close of evidence. He has also briefed and argued appeals in the Second Circuit. He also serves as trial counsel in high-stakes civil and commercial matters.
He lectures to bar associations around the country on electronic evidence and trial practice, and most recently spoke on cybersecurity ethics, including the ethical use of AI. He has been admitted pro hac vice in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, and other jurisdictions.
Representative Matters
United States v. YücelS.D.N.Y.
Forensic expertBlackshades malware case; 500,000+ computers infected worldwide.
United States v. CalovskisS.D.N.Y.
Co-counselInternational bank-hacking extradition. Sentenced to time served.
United States v. Al-HaggagiN.D. Cal.
CJA-appointed forensic expertAttempted material support to terrorism.
Commonwealth v. I-Dean F.Phila. C.C.P.
Co-counselMurder trial. Acquitted on all counts.
People v. S.N.Y. County Sup. Ct.
Defense counselFelony vehicular assault resolved as a traffic infraction.
Immunity in a high-profile prosecutionS.D.N.Y.
CounselObtained immunity for a client with potential criminal exposure. The client was not called to testify at trial.
United States v. SalmanM.D. Fla.
Testifying expertPulse Nightclub case. Acquitted on all counts.
United States v. Ulbricht (Silk Road)S.D.N.Y.
Co-counselDark web narcotics and Bitcoin money laundering. Submitted an expert declaration challenging the FBI's account of its investigation.
People v. AddimandoDutchess County
Testifying expertMurder trial; testimony on mobile forensics.
Speaking & Publications
Publications
- Aug 2015
Defending the 21st Century Case: You Don't Know What You Don't KnowNACDL, The Champion (author)
- Summer 2012
Crime Lab Science: A Look Behind the CurtainAtticus, Vol. 24, No. 2 (co-author)
Speaking engagements
- Oct 2025
Securing the Defense: Meeting Cybersecurity Ethics Obligations in Criminal PracticeNew York Criminal Bar Association
- Dec 2022
Metawhat? Understanding Metadata in Criminal CasesNew York Criminal Bar Association
- Jun 2021
Intro to Social Media LawNational Business Institute
- Apr 2021
Top 8 Mistakes of Cross-Examination and How to Avoid ThemNational Business Institute
- Feb 2021
Emails, Text Messages & Social Media Posts: Discovery and Evidence Made SimpleNational Business Institute
- Jun 2020
Understanding Demonstrative Evidence to Enhance Juror UnderstandingNational Business Institute
- Jan 2020
Social Media, Smartphones and Other Electronic Evidence: Developments and Case Law You Must Know NowNational Business Institute
- Mar 2019
How to Use Experts in Obtaining and Admitting or Suppressing EvidenceNational Business Institute
- Jun 2017
How to Get Your Social Media, Email and Text Evidence Admitted and Keep Theirs OutNational Business Institute
- Feb 2017
Practice Points: Tackling the Technology Issues in State and Federal Criminal CasesNassau County Criminal Courts Bar Association
- Jun 2016
Cybercrime Panel, West Coast White Collar Conference (San Diego)National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Oct 2015
Defending Technologically Complex CasesNew York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Oct 2015
The Ins and Outs of Cybercrime (panel)New York County Lawyers Association
- Jul 2015
General Overview to Defending Cybercrime MattersNew York County Lawyers Association
- 2014
How to Dissect a Hard Drive Full of Discovery in a Criminal CaseNew York Criminal Bar Association
- 2014
Technology Issues for General-Practice LawyersPike County Bar Association
- 2013
Legal Issues in Open-Source Software DevelopmentPyData Software Developer Conference
Education
Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law, J.D.Presidential Scholar, law review editor
University of Rochester, B.A.varsity football
National Criminal Defense College, trial advocacy program (2016)
Professional Memberships
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
New York Criminal Bar Association
New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers