Dr. Jill Jacobson focuses her practice in the field of Intellectual Property (IP).  In particular, her practice includes patent drafting and procurement, patent portfolio evaluation, strategic IP counseling, patentability, competitive patent landscape, and freedom to operate analyses and opinions, and due diligence.  Dr. Jacobson has extensive experience developing and managing patent portfolios that include both U.S. and foreign patent rights, and further has significant experience managing European patent oppositions.  She also handles trademark searching and registrations, and drafting and negotiation of agreements related to IP matters.  She is a member of the California State Bar and is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Prior to her career as an attorney, Dr. Jacobson worked extensively as a scientific researcher in the life sciences field.  She earned her doctorate in biochemistry from UCLA, followed by research positions at the National Institutes of Health and in the biotechnology industry. For over a decade, she performed laboratory research in the fields of metabolic pathway regulation, oncogenesis, and biorational herbicide development.   During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she also completed extensive coursework in chemical engineering and organic and inorganic chemistry.

Believing that her scientific background and communication skills would be useful in protecting intellectual property, Jill earned registration to practice patent law before the USPTO and obtained a law degree. Since 1998, she has specialized in IP procurement and management. Prior to joining Fountainhead Law Group, she worked first at an international AMLAW 100 law firm, then as an in-house IP counsel for a large biotechnology company, followed by three years in a solo practice and eleven years as partner in a distributed AMLAW 200 law firm.

Dr. Jacobson’s background in science equips her to understand and query scientists and engineers while her years of legal experience attune her to her clients’ business goals and target markets.  Clients have ranged from individual inventors to start-ups to large universities and corporations.  Her broad scientific background in the fields of biochemistry, chemistry, and chemical engineering allows her to provide service to a variety of industries, with a special emphasis on life sciences and cleantech/green technologies.  She strives to develop an IP strategy that meets clients’ immediate needs within complex technical and legal landscapes, while strategically positioning them for the future.