Carl I. Jacobson
Senior Attorney
Thinking forward. By tradition.
Contact
130 North Court Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
Memphis, TN 38103
Tel: 901.524.5138
Fax: 901.524.5024
Practice Areas
Franchising & Distribution Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation & Arbitration
Labor & Employment Law
Personal Injury Litigation
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation & Arbitration
Labor & Employment Law
Personal Injury Litigation
Admitted to Practice
Tennessee, 1983
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1990
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1995
United States District Court for Arkansas, 1992
United States District Court for Alabama, 1996
United States District Court for Mississippi, 1991
United States Supreme Court, 1994
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1990
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1995
United States District Court for Arkansas, 1992
United States District Court for Alabama, 1996
United States District Court for Mississippi, 1991
United States Supreme Court, 1994
Bar Admissions
Tennessee Bar Association
Memphis Bar Association
Memphis Bar Association
Carl Jacobson’s diverse legal background has included private law firms and in-house general counsel experience. Mr. Jacobson has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts, and his practice areas include medical malpractice litigation, general civil litigation, employment relations and employment-related litigation, and franchise consultation and litigation.
As General Counsel for Lennys Grill & Subs from 2004 until 2019, he helped grow the local favorite to a nationwide brand. Previously, Mr. Jacobson was General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for Gate Gourmet, one of the world’s largest airline catering businesses, where he was also responsible for Gate Gourmet’s labor relations. He was a litigation partner at Ford & Harrison, PLLC, a nationwide employment law firm, as well as a civil litigation partner in Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. After completing law school, he began his career as a prosecutor in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
At Burch, Porter & Johnson, Mr. Jacobson focuses on franchise law, employment law, medical malpractice litigation, and mediation. He is listed by the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Rule 31 Mediator and is also certified by the National Center for Dispute Settlement as an Arbitrator. He is a frequent speaker at CLE events, primarily focusing on employment law issues.
Education
Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1980), cum laude
Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1983)
Professional Honors and Activities
- Named in Best Lawyers in America© for Employment Law – Management in the Memphis area (2025)
- Rule 31 Certified Mediator
- Arbitrator, National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS)
- During his many years of private practice, Mr. Jacobson’s clients have included: DuPont, Schering-Plough, Aetna, Dobbs International, Lennys Franchisor, LLC, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Overnight Transportation, State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company, Regions Bank, and Michael’s Craft Stores.
