Hara Jacobs

Hara K. Jacobs

Partner She / Her / Hers
Philadelphia

Hara K. Jacobs—leader of Ballard Spahr’s nationally recognized Trademarks and Copyrights Group—focuses on intellectual property infringement litigation and advising clients on the implementation and development of global branding and enforcement strategies.

Hara has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in all phases of trademark, trade dress, false advertising, copyright, trade secret, and right of publicity litigation, from initial counseling through trial and appeal. She regularly appears in federal and state courts and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Experience 

Representative Matters

Intellectual Property Litigation

  • Sturm, Ruger & Co. v. American Outdoor Brands Corporation et al. (D. N.H. 2019). Defeated motion for preliminary injunction alleging that a Smith & Wesson rifle infringed the trade dress of Ruger’s 10/22 rifle following expedited fact and expert discovery and a three day evidentiary hearing in November 2019.
  • Hidden City v. ABC, Inc. (E.D. Pa. 2018). Successfully dismissed trademark infringement and dilution claims against ABC, Inc. by prevailing on a motion to dismiss on First Amendment grounds.
  • PNGI Charles Town Gaming, LLC and Hollywood Casinos, LLC v. Hot Spot CT Real Estate, LLC, d/b/a Casino Pawn and Brent Jackson (N.D. W.V. 2018). Successfully represented Penn National Gaming in false association claim against defendants who branded their pawn shop as “Casino Pawn”.

Professional Highlights

Professional Activities

Pennsylvania Bar Association Review and Certifying Board, member

International Trademark Association 

Ballard Spahr's Hiring Committee

Recognition & Accomplishments

World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2021-2023

Recognized as one of the "Best of the Bar" by the Philadelphia Business Journal for 2020

Chambers USA, intellectual property law, 2010-2017

Benchmark Litigation, "Litigation Star," Intellectual Property, 2017-2024; named one of the "Top 250 Women in Litigation," 2017-2018

Recognized as an "IP Star" in Pennsylvania by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, 2013, 2019-2023; named one of the "Top 250 Women in IP," 2013; nominated for IP Litigator of the Year for Pennsylvania for 2019 and 2021

Speaking Engagements

"Ethics in Social Media," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 8th Annual Intellectual Property Law Institute, Philadelphia, April 9, 2014

"Web Suffix Explosion May Create .Concern: Strategies for Protecting Brands and Enhancing Data Security," Ballard Spahr webinar, January 13, 2014

"Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging…Oh MySpace! Legal Issues with Social Networking Sites," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, December 2010

Board Memberships & Community Service

ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Publications

Co-author, "Do Not Be Blindsided by SideWiki," myCorporateResource.com, November 20, 2009

Co-author, U.S. Trade Dress Law: A Primer for the New Millennium, with Glenn Mitchell, Steven J. Wadyka, Jr., and Melissa J. Lee, 2002

Credentials 

Education

Duke University School of Law (J.D. 1994)

University of Michigan (B.A. 1991, with high distinction)
Member, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

New Jersey

New York

Pennsylvania