Having handled thousands of cases over more than 31 years as a judge and a full-time neutral, Hon. Jamie Jacobs-May (Ret.) has developed a reputation for being adept at closing cases by achieving settlement. She is described by clients as trustworthy, persistent, and a quick study, and they appreciate her emotional intelligence and ability to develop excellent rapport with the parties. She understands how emotions impact decision-making and how to transcend barriers to facilitate resolution. Judge Jacobs-May appreciates the value of humor in enabling creativity and problem-solving and in helping to manage difficult situations.

Judge Jacobs-May has extensive experience in a variety of complex practice areas, including business and contract matters, class actions, employment, wage and hour disputes, probate, professional liability, and personal injury.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• Served 21 years as a trial court judge
• Elected by her colleagues as Presiding Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, 2009-2010
• Sought-after speaker, teaching nationally and internationally on topics such as negotiations and mediation skills at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, Santa Clara University Law School, and the University of Tartu, Estonia
• Consultant to the California Judges Bench Books (CJER) on Civil Proceedings: Before Trial, Trial, After Trial and Discovery
• Past member, Judicial Council of California, the policy-making body of the California courts
• Past member, CACI Advisory Committee, responsible for drafting civil jury instructions
• Chaired the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee, responsible for drafting California Rules of Court

Representative Matters

• Business Commercial
• Commercial breach of contract disputes and related tort and statutory actions (e.g., breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion and unfair competition) involving individuals, business and governmental entities over many different industries including technology, real estate, financial services, medical, biotechnology, securities, construction, manufacturing, waste disposal and education
• Theft of trade secret claims involving customer lists, codes and other proprietary information
• Winding up and dissolution cases involving partnerships and other business entities
• Education Law
• Injury claims brought by students against teachers and educational institutions
• Tenure cases and other employment matters involving educational institutions
• Charter schools
• Employment Law
• Numerous wage and hour cases including class actions, and often involving additional claims of violations of the California Labor Code brought under the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA)
• Wrongful termination, retaliation, and whistleblower cases
• Executive employment contract disputes
• Claims of discrimination, failure to accommodate, and harassment based on age, race, gender, and disability under federal and state law including ADA, FEHA, FMLA and CFRA
• Health Care
• Individuals as well as small and large institutions in the healthcare industry
• Disputes including licensing technology, ownership interests, and employment matters
• Personal Injury
• Multiple motor vehicle personal injury disputes, including catastrophic injury cases, with individuals, cities, counties, and business entities
• Catastrophic fire cases, including the San Bruno fire cases
• Personal injury disputes involving animal attacks, sports injuries, amusement park rides, slip and falls, and equipment-related injuries
• Wrongful death cases
• Insurance coverage issues
• Probate
• Multiple family trust disputes, many involving non-monetary components
• Disputes involving elderly family members and claims of undue influence, lack of capacity, elder financial abuse, and fraud
• Professional Liability
• Medical malpractice, legal malpractice, and real estate malpractice

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Recognized as a "Rising Star," Top California Neutrals List, Daily Journal, 2013
• Judicial Advisor, Litigation Section of the State Bar Executive Committee, 2013
• Adjunct Professor, Negotiations, University of California Berkeley School of Law, 2012-2013
• "Best Mediator” listing of California’s Best Legal Service Providers, The Recorder, 2012
• "Lifetime Achievement Award," Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association, 2011
• "Outstanding Jurist of the Year," Santa Clara County Bar Association, 2010
• “Top 100 Women of Influence," San Jose Business Journal, 2009
• “Judge of the Year," Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association, 2006
• Member, statewide Bench-Bar-Media Task Force, 2009-present
• Member, statewide Procedural Fairness Editorial Board, 2009-present
• Member, National Association of Women Judges, 1989-present
• Member, Bar Association of San Francisco, present
• Member, Santa Clara Bar Association, and acted as a member of various committees of the Bar Association, 1989-2010
• Member, Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee, 2008-2010
• Consultant, California Judges Benchbook, Civil Proceedings Before Trial, 2006-2010
• Member, Judicial Council of California, 2006-2008
• Chair, Planning Committee for California Judges Association 2005 Midyear Conference
• Member and Chair of various Santa Clara County Superior Court committees, 1998-2010
• Member, Continuing Judicial Studies Education Committee, 2004-2007
• Member, Civil Jury Instructions Advisory Committee, 2004-2006
• Member, Judicial Services Task Force, 2003
• Bencher, American Inns of Court, 1998-present
• Member, Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee, 1997
• Member and Chair, Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee, 1997-1999
• Senior Fellow, American Leadership Forum, a national non-profit organization which selects leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to work on public issues, 2000-present
• "All About Teamwork," ADR Profile, Daily Journal, April 6, 2012

Background and Education

• Judge, Superior Court, County of Santa Clara, 1998-2011
  • Presiding Judge, 2009-2010
  • Assistant Presiding Judge, 2007-2008
• Judge, Municipal Court, County of Santa Clara, 1989-1998
  • Presiding Judge, 1997
  • Assistant Presiding Judge, 1996
• Deputy County Counsel, Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office, 1983-1989
• Associate, Berliner, Cohen, 1981-1983
• Deputy Attorney General, California Attorney General’s Office, 1974-1981
• J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (formerly Boalt Hall School of Law), 1974
• A.B. with Honors, Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 1970