Kenneth Jacobs is the managing partner Becker & Poliakoff law firm in the Bank of America tower. The firm has 15 locations in the United States and several international offices.
HOW LONG HAS HE RUN THE LOCAL OFFICE?
“We opened in September 2001 and moved in the week of Sept. 11.”
WHAT’S THEIR NICHE?
“We are a full-service business firm, so there are a ton of practice areas. I’ve specialized in employment law, commercial litigation and bankruptcy. During the past few years, it’s been very busy due to the economy. On the bankruptcy end, I primarily do Chapter 11 business reorganizations.”
WHO ARE THEIR CLIENTS?
Vistakon, Alliance Mortgage Company, King Provision Corporation, Simon Property Group, Regency Centers, Columbia HCA Hospitals and Deerwood Improvement Association.
HOW BIG IS THE FIRM ?
“We opened with five attorneys. The three shareholders — myself, Jason Burnett and Lee Haramis — are all from Jacksonville. We all worked together for the past 11 years. We’re a very close knit group — both colleagues and friends.”
WHERE DID HE LEARN THE TRADE?
He attended law school at the University of Florida. His hands-on experience came first at Kirschner & Main, which later merged with Holland & Knight. He left there to form Laquidara, Edwards & Jacobs. He reunited with Burnett and Haramis and soon after, opened the Becker office.
OTHER EDUCATION
Jacobs also has a double bachelor’s degree in economics and computer science from Duke University. He put his knowledge to work as a computer consultant while at Duke.
DO HIS OTHER DEGREES CROSS OVER INTO LAW?
“Economics is helpful with my responsibilities as managing shareholder to oversee the finances. In regard to computer science, technology has made a drastic impact on what we do as far as legal research, preparing documents or managing computer networks.”
WHY GO INTO LAW?
“It goes back to my high school days when I was on the forensics team. I really enjoyed traveling for the debate competitions. Law was a natural extension.”
CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
Jacobs was recently appointed president of the Jewish Community Alliance. He is also a member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Division and a board member of the both the Jacksonville Jewish Federation and the Jewish National Fund. “It’s important that individuals are pro-actively involved in the community. For every minute I spend in civic activities, I believe I get back much more in return.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING?
“The opportunity to provide help to individuals throughout the community. For example, the JCA has a community-wide awards program called Do the Right Thing. In conjunction with our public schools and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, they recognize school children who have been examples of good conduct in their communities. These are kids who are not necessarily recognized as ‘A’ students but receive so much joy for being recognized for making the world a better place.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“The most challenging thing for me is being able to balance my professional life with my community service and still have time for my family.”
SPEAKING OF FAMILY . . .
Jacobs and his wife Allison reside in Mandarin with their daughter Sarah and son Joshua.
HOMETOWN
Hollywood, Fla.
HOBBIES
He enjoys working out at the JCA, playing Fantasy Football, dining at Matthew’s and traveling to New York City or Las Vegas. He plans on taking a Disney cruise soon with his family. “Law & Order” is his favorite television show.
ANY BRUSHES WITH FAME?
“When I first came to Jacksonville, I was interviewed by all of the local media on TV because the post office had lost all of the Jacksonville Bar ethics exams. It was holding us back from being sworn-in as lawyers. The Florida Supreme Court, believe it or not, came out with an opinion allowing us to be provisionally sworn-in until we could retake and pass the exam. Of course, after we had retaken it, the post office found them. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a lot of sympathy. On a more serious note, our bankruptcy group was recently profiled in many publications for representing the unsecured creditors’ committee in the Conseco bankruptcy filed in Chicago. Conseco was a $50 billion corporation. It is the third largest bankruptcy ever filed.”
HIS PET PEEVE?
“Lawyers who take themselves way too seriously.”
WHO IS YOUR HERO?
“My hero would be Winston Churchill because he was able to rally his people and keep the country’s hopes and spirits alive even in the face of adversity.”
— by Monica Chamness