Martin Jacobs

Biography

Martin Jacobs has more than 50 years of experience as a lawyer and businessman. He focuses his practice on general commercial and business transactions, including negotiation of contracts and other arrangements. He also has extensive legal and business experience in horse racing and other gaming enterprises.

Legal Experience

  • Martin’s practice emphasizes planning, structuring, negotiating, and documenting business transactions, including real estate and financial matters, and resolving conflicts among business owners and others in their arrangements.
  • He has represented numerous start-up and other business entities in their formational and then later stage activities, including helping to obtain investors and financing.
  • He has also represented seasoned, privately owned businesses and public companies in contractual, litigation, and regulatory matters, including federal and state licensing and administrative law.

Business Experience

  • Martin was Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and a co-owner of The Maryland Jockey Club, the then owner and operator of Pimlico Race Course (home of the Preakness, the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown) and Laurel Park Racetrack in Maryland.
  • For more than 20 years he was engaged in the management of those complex regulated enterprises which were generating more than $500 million annually in gross revenues.
  • Among other activities he negotiated all their major contracts, including: national television broadcasts; cable and sponsorship arrangements; acquisitions, sales and leases of real and personal property; and agreements with employee union and industry trade groups.
  • He has also testified as an expert witness on behalf of clients in various regulatory and other matters.

Martin has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating standard for legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards.

Government Experience

Before entering private law practice, Martin was in the U.S. Attorney General’s Honors Program at the Department of Justice, assigned to the Civil Division’s Appellate Section where he briefed and argued numerous cases in United States Circuit Courts of Appeal around the country.

Outside the Firm

Martin has served on the boards of directors of numerous charitable organizations in the Greater Washington, D.C., and Miami areas, including the Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington and Young Israel Congregation of Bal Harbour, FL. He and his wife are the proud parents of four children and their spouses, and multiple grandchildren.

Affiliations

Professional Activities

Martin has been a member of the boards of directors of various racing industry groups, including Equibase and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America, as well as of several companies engaged in real estate related activities. He also has served on advisory commissions to which he was appointed by then governors of the State of Maryland.

Credentials

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • New York

Education

  • City College of New York, BBA
  • New York University School of Law, LLB
Languages
  • Hebrew
  • Spanish
  • Yiddish