Robert A Jacobs

Practice Areas

Robert Jacobs is a go-to advisor for both talent and corporate clients facing a variety of entertainment litigation issues. He is particularly well known for successfully representing some of the music industry’s most recognizable recording artists, songwriters, producers and companies in high-profile disputes that explore new and/or untested areas of the law. Robert is also regularly recognized for his deft handling of complex copyright and other intellectual property disputes, as well as royalty, seven-year rule and contract disputes.

Robert regularly guides clients through incredibly complex and high-profile matters. As one client stated, “Robert Jacobs is a superb team leader and tremendous allocator of resources. Accordingly, he is able to field the unorthodox inquiries as well as the mundane, get to the heart of a matter, and get to work. His team works tirelessly to ensure that clients are well-informed and game-ready. This practice group always overperforms and never ‘over-lawyers.’ They are results-oriented and second to none.”

His unmatched understanding of the intellectual property issues affecting the music industry and his deep industry knowledge—along with his role as leader of Manatt’s entertainment litigation practice—have resulted in his recognition by clients as a “true industry partner.”

Professional Memberships

Admitted to practice in California and New York; the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Northern Districts of California and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second, Ninth and Federal Circuits; and the U.S. Court of International Trade

Member, Board of Governors (West Coast), T.J. Martell Foundation

Member, Executive Board, Donald Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute, Southwestern University School of Law

Member, Board of Trustees, The Willows Community School

Member, Capital Campaign and Resource Development Committees, The Willows Community School

Publications

Quoted, “Remixer loses appeal over ownership of ‘Happier’ song,” Daily Journal, March 21, 2022.

Quoted, “Marshmello Beats Copyright Case Over ‘Happier’ at Appeals Court ,” Billboard, March 18, 2022.

Quoted, “Music Copyright in the Age of Forgetting,” The Ringer, September 9, 2021.

Quoted, “Content Creators at Risk: How Evolving Copyright Law Is Opening New Doors for Litigation,” Insurance Journal, July 5, 2021.

Quoted, “DJ Marshmello defeats copyright claims over hit ‘Happier’,” Reuters Westlaw Today, April 9, 2021.

Quoted, “Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ Bid Ends With Big Win,” Daily Journal, March 18, 2020.

Co-author, “Spoiler alert: Spoiling a TV show may lead to legal action,” Daily Journal, June 20, 2019.

Author, “’YMCA’ Co-Author Breaks New Ground for Unexpected Reasons,” Daily Journal, June 11, 2012.