Why I Started Jacobs Counsel

By Andrew R. Jacobs, Esq. | Founder & Managing Attorney, Jacobs Counsel LLC | Director, Sports, Entertainment & Gaming Initiatives, Seton Hall University School of Law | Super Lawyers Rising Star 2026

Every business starts with a "why." For me, the answer is rooted in experience—both on the court and in the courtroom. I'm Drew Jacobs, founder of Jacobs Counsel, and this is the story of why I built a law firm designed for dealmakers and builders.

Chapter 1: The Athlete

I walked onto the Boston College basketball team and competed in the ACC for four years while studying in the Honors Program at the Carroll School of Management. Those years taught me what it means to perform under pressure, build a personal brand, and navigate high-stakes situations when everything is on the line.

That experience shaped everything. I saw the gap between ambitious people with big deals on the table and lawyers who actually understood their world. Your brand is your business—and most people don't protect it until it's too late.

The lesson was clear: dealmakers and builders need counsel that moves at their speed—closing deals, protecting assets, and building legacies that last.

Chapter 2: The Agent

After law school at Seton Hall (where I later became Director of Sports, Entertainment, and Gaming Initiatives) and earning a spot on the Miami Law Review, I became a certified NFLPA player agent. I represented professional athletes and saw firsthand how the industry worked—and where it failed them.

I watched retired NFL players struggle to access disability benefits and healthcare programs they had earned. Most had no idea these resources existed, and fewer knew how to navigate the complex claims process. That's why I founded Athlete Alumni Advantage—a company dedicated to helping retired players recover what they've earned.

This experience reinforced my belief: the people who build, compete, and create deserve legal counsel that actually understands their world.

Chapter 3: The Firm

I built Jacobs Counsel for the ambitious—startups closing funding rounds, athletes managing their NIL rights, creators navigating licensing deals, gaming companies ensuring compliance, hospitality ventures expanding their footprint, and families building generational wealth.

The traditional legal model doesn't work for these clients. It's slow, reactive, and impersonal. I saw brilliant founders, creators, athletes, and gamers building the future, only to be held back by lawyers who didn't understand their speed or their stakes.

So I built something different.

What Makes Us Different

We're Not Generalists. Our focus on startups, athletes, creators, gaming, and hospitality means we speak your language. We understand the unique pressures, opportunities, and timelines of your industry.

We're Proactive, Not Reactive. We help you build a solid legal framework from day one—structuring agreements, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring compliance before problems arise.

We're Accessible. Through our Fractional General Counsel model, growing companies get continuous, high-level legal support without the cost of a full-time hire.

We're Partners, Not Just Providers. When you work with us, you get a strategic advisor who is personally invested in your success. I've been in your shoes—competing at the highest level, building businesses, and closing deals. I know what's at stake.

What This Means for You

For Athletes: An advocate who's been on the court, who can help you navigate NIL deals, protect your brand, and plan for life after sports through smart estate planning.

For Founders: A legal partner who understands the startup lifecycle—from incorporation and fundraising to scaling and exit.

For Creators: Counsel who gets the creator economy—protecting your content, negotiating fair deals, and building a sustainable business around your brand.

For Gaming Companies: A firm that's deep in gaming law—50-state compliance, licensing, and the regulatory landscape you navigate daily.

Starting Jacobs Counsel wasn't about opening another law practice. It was about building the firm I wished existed—for the people I understand best. Close Deals. Protect Assets. Build Legacies. That's what we do.

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