A former Assistant US Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, Jacques Semmelman delivers for his clients by tapping into his significant courtroom experience. He is known for deftly handling complex cases — including those involving quantitative, econometric, scientific and engineering issues — by leveraging his mathematical and scientific background that includes a PhD from Harvard.
Speaking the clients' language
Jacques works with clients through all phases of civil and criminal litigation and arbitration, as well as in the defense of government investigations and enforcement proceedings. He is an accomplished trial lawyer, having served as lead counsel in more than 25 jury and bench trials and arbitral hearings, and is a skilled appellate advocate, having argued 16 appeals.
Jacques's practice is wide-ranging and includes significant matters involving antitrust, product liability, contracts, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, derivative and class action litigation, commodities, securities, commercial and governmental bribery, trademark, patent, computer hacking, money laundering, and international extradition. He has considerable expertise in US anti-corruption laws, as well as in US sanctions and export controls laws. He regularly advises clients on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance, and on regulations issued by the US Department of the Treasury (OFAC) and the US Department of Commerce (BIS). Jacques also conducts internal investigations involving suspected violations of OFAC sanctions, the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws, and anti-money laundering laws.
Jacques has particular experience handling the multifaceted needs of pharmaceutical clients. He provides counsel on matters related to Hatch-Waxman litigation, other patent-related litigation, and contractual disputes involving the development, licensing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. Clients also call on Jacques for his extensive experience with the metals industry, including in antitrust matters as well as in commercial litigation and arbitration.
Additionally, Jacques represents clients from diverse industries in intellectual property matters such as Lanham Act litigation, including cases involving trademark infringement, trade dress infringement and false advertising. He has also handled US International Trade Commission litigation involving microchip technology and finite element analysis.
Jacques is a thought leader with regard to international extradition, having published extensively in this area. His law review articles have been cited by numerous courts, including the US Courts of Appeals for seven federal circuits. He has served as counsel or co-counsel in several high-profile extradition cases. Jacques has testified in a notable trial on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia as an expert witness on US extradition law and procedure. The Supreme Court of British Columbia has described him as "a leading expert on extradition proceedings in the United States," with "broad practical and academic experience."
