Taft is pleased to welcome current Upper Arlington City Council candidate Ukeme Awakessien Jeter to its Columbus Office as a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group.

Jeter brings exceptional experience as an IP attorney with a progressive and successful history of helping companies protect, innovate, and commercialize products, services, and brands. As a multifaceted attorney, Jeter has led numerous legal teams and managed the work of foreign counsel to support clients with innovative products and services. Most recently, she served as primary patent counsel for one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the United States.

In addition, Jeter is deeply immersed within the Upper Arlington community. Since moving to the city in 2018, she has served as a member of the Citizen Financial Review Task Force, is an appointed inaugural member of the City’s newly formed Community Relations Committee, and spearheaded efforts to bring Upper Arlington its first city-wide Black History Month Celebration. In May 2021, she announced her candidacy for Upper Arlington City Council. Beyond her service to Upper Arlington, Jeter currently serves on the board of directors for Ohio Legal Help and on the United Way of Central Ohio’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council.

“Ukeme is an incredibly talented and deeply devoted attorney and community member. We are so honored to welcome her to the Taft Columbus office. Her steadfast commitment to both clients and the Greater Columbus region align with Taft’s high standards for delivering superior services across the firm,” said Taft Columbus Partner-in-Charge Janica Pierce Tucker.

“Taft has shown a strong commitment to strengthening our exceptional community with world-class legal services, which I admire and align with greatly. I am very pleased to join the Taft team as I continue this next step in my career,” said Jeter.   

Taft’s Columbus office is located in the heart of the state on Capitol Square. The attorneys in this market provide legal counsel across a broad spectrum of services, including commercial litigation, white collar and crisis management defense, labor and employment, domestic relations, public law, minority/women/veteran-owned business, health law, commercial real estate and construction, and Intellectual Property.