Jake Ware
Associate
Developers, investors, athletes and coaches count on Jake to help them navigate commercial real estate transactions, complex business engagements, and competitive contract negotiations. Clients value Jake’s practical advice borne out of his experience as a Division I college athlete and a professional sports agent.
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For over seven years, Jake has used his unique combination of commercial litigation experience and sports-related transactional experience to assist a wide range of clients. Jake has represented multinational corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, by litigating complex commercial disputes related to breach of contract, product liability, and government investigations. World-class professional athletes and coaches also rely on Jake to help them navigate salary negotiations, contractual issues, and the business of sports.
Jake began his legal career with Alston & Bird LLP, an international AmLaw 50 firm, with offices throughout the U.S. and abroad. At Alston & Bird, Jake acquired significant litigation skills related to complex commercial disputes. He litigated cases involving healthcare fraud, government investigations, and product liability claims, among other commercial disputes. His litigation background provides Jake with valuable perspective when negotiating and drafting transaction documents or when advising executives and athletes on employment law matters. He subsequently merged his legal experience and sports experience by working as an Athlete Agent and General Counsel to Moye Sports Associates, Inc., an Atlanta-based sports agency. At Moye Sports, Jake served as an MLBPA-certified agent to top Major League Baseball players. He also has advised elite athletes and coaches in multiple sports by negotiating salaries, endorsement agreements, public appearances, and by drafting and reviewing complex contracts.
Jake earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Modern Languages (summa cum laude) from Georgia Southern University. Jake played Division I baseball and golf for Georgia Southern, and his teams won the Southern Conference championship in 2009 (baseball) and 2011 (golf). After college, Jake worked for the U.S. State Department at the American Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He then attended graduate school at the George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University where he earned his Master’s degree in International Affairs. While at the Bush School, Jake served as a Dean’s Ambassador. He also compiled and presented research for the Central Intelligence Agency as part of his Bush School Capstone Project. Prior to attending law school, Jake worked for Major League Baseball in China, where he coached and trained some of China’s top baseball players at two MLB Development Centers.
Jake attended law school at the University of Georgia School of Law where he served as an Executive Editor for the Georgia Law Review and graduated with honors. His student note analyzing baseball’s antitrust exemption was published in the Georgia Law Review. He participated on the Georgia Law moot court team and helped lead Georgia to victory over Florida in the 2015 Hulsey-Gambrell Moot Court Competition. He also was an active member of the Christian Legal Society.
Jake enjoys playing golf, reading, exercising, and spending time with his family.
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Represented a major national automaker in multidistrict litigation following widely publicized vehicle recalls relating to allegedly defective Takata airbags.
Serves as general counsel to top Atlanta-based sports agency.
Represented national healthcare provider in governmental investigations involving healthcare fraud and False Claims Act matters.
Negotiated salaries, performance incentives, and signing bonuses for professional athletes who were drafted, eligible for salary arbitration, and eligible for free agency.
Filed amici curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 103 state legislators in support of Petitioner Rowan County, North Carolina’s efforts to restore the practice of legislative prayer.
Assisted professional baseball player in dispute with foreign professional team by negotiating and drafting contractual language that settled dispute favorably for player.
Counseled a large national air ambulance provider facing regulatory issues in expanding its geographic coverage to multiple states.
Guided prominent football coach through the negotiation and contractual process with NFL team.
Represented an individual in federal court trial for white collar mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering counts.
Advised large insurance company in dispute involving reinsurance rates, state consumer protection laws, and breach of fiduciary duties.
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Jake serves on the Board of Directors for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Dominican Republic and has assisted the ministry since 2016 in its efforts to disciple coaches and impact the lives of athletes throughout the Dominican Republic.
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Intentional Pass: Analyzing Baseball’s Antitrust Exemption as Applied to Broadcasting Agreements in Laumann v. National Hockey League, 49 Ga. L. Rev. 895 (2015).
Dean’s Ambassador, George H. W. Bush School of Government, Texas A&M University (2013).
Outstanding Scholar in International Studies, Georgia Southern University (2011).
Southern Conference Coleman-Lew Leadership Award (2011).
Practice Areas
Real Estate, M&A, Contracts
J.D., University of Georgia School of Law
M.I.A., Texas A&M University
B.A., International Studies and Modern Languages, Georgia Southern University
Education
Jake Ware
Upshaw & Associates, LLC
309 East Paces Ferry Road
Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Direct: (912) 531-0337
Email: jware@upshawassociates.com
Contact Information
Bar Admissions
Georgia