Michael A. Jacobs

Michael A. Jacobs is an accomplished patent litigator with a distinguished career focusing on complex technology and life sciences disputes. He primarily defended operating companies throughout his extensive litigation practice, evidenced by his tracked appearances defending Google LLC, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Microsoft Corp. et al.. Jacobs has been recognized for his expertise in areas spanning software, emerging technologies, and consumer electronics, and has also handled life sciences matters.

For four decades, from 1984 to 2024, Mr. Jacobs was a prominent trial attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP, where he co-founded and led the firm's intellectual property litigation group. In 2024, he transitioned from private practice to join JAMS as a neutral, serving as an arbitrator, mediator, and special master in complex disputes.

Throughout his career, Jacobs earned a reputation for trying high-profile cases to juries, judges, and arbitrators. He was recognized by Chambers USA as a Band 1 (California) and Band 2 (US) intellectual property trial attorney and received the California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award three times for his work in trailblazing cases. His notable cases include representing Apple in significant intellectual property battles, as well as handling landmark copyright cases such as On Command Video, SCO v. Novell, and Vernor v. Autodesk, which helped shape laws for emerging technologies. While his practice often involved alternative dispute resolution, specific details regarding his involvement in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) or inter partes review (IPR) proceedings during his litigation career are not readily available in public records.

Mr. Jacobs earned his B.A., with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford University in 1977, and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1983, where he served as a Senior Editor of the Yale Law Journal. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1983.