Jay’s hard-charging work ethic can likely be attributed to his first calling: farming. He grew up working on the family farm, helping to raise purebred Hereford cattle. He remains a proud fifth-generation farmer and is still strongly involved in his family’s row-crop operation. His attorney-farmer background serves Jay’s legal practice well. There is no such thing as a “day off” in the life of a farmer, and often in the life of an attorney too, and Jay has always relished meeting challenges head-on from any direction.
Leading the firm’s Agribusiness & Food group – the perfect role for an attorney-farmer – Jay serves the complex commercial, product liability and class action defense needs of Fortune 1000 clients in agribusiness, energy, environment, manufacturing, emerging technologies, chemical and other industries.
“I have always been curious and enjoy solving problems and helping clients overcome challenges – the tougher the better,” says Jay. “I join forces with our teams and clients to bring them what they need, when they need it, and before they know they need it. It’s what I love about being a business litigator – heading into each day with a ‘game on’ mentality.”
As a firm leader and past executive committee member, Jay also embraces the importance of diversity and inclusion. He is known for developing and mentoring diverse teams, always seeking opportunities for diverse associates to work on interesting and complex matters and providing them with direct client contact. Jay knows that diverse teams enable the firm to better serve its clients, which leads to better attorney-client engagement and retention. One deputy general counsel stated, “Jay’s team understands our culture. With diversity, they meet or join us on that journey. It’s not lip service; they are wedded to the cause.”
Jay builds client teams from the ground up, encouraging collaboration and providing continual training on how to deliver best-in-class client service. For one client, his team’s mantra was simple: “Always be responsive. Always stay targeted. Always add value.” This client’s director of legal operations summed up this service dedication: “Quite honestly, Jay and Lathrop GPM are the example for all firms to follow. I don’t think there is another firm that is as good as they are on service.” This singular client focus helped Jay to be recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star in 2022, one of only 565 attorneys nationwide honored for superior client service.
Jay delivers bottom-line value to his clients by implementing a boots-on-the-ground, rapid response approach to their legal matters. Whether creating the opportunity for decisive, favorable dismissal of an opponent’s claims or facing a lengthy jury trial, he incorporates strategy, technology and knowledge-sharing to represent clients effectively and efficiently –always remaining laser-focused on the best interests of the client.
As one client stated, “Jay cares about people, and genuinely cares about the people in the companies he represents. If there is a bet-the-company case, I know I can call Jay. If there is a success for the company, I know I can call Jay. And If there’s a listening ear needed, I know I can call Jay.”
