Justin Colannino

Justin Colannino is a highly experienced professional with a decade-long career dedicated to bridging the gap between free & open source software communities and corporate entities. Currently serving as the Director of Developer Policy and Counsel at GitHub, Justin focuses on advocating for developers' rights to innovate and collaborate seamlessly. He is also an integral part of Microsoft's team, overseeing legal procedures to facilitate open-source involvement on a large scale.

Justin actively engages in pro bono work, particularly within free & open source software communities. Notably, he offers ongoing guidance to Outreachy, a program that supports diversity in open source through paid internships. His pro bono contributions have also benefited prominent organizations like the Free Software Foundation, Software Freedom Conservancy, the Apache Software Foundation, the Open Source Initiative, and the GNOME Foundation.

With a background in computer science and a published work as a computer scientist, Justin brings a unique perspective to his legal career. His expertise extends to patent litigation, acquired through experiences in private practice and as a law clerk in the District of New Jersey.

Justin's educational journey includes a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Columbia Law School and a Master of Science in Computer Science, coupled with a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University.

Throughout his career, Justin has held various significant roles such as Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, a position at Wolf Greenfield, a clerkship at the U.S. District Courts, and roles at prestigious law firms like Ropes & Gray LLP and as Counsel at the Software Freedom Law Center.