In addition to co-chairing Burch & Cracchiolo’s liquor licensing and compliance department, Jake handles summary suspensions, notice of violations of AZ Department of Health Services (AZDHS) COVID-19 guidelines, attestations of violations, and compliance for notice of closure for bars and restaurants. He is knowledgeable about recent changes to the law involving online delivery, craft brewing and local wineries.  Jake represents a wide range of clients from national grocery stores, hotel and restaurant chains to mom-and-pop bars, restaurants and liquor stores. Jake’s experience with the administrative processes in Arizona has allowed him to also advise clients regarding medical marijuana and gaming issues. He is a member of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association.

Jake continues to represent clients in complex civil litigation, specifically commercial/contract disputes, serious personal injury/wrongful death matters, and FDCPA, TPCA, and FCRA cases, including class actions.  He has been licensed to practice in the Navajo tribal courts for 19 years and regularly advises businesses about the unique requirements of doing business on the Navajo Nation and navigating the tribal court system.

Education:

  • J.D.,  with distinction, University of Iowa, 1999
  • A.B., English, University of California, Berkeley 1994

Admissions:

  • Arizona
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Arizona
  • Navajo Nation
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community

Practice Areas:

  • Business & Corporate Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • Labor & Employment

Areas of Concentration:

  • Employment Litigation
  • Government/Public Entity Liability
  • Indian Gaming Law
  • Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation
  • Securities and Corporate Governance Litigation

Representative Engagements:

  • Represented Plaintiff’s in wrongful death lawsuit resulting in an $11m jury verdict
  • Represented a court-appointed receiver to recover funds for victims of a $28M Ponzi scheme
  • Defended Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in wrongful death claim by an inmate’s family
  • Represented Plaintiff’s in wrongful termination claims arising under Title VII and the Arizona Civil Rights Act
  • Represented claimant before Arizona Supreme Court in case that established new law permitting an award of punitive damages for claims premised solely on equitable relief.
  • Prepared Writ of Certiori to United States Supreme Court on behalf of a Native American tribe seeking the right to conduct gaming on its reservation.
  • Represented the State of Arizona in actions to enforce the terms of the Tribal-State Gaming Compact
  • Long-term outside counsel to company engaged in the implementation and operation of electronic medical record systems

Other Relevant Employment

  • Judicial Clerk, Justice Stanley Feldman, Arizona Supreme Court, 1999-2000

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Arizona
  • Maricopa County Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Navajo Nation Bar Association

Reported Cases:

  • Medasys Acquisition Corp. v. SDMS, P.C., 203 Ariz. 420, 55 P.3d 763 (2002).

Community Involvement:

  • Member, Board of Directors, Phoenix Indian Center
  • Member, Heard Museum American Indian Advisory Board