Manatt’s Michelle Cooke, leader of the intellectual property protection and enforcement group, and Robert Jacobs, leader of the entertainment litigation group, were named two of California’s top intellectual property lawyers in 2019 by The Daily Journal. Cooke and Jacobs were previously on the list in 2018. Jacobs was additionally ranked on the list in 2017, and Cooke was also ranked in 2016.
In its profile of Cooke, The Daily Journal noted that she has worked with a wide range of clients in the past year, from AT&T Inc. and Credit One Bank NA to Alanis Morissette and the Miles Davis estate. Her work with these clients focused on maintaining or rebuilding trademark rights. She said that work with internet and digital assets requires further consideration, even if the client is adept in digital media. But she believes the digital age has “revolutionized” her career over the past 25 years and “kept the practice fresh.”
The publication also detailed a number of Jacobs’ recent cases involving copyright, contract, fraud, royalty actions, idea theft and other issues in intellectual property law. Jacobs is defending EMI April Music Inc. in a suit filed by musician Kanye West regarding a publishing contract between the two parties. Jacobs is also representing Tracy Chapman in her suit against rapper Nicki Minaj for alleged unauthorized use of Chapman’s 1988 song “Baby Can I Hold You.” Jacobs said he enjoys working with his team at Manatt and finds his work “fun, challenging and exciting.”