O’Melveny & Myers LLP announced today that Gregory Jacob, former Solicitor of Labor and an acknowledged authority on ERISA and employment matters, has joined the Firm as a partner in the Washington, DC office. He will be a member of the Financial Services Practice Group.
“Greg is a legal all-star,” said Brad Butwin, Chair of O’Melveny & Myers LLP. “We’re excited that he’ll use his outstanding skills and knowledge to expand the capabilities of our preeminent ERISA litigation team and to add to the significant strengths of our financial services and labor and employment practices.”
Jacob held a number of high-level positions in the White House, Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Labor (DOL) during President George W. Bush’s administration. Most notably, he served as Solicitor of Labor, the Department’s third-ranking official and chief legal officer, from 2007 to 2009. In that role, he managed the Labor Department’s large litigation portfolio, made strategic decisions for its most important cases, and reviewed, edited, and approved all significant appellate briefs—including five that dealt with matters before the United States Supreme Court. Jacob also helped shape the Department’s positions on many high-impact legal and regulatory policy issues related to ERISA, wage-and-hour, occupational safety and health, and federal contract compliance. Before his confirmation as Labor Department Solicitor, Jacob served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Labor, Special Assistant to President Bush, and Attorney Advisor in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, where he received a Department of Defense award for Exceptional Civilian Service.
Brian Boyle, leader of O’Melveny’s Financial Services Practice Group, said: “As regulatory activity in the financial services area increases, Greg’s insider perspectives on policymaking will help us credibly advise financial institutions about successfully adapting to the evolving landscape.”
“Greg’s versatility is one of the things that makes him such a respected lawyer,” said Bob Eccles, head of O’Melveny’s ERISA litigation team. “His superb litigation skills and high-level experience as Solicitor of Labor make him an ideal fit for our practice.”
Jacob received a B.A. with honors from Amherst College in 1996. Three years later, he earned a J.D. from University of Chicago Law School, where he was a member of the University of Chicago Law Review. After clerking for Judge Jacques Wiener of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, he joined O’Melveny’s Washington, DC, office as an associate. Since 2001, Jacob also has worked pro bono to achieve groundbreaking legal victories on behalf of abused children. His award-winning advocacy for child-abuse victims extends well beyond the courtroom to op-ed articles, commentary in news stories and documentaries, and testimony before state legislatures.
“O’Melveny’s strong labor and ERISA practices are the ideal platform for my interests and experiences,” said Jacob. “I look forward to working alongside my talented colleagues and leveraging my background to advise clients on regulatory compliance strategies and to help them successfully defend against enforcement actions and other high-stakes litigation.”
