Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
or call 1-877-NOLO-LAW
Find a Lawyer >
Business Law lawyers serving Oakland, CA
>
Andrew K. Jacobson
Back to Search Results
Andrew K. Jacobson
Bay Oak Law
180 Grand Avenue
Suite 700
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 208-5500 | Fax: (510) 208-5511
http://www.bayoaklaw.com
Your Consigliere. Trusted Advisor. Aggressive Advocate
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
Bay Oak Law works with growing companies as the company's consigliere, providing business advice to avoid legal problems in the future, and confronting legal problems affecting the business now.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Deceptive Trade Practices
- Unfair Competition
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Joint Ventures
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Shareholders' Rights
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Art
- Communication & Media
- Internet
- Music
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Computer Law
- Domain Names
- Electronic Commerce
Legal Topic
Intellectual Property
Preferred New Clients
Bay Oak Law provides advice to companies so that the company can use its intellectual property to the company's greatest advantage, while decreasing or eliminating effects arising from others infringing upon the intellectual property rights of the company, or claims of infringement by others.
Sub-Categories
Intellectual Property
- Copyrights
- Technology Licensing
- Trade Dress
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Internet
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1990
Bar Number: 148583
Other Court Admissions
California -- 1990; Northern District of California -- 1990; 9th Circuit -- 1990; Central District of California -- 1991.
Association Memberships
California State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Alameda County Bar Association
Continuing Education
Extensive MCLE classes in corporate and intellectual property law.
Papers and Publications
Various articles posted on www.bayoaklaw.com. I also lecture regularly for the California Lawyers for the Arts on business and intellectual property issues, and I teach a class called "Business of Media" for Ex'Pression College for the Digital Arts in Emeryville, California.
Example Cases
Trade Secrets -- successfully defended corporations accused of hiring individuals who allegedly had trade secrets of rival company; Trademarks -- successfully represented business in first defending its trademarks against claims of abandonment, then in prosecuting trademark infringement claims by others.
Education
School:
Stanford University
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
City:
Stanford
State:
CA
Year:
1985
Honors:
Classics Department Book Award, 1984
Focus and Accomplishments:
Political Science
School:
Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
Degree:
J.D.
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1990
Honors:
Prosser Prize, Civil Procedure
Focus and Accomplishments:
Assistant Editor, International Tax and Business Lawyer
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Bay Oak Law focuses on providing consigliere services to clients; advising them so as to avoid costly legal problems long before they arise; when such problems do arise, Bay Oak Law aggressively advocates in court on behalf of the company. Bay Oak Law began in June 1998 in San Jose, and has been in Oakland since 1999.
Previous Employment Summary
Robbins Palmer & Allen, Oakland California; Berliner Cohen, San Jose, California; Minutillo & Gorman, San Jose, California; Brown & Bain, Palo Alto, California; Office of the California Attorney General; interned at San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
Activities and Awards
Instructor of Business of Media at Ex'Pression College of Digital Arts, Emeryville, California since January, 2004, teaching students about corporations, employment, contracts, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights. Judicial arbitrator and pro tem settlement judge since 1998. Member of The Alternative Board.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
An educated client is a great client. Bay Oak Law prefers clients who learn about the legal issues -- they ask smarter questions, and are more responsive about factual issues. When necessary, Bay Oak Law can help guide clients to a greater understanding of the legal issues involved; PowerPoint presentations are available about various issues when necessary.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
We are concerned with getting the document right. Clients often call upon us to review letters and agreements that the client has prepared; if our suggestions are negligible, we often do not charge at all for the review. Bay Oak Law's emphasis is not on who prepared it, but making sure it is the best possible product, within a price range the client can afford.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
The procedural requirements are complex and demanding. Whoever stands in court must be prepared for the nuances and have an excellent understanding of the smallest details. Since we usually work with corporations and LLCs, and these clients cannot by law appear in court, we do not have much experience in coaching clients who represent themselves.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I love the mastery of details, both factual and legal. I love shaping a case to my client's maximum advantage. I love the passion inherent in persuading someone of the justice of your cause. I love helping people using all of my skills. I cannot imagine doing anything else.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Teaching the legal side of the Business of Media to students has helped me realize the need to educate clients and the public at large about legal issues important to their businesses.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
Much to my astonishment (I originally wanted to be a prosecutor), I found that I had a knack for business law and intellectual property. Intellectual property is especially interesting because the law is trying to keep up with the speed of technology. There are always fascinating new issues.
What do you like best about your career?
I love everything about being a lawyer -- appearing in court, writing briefs, counseling clients -- except marketing my practice. I am comfortable speaking to hundreds of people, but I am lost at a cocktail party.
Tell us about your law firm:
Bay Oak Law has been blessed since its beginning with personnel smarter than most attorneys. Indeed, many of our past hires are attorneys now. Kalina Laleva, paralegal and assistant, is qualified to be an attorney in Bulgaria, and can do just about everything an attorney can do, except for appear in court or counsel clients.
What are your strengths and style?
1. Anticipating problems and resolving them before they become expensive.
2. Resolving issues with the client's best interests in mind -- not mine.
First, I listen --hard -- and ask a lot of questions. Only then do I try to tell a client what the client needs to hear, which is not necessarily what the client wants to hear. I do this even if it is more to my benefit to tell the client what she or he wants to hear. A client satisfied over the long term that I've given the best possible advice and advocacy, even if some disappointment is involved, is better than a client who doesn't learn the bad news until a lot of expense is incurred.
Personal Interests:
Sports (basketball, tennis, swimming); reading; working around the house; sleeping, because our first son is due in September 2006.
Office Manager/Assistant
Kalina Laleva
Fax
(510) 208-5511
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
Japanese, Bulgarian
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Set up corporation or LLC (articles, by-laws/membership agreement, initial meeting minutes: $575 -- includes expedited filing service; filing fees not included.
Hourly Rates
$250 for people referred from Nolo Press; otherwise, $275.
Free Initial Consultation?
None for first hour if Bay Oak Law is hired.
Typical Retainer
$0 - $5000, depending on case, client status.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
