Jennifer Jacobs advises employers and higher education institutions on a broad range of workplace and compliance issues. She regularly counsels human resources professionals and organizational leadership on risk management, employee relations, and best practices, and conducts sensitive workplace investigations.

Jennifer provides practical, business-focused guidance on complex employment matters, including disability accommodations, leave management, employee discipline and termination, and wage and hour compliance. She regularly leads and advises on internal investigations involving allegations of misconduct. Jennifer has extensive litigation experience defending employers in administrative proceedings and cases in state and federal courts, in matters involving discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing, restrictive covenants, and breach of contract.

Jennifer also advises colleges and universities on higher education compliance, including Title IX, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), and the Clery Act. She works closely with institutions on investigations and response strategies related to sexual misconduct, harassment, gender-related violence, and other forms of protected class discrimination and harassment.

Prior to joining Lathrop GPM, Jennifer practiced at a Minneapolis-based firm where she completed a secondment as Employment Counsel at Thomson Reuters, advising business leaders on employee relations matters and organizational change initiatives. She also has broader commercial litigation experience, including in healthcare and business disputes, which informs her practical approach to employment matters. Earlier in her career, Jennifer served as a law clerk to the Honorable James B. Loken of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Jennifer graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she was Note and Comment Editor of the Minnesota Law Review. She also has taught appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Areas of Focus

Credentials

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2003)
    • Order of the Coif
  • Coe College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1998)
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Phi Kappa Phi

Clerkship

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Hon. James B. Loken, 2003-2004

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Presentations

  • Presenter, "Pay Equity Lawsuits and Emerging Trends," 2024 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, July 31, 2024
  • Co-presenter, "Investigation Reports – Do’s and Don’ts for Their Drafting, Content and Distribution," 2022 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 23, 2022

Publications