Professionals

The Core Strategic Team

Jacko Law Group, PC — San Diego, California

For more information about our firm, our practice or team of professionals — call our San Diego law offices directly at 619-298-2880 or contact us online.

Michelle L. Jacko, Esq. — Managing Partner and CEO

Michelle L. Jacko, Esq. is the Managing Partner and CEO of Jacko Law Group, PC (JLG), a securities law firm which offers securities and corporate legal services to broker-dealers, investment advisors, hedge funds and financial professionals. In addition, Ms. Jacko is the Founder and CEO of Core Compliance & Legal Services, Inc., a compliance and financial accounting consultation firm.

Ms. Jacko specializes in investment advisory and broker-dealer firm formation, mergers and acquisitions, transition risks and investment counsel on compliance and securities law. Her practice is focused on the areas of compliance risk management, contract negotiations, policies and procedures, testing of compliance programs (including evaluation of internal controls and supervision), performance advertising, soft dollar arrangements, best execution, separation agreements and much more. In 2006, Ms. Jacko was named as a Top 20 Rising Star for “Who’s Who” in Upcoming Compliance Professionals by Compliance Reporter magazine.

Previously, Ms. Jacko served as Of Counsel at Shustak & Partners, PC. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Compliance and Branch Manager of the Home Office Supervision team at LPL Financial Services, Corporation (Linsco/Private Ledger). Ms. Jacko also served as Legal Counsel of Investments and Chief Compliance Officer at First American Trust, FSB and held the position of Compliance Manager at Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management. In addition, Ms. Jacko was with PIM Financial Services, Inc., and Speiser, Krause, Madole & Mendelsohn, Jackson.

Ms. Jacko received her J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law (1996) and B.A., International Relations, from the University of San Diego (1993). She is admitted to the State Bar of California and United States District Court, Southern District of California. Michelle is a board member for the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP) and serves as Subcommittee Chair of NSCP’s Membership Committee.

In addition to authoring the compliance column for Bank Advisor Magazine, Michelle frequently authors industry articles and presents at conferences throughout the nation. She is Vice President of the Southern California Compliance Group (past President of the San Diego Compliance Group 2002 and 2003) and is involved in the American Bar Association (Business Law Section), State Bar of California and San Diego County Bar Association.

EDUCATION
J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law, 1996
B.A. International Relations, University of San Diego, 1993
Degree awarded Cum Laude

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS
The State Bar of California
United States District Court, Southern District of California

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Bar Association
State Bar of California

San Diego County Bar Association

Board Member, National Society of Compliance Professionals

Vice President, Southern California Compliance Group

Member, FINRA Board of Arbitrators

View Ms. Jacko's complete attorney profile.

Matthew Shepard - Legal Assistant

Mr. Shepard offers general assistance to JLG with particular emphasis on investment advisory and hedge fund formations, document creation and review and preparation of legal memorandum. He also provides guidance on regulatory compliance, securities, and corporate law in general.

Mr. Shepard is qualified as a lawyer in England and Wales and previously practiced law in the UK with the business law firm, Wortley Byers, LLP. When practicing law in the UK, Mr. Shepard acted for a large number of domestic and international businesses in connection with various transactional, contentious and regulatory legal matters. Mr. Shepard has a strong background in negotiations, business transactions and dispute settlement which he uses for the benefit of JLG clients. Prior to practicing law in the UK, Mr. Shepard worked as a Foreign Exchange Dealer for Henyep Investment in London, which provided additional in-house experience in the financial services and investment industries.

EDUCATION
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, College of Law of England and Wales, 2002
Bachelor of Laws (with honors), University of Liverpool, 2000

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, the Supreme Court of England and Wales

Serenity Harding - Paralegal

Ms. Harding offers support in the areas of corporate formations including associated filings and document preparation, contract review, hedge fund formations, assisting in compliance risk management and other compliance, corporate and securities regulations.

Previously, Ms. Harding interned with a litigation firm where she analyzed, selected and prepared exhibits for trial, indexed exhibits, documents and plans, reviewed and categorized correspondence, performed research on applicable laws and other tasks. This firm experience extended to copyright, personal injury and construction defect areas of law. She also drafted written legal reports relating to international relations and sports contracts as college projects.

EDUCATION
Paralegal Certificate (with honors), University of San Diego, 2007
B.A. Business and Pre-Law, Michigan State University, 2001

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Notary Public, Commissioned to San Diego County (Exp. 11/2009)

Member, National Notary Association

Zachary Rosenberg, Law Clerk

Mr. Rosenberg is a third year law student who provides general research assistance to JLG and aids in the preparation of legal memorandum and other publications. With a particular focus on ERISA and investment company compliance matters, Mr. Rosenberg also provides assistance on regulatory compliance, investment consulting, and analysis of investment advisory contracts.

Prior to joining JLG, Mr. Rosenberg served as a judicial extern to a U.S. Magistrate Judge, where he reviewed and evaluated federal petitions for writ of habeas corpus. He drafted reports and recommendations for the judge based on extensive research of U.S. Supreme Court precedent and other relevant legal standards.

EDUCATION
J.D. Candidate, California Western School of Law, 2009
B.A. History and Political Science, University of Arizona, 2005

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Executive Editor, California Western Law Review/International Law Journal

Student Member, San Diego County Bar Association