Ronald M. Jacobs
Ron's clients – which include large and small companies, trade associations, charities, campaigns, super PACs, ideological groups, individuals, and political vendors – recognize his ability to help them achieve their political objectives and navigate the minefield of the often contradictory rules that apply. He has developed political compliance programs for Fortune 500 companies, leading trade associations, and other clients that lobby and make political contributions nationwide.
Ron serves as outside general counsel to a number of nonprofit organizations and trade associations, and guides them on tax exemption, corporate governance, international operations, and other complex issues. He helps clients create new entities, deal with leadership changes, merge with other organizations, negotiate major contracts, and oversees litigation.
Ron also assists clients who are facing crisis events. His work includes responding to government investigations and enforcement actions, congressional investigations, media relations, class action lawsuits, and other high-profile problems that involve potentially damaging legal and public relations matters. His clients appreciate his steady hand, ability to devise a plan, and candor in helping the client maintain a focus on solving the problem at hand. He uses his institutional knowledge of the firm and its practitioners to bring together the right team of litigators, lobbyists, and other attorneys to handle a problem. Whether a difficult situation involves political or nonprofit law, Ron offers practical advice that considers not only legal requirements, but also reputational risk. Ron's clients appreciate his responsiveness and ability to provide candid advice to achieve their business objectives.
Related Practices
Experience
Government Experience
- Field Representative, United States House of Representatives, Office of Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Representative Matters
- Serving as general counsel to a successful United States Senate candidate and the ongoing political operation between elections
- Guiding trade associations, companies, and a social welfare organization through complex congressional investigations
- Creating super PACs active in federal, state, and local elections
- Obtaining favorable decisions from the House and Senate Ethics Committees that have allowed clients to conduct high-profile events in compliance with gift rules
- Assisting a charitable organization through a complex multinational reorganization process and governance redesign
- Working with stakeholders to develop an industry system to provide greater transparency and reduce foreign influence in online digital political ads and convincing regulators to adopt that system in their regulations
- Submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Indiana Supreme Court on behalf of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance discussing truck safety and regulations
- Submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Oregon Supreme Court on behalf of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards dealing with interstate reciprocity of architectural licenses and the unauthorized practice of architecture
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. high honors George Washington University Law School 2001
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, The George Washington Law Review
- Imogene Williford Constitutional Law Award
- B.A. cum laude The George Washington University 1997
- Omicron Delta Kappa
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Court of International Trade
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Federalist Society, Free Speech and Election Law practice group
- Frequent speaker and author on campaign finance and lobbying regulation issues
- Co-edits Venable's Political Law Briefing blog
- Top-five faculty member of Lawline, a leading provider of online and live continuing education courses for attorneys across the United States
Recognition
- Super Lawyers
- Washington, DC, 2019 – 2023
- Rising Stars, Washington, DC, 2013 – 2015
- Chambers USA, Government: Political Law, Nationwide, 2011 – 2023
- Legal 500, Tax - Not-For-Profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations), 2014 – 2015, 2020, 2022 –2023
- National Law Journal, Rising Stars – 40 under 40, 2015
Community
Pro Bono
- Serves as pro bono counsel to the Warrior Canine Connection, a charity that helps soldiers suffering from traumatic brain injury and psychological issues train service dogs for physically wounded soldiers
- Submitted an amicus curiae brief to the New Jersey Supreme Court on behalf of a group of parents to help demonstrate why plaintiffs had standing to challenge a law that harms New Jersey students
- Successfully represented former New York City Council Candidate in proceeding before New York City Conflict of Interest Board involving his use of government email
Volunteerism
- Member, board of directors, Human Rights Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving democracy and protecting human rights in the Americas
- Member, Legal Advisory Board, Partnership for Educational Justice, a nonprofit organization pursuing educational equity through legal action to improve the quality of public schools