John is an experienced trial lawyer and counselor to businesses and their executives. He has successfully tried dozens of civil jury trials in federal and state court, has secured favorable outcomes on appeal including before the Tennessee Supreme Court, and has experience in most arbitration forums. John’s practice focuses on commercial litigation in clients’ high stakes cases, regardless of the amount in controversy. He regularly represents clients in the healthcare, financial services, entertainment, and other industries. Those cases routinely involve defense of class actions and multi-district litigation. John has significant experience in cases involving business divorces, restrictive covenants and trade secrets. Because many of his clients operate in heavily regulated industries, John’s clients often turn to him in connection with internal investigations. John’s clients range from large Fortune 500 companies to chart-topping recording artists to small-business owners. Businesspersons regularly consult with John for insight on their thorny business issues. John is accessible to clients any time their problems arise. Whether a CEO of a publicly-traded company or a member of a closely-held LLC, John’s commitment is the same. He recognizes that a full understanding of his clients’ business and the circumstances they face are crucial to solving their legal issues. John looks for and often finds a creative solution to his client’s business problems, even if that solution does not involve filing suit or appearing in court. Clients and referral sources have been quoted in Chambers, describing John as “super smart, very savvy, and someone I would refer clients to” and “a really talented lawyer at a solid group. He is well liked by both arbitrators and judges and has good business sense.” John co-founded Riley & Jacobson PLC almost thirty-years ago with the goal of creating a firm that was singularly focused on counseling clients through their most difficult times. Peers recognize the firm as exceptional, as a preeminent lawyer-ranking service describes the firm as “a prominent Nashville boutique recognized for its talented team of practitioners. It provides the full gamut of commercial litigation services. . .” Chambers has ranked John in Band 1 for commercial litigation for approximately 20 years, a testament to the firm’s continued success in providing clients excellent service. While John has been involved in a number of civic and charitable organizations, John is particularly passionate about education and has long served on the board of a nationally recognized K-12, independent Nashville school. John has also served for years on the Alumni Advisory Board for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi. He and his wife, Dee, are proud supporters of the school, and their three children have all attended Ole Miss. Mr. Jacobson graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi in 1987 with a B.A. degree. He received his J.D. with high honors in 1990 from the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the Order of Coif and the Tennessee Law Review.
