Jacob Clark is an associate in the International Practices Group, with a focus on East Asia, China, and the ASEAN region. His practice includes litigation and dispute resolution, international trade, corporate, compliance and investigations, and labor and employment matters. Prior to joining the Firm, Jacob spent 5 years as a Foreign Counsel at the strategic affiliate office of an AmLaw 50 law firm based in Shanghai, China. While in China, he advised Fortune 500 multinationals, family-owned companies, and individuals across a wide array of legal practice areas and high profile cases, and gained unique insight into the legal complexities and business realities for companies operating in an interconnected, global economy. In his current role, Jacob leverages his international experience to provide more effective legal solutions and counsel to his clients.
Jacob is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and is able to conduct his legal work in his second language. Jacob earned his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law Cum Laude and an LL.M. from the University of London specializing in International Dispute Resolution with Merit.
Education & Credentials
Education
University of London
LL.M, 2021• Postgraduate Diploma in Laws specializing in Public International Law with Distinction
Michigan State University College of Law
J.D., 2016• 4x Dean’s List (Fall 2013, Spring 2015, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters)
• Recipient, Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children Externship Grant
Johns Hopkins University - Nanjing Center
Graduate Certificate, 2012University of Wisconsin
B.A., 2011- Double Major in Legal Studies and Chinese Language
Bar Admission
Spoken Languages
- English
- Mandarin Chinese
Prominent Assignments
- Representing an alternative clean energy developer, manufacturer, and solutions provider, to prepare a comprehensive legal memorandum outlining general U.S. anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and compliance obligations.
- Represents a Chinese company in the automotive industry in multiple international trade and customs matters.
- Represents a Canadian integrated products distributor in a seven figure commercial litigation in the US District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan.
- Provides general counsel to multiple Chinese and U.S.-based companies on daily legal issues, including contract drafting and review, preparing general terms and conditions, and advising on general corporate and employment matters.
- Represents multiple multinational Chinese companies in intellectual property, trademark, trade secret and patent litigations in the US District Courts of the Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of Texas, New Jersey, Delaware, Northern District of Illinois and Central District of California.
- Represented Chinese company’s U.S.-based plant in a whistleblower claim in Michigan state court.
- Advised multiple automotive components manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers, medical device companies, financial institutions, and telecommunications companies on international trade and export control matters.
- Advised multiple Fortune 500 companies on global restructuring transactions and managed legal teams across five countries.
- Handled multiple U.S. and China in-bound and out-bound investment matters across various industries, including agriculture, healthcare, medical devices, automotive, and cosmetics.
- Represented an international agriculture company to conduct an internal investigation on potential data security, privacy and compliance matters.
- Represented multiple companies in the aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, medical device, and healthcare industries on internal investigations as well as high-profile FCPA, government, and multilateral development bank investigations involving allegations of severe employee misconduct, bribery, and wrongdoing.
Professional Involvement
- Detroit Chinese Business Association
Publications/Presentations
- Co-Author, Vitamin C Ruling May Trigger Comity Defense Resurgence, Law360, LexisNexis (Jan. 7, 2022)
- Panelist, The Impact of the PRC Data Security Law, Personal Information Protection Law, and GDPR on Chinese Enterprises, Anti-Corruption Compliance China 2021, SZ&W Group, Shanghai, China (Dec. 2, 2021)
- Co-Speaker, U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act, 337 Investigations, and Intellectual Property Litigation, Foreign Investment Legal Practice Class, Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai, China (Aug. 30, 2020)
- Co-Author, “People’s Republic of China”, in Lisa Richman, Shawn Helms, Jason Kreiser, and Matthew Cin, COVID-19 as a Trigger for Force Majeure: A Global Survey, American Lawyer Media, pp. 120-125 (June 2020)
- Co-Author, The U.S.-China Trade War: The War of the Lists and How it Could Affect Your Company, Lexology, Law Business Research (October 28, 2019)