Joseph B. Jaap

Practicing law for over 30 years, Joseph Jaap assists clients with a wide range of legal issues, whether personal matters, estate planning, family law, real estate, or business, to develop and implement legal strategies that achieve client goals and that avoid or resolve disputes. Joe advises clients about their family legal matters and estate planning, including wills, powers of attorney, trusts, probate, divorce, child custody and support, guardianship, and other family issues. His real estate practice includes both commercial and residential real estate, representing and counseling clients regarding purchases, sales, leasing, condominium development and conversions, condominium management, homeowner and condominium associations, construction contracting and construction project management, construction dispute resolution, and mechanic's liens. Joe also provides general business representation to entrepreneurs and businesses advising clients about business formation, incorporation and joint ventures, contract negotiations, and asset purchases and sales. He also helps clients resolve issues related to trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property, including clearance and registration of state and federal trademarks, copyright registrations, trademark and copyright infringement claim resolution, intellectual property asset transfers and licensing, trade secret protection, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and electronic commerce including Internet and domain name issues. A Cincinnati native, after graduating from Purdue with B.S. and M.S. degrees in engineering, Joe served on active duty as a Navy officer and nuclear power plant engineer on Navy nuclear-powered ships. His Navy service was aboard a submarine, cruiser, and aircraft carrier, and he remains active with other local Navy veterans, serving on the executive board of the Cincinnati Council of the Navy League. After leaving the Navy, Joe worked for several years as an engineer and was licensed as a professional engineer in Ohio before obtaining his law degree from the University of Michigan. Joe is married, with three children.