Jessica uses her exceptional knowledge and passion for litigation to assist clients with complex commercial matters.
Overview
Clients trust Jessica to guide them to comprehensive solutions for a multitude of business and commercial litigation matters. Jessica has gained invaluable experience working for various clients including private entities, banking and financial institutions, colleges, school districts, park districts and villages. She has a deep understanding of real estate as she has experience representing clients in foreclosures, loan modifications, short sales, evictions, real estate transactions, construction, leasing, zoning issues, title disputes and property tax appeals. Jessica was also previously a title agent for a title company.
Jessica enjoys giving back to the community through pro bono legal services. She volunteers with the firm's Deinard Legal Clinic and the Wills for Heroes program. When not working, Jessica likes hiking, biking, and enjoying the outdoors.
Experience
Construction
Represented contractors, developers, and owners in litigation and dispute resolution including design and construction defect claims, payment disputes, bid protests, project delays, and invoking payment and performance bonds.
Assisted clients with transactional work including drafting and negotiating construction contracts, AIA documents such as owner/contractor agreements, owner/architect agreements, construction management agreements and general conditions, bid packages and requests for proposals.
Real Estate
Assisted clients in buying and selling commercial real estate including vacant land, restaurants, gas stations, hotels, franchises, office buildings and industrial complexes/warehouses.
Represented clients in negotiating leases, asset purchase agreements, partnership agreements, stock purchase agreements and franchise agreements.
Assisted clients in forming and registering corporations and limited liability companies including drafting association bylaws and declarations, operating agreements and corporate bylaws.
Represented a bank on a SBA loan by preparing the loan documents including the note, mortgage and security agreements.
Represented clients in judicial and non-judicial foreclosure actions, evictions, title actions, zoning changes and easement disputes.
Property Tax
Represented both taxpayers and governmental bodies in commercial and residential tax appeals including nursing homes, big box retail, hotels, power plants, shopping centers, offices, auto body shops, apartment complexes, manufacturing plants, warehouses, farms and mines.
Successfully overturned an unfavorable decision from the Property Tax Appeal Board that misinterpreted a section of the Illinois Property Tax Code for Supportive Living Facilities which resulted in a change of assessment of almost $1 million.
Premise Liability
Represented property owners and insurance companies defending slip and fall claims.
Conducted a comprehensive investigation of a boiler replacement incident that left an occupied building filled with smoke.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Co-presenter, “2022 Construction Law Case Update,” Minnesota State Bar Association, January 2023
Co-presenter, “2021 Construction Law Case Update,” Minnesota State Bar Association, December 2021
"Property Tax Assessment Challenges and How to Defend Your Tax Base," PMA Financial Network, LLC, Chicago, Illinois, June 2020
"Construction Law 101," National Business Institute, Altoona, Wisconsin, December 2019
Publications
Contributing author, “Compelling Subcontractor Participation in Owner-Contractor Arbitration Using a Joinder Clause,” ABA Under Construction, Summer 2022
Contributing author, "Contagion Waivers as a COVID-19 Pandemic Risk Management Tool," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2020
Contributing author, "Public Body Social Media Rules Make Retention, Ready Retrieval Imperative," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2019
Contributing author, "How Far Does the Law Allow Schools to Go?" UPDATE Magazine, Illinois Association of School Business Officials, 2018
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
American Bar Association, Forum on Construction, Division 1 Steering Committee, Division 1 Technology Liaison, and Assistant Editor-in-Chief of The Dispute Resolver
Minnesota State Bar Association, Construction Law Section, Council Member
Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota Bar Association, Well-Being Committee
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Illinois, 2015
- Minnesota, 2021
- North Dakota, 2022
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2021
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2023
Education
Florida Coastal School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2013
University of Minnesota, B.A., Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance, 2010
