Frank R. Jakes

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Frank Jakes is a trial lawyer with decades of experience representing clients in intellectual property and complex commercial disputes. As the founder of Johnson Pope’s Intellectual Property Group, Frank has built a practice defined by courtroom advocacy, high-stakes litigation, and a track record of results in cases involving copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and other contested business matters.

Unlike many IP litigators, Frank is an active trial lawyer who also handles appellate work, seeing cases through from inception to resolution. Over his career, he has secured multiple jury verdicts exceeding $2 million and was inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In a single four-month period, he tried two jury cases resulting in judgments totaling approximately $40 million.

Frank’s path to law was shaped by his early work at the Federal Trade Commission, where he first encountered trademark disputes and developed an interest in intellectual property. From there, he knew he wanted to build a practice centered on litigation. He is known for his distinctive blend of rigorous preparation and persuasive courtroom performance—an approach clients have described as “casual formalism”: direct, strategic, and delivered with calm confidence.

Frank represents a wide variety of clients, including artists, musicians, designers, manufacturers, technology companies, and professional service firms. Whether helping a brand protect its most valuable assets or resolving a complex business dispute, he brings decades of experience and a commitment to seeing cases through to the finish line.

Frank’s approach to litigation blends meticulous preparation with a natural comfort in the courtroom. He believes that advocacy is both an intellectual exercise and a form of performance—one that requires clarity, presence, and the ability to connect with a jury. Drawing on his training and experience as a professional actor, he is adept at reading a room, anticipating reactions, and presenting complex facts in a way that is both persuasive and authentic. This perspective has shaped his reputation as a trial lawyer who can command attention while staying grounded in the evidence.

Representative Matters

Federal Jury Trial Success: Secured judgments totaling approximately $40 million in two federal jury trials decided within a four-month period.
Trademark Protection for Global Brand: Represented the Ironman Triathlon for over 25 years in nationwide trademark enforcement and protection matters.
High-Profile Copyright Settlement: Achieved a six-figure settlement for the Florida Orchestra in copyright litigation brought by Whitney Houston and related interests.
Major Jury Verdicts in IP Cases: Obtained multiple jury verdicts exceeding $2 million for clients in trademark infringement and unfair competition cases.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 1983
United States Supreme Court
United States Courts of Appeals (Third Circuit, Eighth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Eleventh Circuit & Federal Circuit)
United States District Courts (Florida: Middle, Northern & Southern Districts; Illinois: Northern District)

Education

New York University, J.D., 1983
University of Denver, B.A., Political Science, cum laude with honors, 1979

Awards & Recognition

The Florida Bar, Board Certified in Intellectual Property
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (limited to attorneys securing verdicts over $2 million), Member
AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell for 20+ Years
Tampa’s Best Lawyers, 2011
Florida Legal Elite, 2006 – 2011
Super Lawyers, 2007 – 2025
The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Litigation & Intellectual Property, 2006 – Present

Community & Professional Organizations

The Florida Bar, 1983 – Present
- Member
Intellectual Trademark Association
NYU School of Law
- Weinfeld Patron
Tampa Mid-Town Kiwanis
- Past President & Board Member

Outside the Office

Frank is a professional actor, though these days he doesn’t take on as many roles as he once did. He is also an avid track and field competitor who still trains for the 100-meter hurdles. Outside of the courtroom and athletics, he enjoys kayaking, golfing, traveling abroad, and spending time with his three adult children.

Frank R. Jakes is a commercial trial lawyer and founder of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. While specializing in intellectual property disputes, Frank also handles complex commercial disputes, including class actions. He regularly practices before the federal courts throughout the State, but also appears in the state courts, as well as courts in other jurisdictions. Frank is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He has also been listed in the Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine and included in Best Lawyer’s in America.

Unlike many intellectual property and commercial litigators, Frank is an active trial lawyer who also handles the resulting appellate practice. A member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates forum (limited to lawyers who have secured a jury verdict of $1 million), Frank has secured numerous jury verdicts in excess of $2 million. In one four month period in 2002-2003, Frank tried two jury cases resulting in judgments totaling approximately $40 million.

Frank is active in the International Trademark Association, having served on the Editorial Board of The Trademark Reporter, 1985-88, 1990-92 and 1994-97. He also served on the Federal Court Practice committee of the Florida Bar from its inception in 1990 through 2002, acting as chairman in 1998-99 and vice chairman twice. Frank is also a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983 and is a member of the bars of the following courts: United States Supreme Court (1986); United States Courts of Appeals for the Third (2000), Eighth (2021), Ninth (2009), Eleventh (1986) and Federal (1994) Circuits; United States District Courts for the Middle (1984), Northern (1994) & Southern (trial bar) (1988) Districts of Florida.

A 1983 graduate of New York University School of Law, Frank was on the moot court team that won the 33d National Moot Court Competition and received the Best Oralist Team and Best Brief awards. He was also a member of the Order of the Barristers and served on the Moot Court Board, authoring Ruckleshaus v. Kaleidoscope Pictures, “The Copyrightability of Literary Characters,” 6 NYU Moot Court Casebook 82-17. He remains active as a member of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the NYU Alumni Association and is a Weinfeld Patron of the Law School.

An Army brat, Frank was born in Hoppstadten, Germany and grew up in Florida where he attended Dixie Hollins High School before attending the University of Denver as a National Merit Scholar. Frank received his B.A. cum laude with honors in Political Science in 1979.

Intellectual Property Counseling: Advised creators and businesses on securing and enforcing IP rights in the music, visual arts, and technology industries.

“The Constitutional Authority of the Florida Legislature to Ban Private Ownership of Exotic Animals,” Johnson Pope, co-authored, November 2018
“Some of our Clients Are Animals,” Johnson Pope, February 2015
“A Fork in the Road,” Johnson Pope, September 2013
“Trademarks in the Animal Kingdom,” Johnson Pope, May 2013

Articles

News

26 Johnson Pope Attorneys Named to 2025 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

By JP Firm — June 2025

Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns LLP is proud to announce that 26 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. This prestigious honor highlights attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional legal skill, peer recognition, and professional achievement across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers is a trusted […]

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