A Preeminent Sports-Centered Law Firm

Howard L. Jacobs

Howard Jacobs has been identified by major national and international publications as one of the leading sports lawyers in the world. He is an athlete’s lawyer and not a sports agent. He represents athletes in all types of disputes, with a particular focus on the defense of athletes charged with doping and other disciplinary offenses. He has represented over 250 professional athletes, Olympic athletes and amateur athletes in disputes involving doping, salary issues, team selection issues, SafeSport issues, endorsements, unauthorized use of name and likeness, and other matters. Howard Jacobs has been consistently listed by the Chambers Guide as one of the top-ranked lawyers in the United States for athletic disputes. In addition to his law practice, Howard Jacobs is an Adjunct Professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, where he teaches sports law.

As an athlete advocate, Howard provides a voice for athletes and others in all types of disputes; he has argued many landmark cases for athletes, winning cases that have set precedents and established better and fairer practices. Because of this, Howard Jacobs is a sought-after expert on sports law issues.

Howard graduated from Florida State University and William and Mary Law School. He ran cross country and track & field for Florida State University and competed as a professional triathlete during law school. He currently resides in Southern California with his wife, two children, a gentle giant of a ridgeback mix, an Aussiedoodle puppy and a garage full of bicycles.

For more information, read this September 19, 2006, USA Today profile.

Lindsay S. Brandon

Lindsay joined the Law Offices of Howard L. Jacobs in 2016. Her practice focuses primarily on representation of athletes in arbitration on anti-doping and SafeSport matters, as well as in team selection disputes. Lindsay has also successfully counseled athletes in obtaining therapeutic use exemptions for medical conditions, and has assisted on various successful civil matters involving athletes.

A native Seattleite, Lindsay went from working behind the bar to passing it. She began her career as a juvenile justice reform advocate with the King County Department of Public Defense, and transitioned to sports when she began writing about the intersectionality of law and sports for a Northwest publication. Her fate in sports law was sealed after meeting Howard Jacobs during her LL.M. program, through which she served as his intern. Lindsay is active in Women in Sports Law, serving as the U.S. Regional Coordinator and on the communications committee. She is also a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and the Esports Bar Association.

While not at work, Lindsay is usually traveling or hanging out with her dog, Lucille (or both at the same time). While on a perpetual quest to find the perfect plate of pasta, Lindsay also enjoys trap shooting, boating, watching the Seahawks, and cooking.

Lindsay received her B.A. from Claremont McKenna College, her J.D. from Seattle University, and her LL.M. in International Sports Law from St. John’s University with honors.

Lindsay is admitted to practice in both California and Washington State, as well as before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States District Court, Southern District of California, and the United States District Court, District of Colorado.

Katy Freeman

Before earning her law degree, Katy spent many years competing at the highest levels of intercollegiate and Olympic swimming. Her experiences as a member of USA Swimming’s National Team and first-hand knowledge of the issues elite athletes face served as her introduction to the realm of sports law and, ultimately, led her to attend law school.

Katy first joined the Law Offices of Howard L. Jacobs as an intern during the summer of 2014 and was thrilled to re-join as an Associate in May 2019.

While in law school, Katy also had the opportunity to intern for the Athlete Ombudsman for the United States Olympic Committee, where she assisted with research and writing in relation to athlete disputes. After graduating from law school, Katy spent two years working in family law as an Associate with the Gill Law Group, P.C. During her time there, she specialized in work on high conflict divorce and child custody matters.

Katy is a California girl through and through, having grown up in Northern California. She is a graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara (B.A., 2009) and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law (J.D., 2016), where she graduated with a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Despite strong Trojan ties, Katy remains a true, blue-and-gold bleeding Gaucho at heart. She is admitted to practice law in California.

Katy and her fiancé recently relocated from Orange County to the Los Angeles area. Katy spends her free time reading, cooking and watching the Dodgers.