Benjamin Jacobi Joins Polsinelli
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli welcomes Benjamin Jacobi as Counsel to the firm’s national Energy Law Practice Group. He is based out of the Chicago office.
Jacobi represents developers of renewable energy projects in zoning, permitting, regulatory, administrative, and litigation matters, counseling them on all issues related to complex energy project development, including state and local permitting, road use agreements, NWS agreements, and other related matters.
He has significant experience serving as counsel to governmental entities regulating wind and solar projects and defending challenges to energy-development permits in court.
“We’re looking forward to having Ben join the firm,” said Cross Department Litigation Chair and Chicago Office Managing Partner Mary Clare Bonaccorsi. “As a renewable energy project development attorney, he has excellent experience related to project permitting, as well as defending challenges to zoning permits for energy sector clients. Even more importantly, Ben’s experience enables him to identify and head off key issues of potential dispute in the development phase, saving his clients from potential litigation exposure in the first place.”
Jacobi has been an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2016 and received a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award from the Jury Verdict Reporter in 2018. He has counseled dozens of local governments on various zoning issues, and within that scope has received multiple appointments as a special assistant state’s attorney.
“Our team is uniquely comprised of attorneys and public policy advisors who have impressive backgrounds in the public, private and legislative sectors, and Ben’s hiring adds to our already deep bench,” said Frank A. Caro, Chair of the firm’s national Energy Practice Group. “The Energy practice is expanding services to better meet the needs of clients and address marketplace challenges. Ben’s varied background and distinctive approach in serving clients makes him a valuable asset, and we are pleased to have added his experience to our team.”
Jacobi has a versatile resume. Before moving to private practice, he served as a law clerk for the Hon. P. Michael Mahoney in the Northern District of Illinois. He graduated with a B.S. in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and with a J.D. with Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law.
“I am excited to bring my experience to Polsinelli and work with the firm’s outstanding Energy Law Practice Group. Their approach to energy development is honest, efficient and effective, which very much aligns with my philosophy,” said Jacobi.
Polsinelli’s Energy Law Practice Group is a leading practice of its kind and has achieved a national presence in renewable energy project development by representing energy companies, utilities, developers, lenders and investors in connection with the acquisition, development, permitting, finance and operation of a variety of energy facilities. The Energy group includes attorneys with a broad range of interdisciplinary experience and depth of knowledge that allows effective collaboration with clients to achieve their legal objectives.