Overview

Jessica is a highly versatile civil litigator, appellate attorney, arbitrator, and mediator.  She has experience with complex litigation with document intensive case management, including electronically stored information.  While she primarily works with general civil, commercial, business, and real estate issues in Florida state and federal courts, she also serves as a third-party neutral as an arbitrator and mediator in a vast array of legal issues. 

Previously, Jessica served as a Court Staff Attorney, a real estate title insurance underwriter and policy issuing agent, both an in-house and an external counsel, and a private practitioner.  Her legal practice areas included administrative law, corporate, business organizations, business torts, contracts, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, labor/employment, derivative actions, real estate, slander of title, homeowners and condominium associations, declaratory actions, civil rights, false arrest, bankruptcy, torts, discrimination, labor, insurance defense, construction, copyright, trademark, intellectual property, family, probate, slander/defamation, abuse of process, malicious prosecution, mortgage and deficiency, professional negligence, professional licensing, Constitutional, adversary proceedings, local council, local government, and qui tam actions.

In addition to her law practice, Jessica is an award-winning leader, author, and speaker with professional, community, and charitable organizations.  She loves to travel, cook, snowboard, and play tennis.

Representative Matters

• Represented individual in multi-court litigation for a favorable summary judgment in Federal Court to subsequently successfully obtain a million-dollar-plus State Court judgment via a three-case consolidation, which was listed in Florida Top Jury Verdicts 2011
• Represented religious organization at trial through a successful appeal reversing jury verdict for real and personal property per U.S. Constitution First and Fourteenth Amendments and successfully defeated Supreme Court jurisdiction claim
• Represented individual on a commercial, product licensing, labor, and corporate/business organizational matter, obtaining a successful zero jury verdict on a seventy-eight million dollar claim, and negotiated settlement for appeal avoidance
• Represented real property companies on a complex business matter for a million-plus dollar jury verdict while defending principals for a zero jury verdict
• Represented companies and individuals for business and real estate ownership issues together with business torts for a multi-million dollar judgment with retention of the business and real property and subsequently preserved on an appeal, while defeating opposing claims for a zero judgment
• Represented title insurance agent at trial and on an appeal for a zero judgment despite a multi-million dollar jury award
• Represented bank in multi-million dollar, multi-district real estate litigation for a reasonable settlement

Courts & Bar Associations

• Florida Bar
• Qualified Florida Arbitrator
• Certified Florida Appellate Mediator
• Certified Florida Circuit Civil Mediator
• Certified Florida County Court Mediator
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Mediator
• U.S.  Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal
• U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Honors & Awards

• Orlando® The City’s Magazine “Best 2019 Lawyers” in Real Estate Law (April 2019)
• The Best Lawyers in America© in Real Estate Law (25^th Ed. 2019)
• Orlando® The City’s Magazine “Best 2018 Lawyers” in Real Estate Law (April 2018)
• The Best Lawyers in America© in Real Estate Law (24^th Ed. 2018)
• Toastmasters International, Inc. Competent Communicator (Summer 2016)
• American Bar Association Section of Litigation SAC Committee Expo – Overall Best Committee (2013, Co-chair 2012-2015)
• Florida Top Jury Verdicts (Defamation/Slander) (2011)
• Orange County Bar Association Outstanding Service Award (2009, 2006, 2005)
• American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s Young Lawyer Leadership Program (2004-2006)
• Orange County Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service (2005)
• Junior League of Greater Orlando, Fla., Inc. Chapin-Hood Award Finalist (2003)
• Tulane Environmental Law Journal (1991-1992 Articles Editor; 1990-1991 Member)

Professional & Civic Affiliations

• American Bar Association (1993-2015): 
  • Litigation Section (2003-2015):  Appellate (Appointed 2015), Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee (Co-Chair (2012-2015), Programming Co-Chair (2010-2012), Membership Co-chair (2004-2010), Judicial intern Opportunity Program (2003-2015), Diverse Leaders Academy Mentor (2014-2015), Advanced Leadership Committee (2008, 2012), Task Force for Litigation Institute for Trial Training (2006-2008), Young Lawyer Leadership Program (2004-2006), CLE Committee (2003-2004), Annual Meeting (Scholarship 2003)
  • Torts & Insurance Practice Section (2010-2015):  Title Insurance Committee (Diversity Vice Chair 2015); Membership/Diversity Vice Chair (2012-2015))
  • Young Lawyers Division (2002-2005): Grant Writer for Affiliate Funds (Awarded 2002-2005), Litigation Executive Subcommittee (2002-2005), Minorities in the Profession Committee Scholar (2002-2003), Minorities in the Profession Executive Subcommittee (2002-2005), General, Solo and Small Firm Executive Subcommittee (Vice-Chair, 2003-2005; 2002-2005), National Conferences Team (2003-2004), CLE/Professional Development Team (2004-2005), Fall, Mid-Year and Spring Conferences (2002-2005), Joint YLD/TIPS Conference (2003; 2005)
• Asian American Chamber of Commerce (2016-2020; 2000-2002)
• Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2008-2015): Nominating Committee (2009-2014), Mentor (2011-2015)
• Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association (2007-2016): Advisory Board (2009-2016)
• Central Florida Real Estate Attorneys Council (2018-2019; 2006-2015)
• Community Food & Outreach Center (2012-2015):  Board of Directors (2013-2015)
• East Orlando Chamber of Commerce (2012-2020):  Board of Directors (2015-2017, 2013), Capitol Connections Chair (2016, 2013), Government Affairs Committee Chair (2015-2017), Feast in the East Chair (2015)
• Federal Bar Association (1999-2017)
• Florida Bar Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (Formerly Florida Bar Equal Opportunity in Law Section) (2009-2018): Diversity Program Development Subcommittee (2017-2018), Law School Subcommittee (2015-2017), Treasurer (2011-2013), Co-Chair (2009-2010)  Secretary (2011), Information Chair (2010-2011)
• Florida Bar Speakers Bureau (2016-Present) (including Protect Florida Democracy Program)
• Florida Land Title Association (2019-2020):  Forms and Rules Committee (2019-2020), Government Affairs Committee (2019-2020), Membership Committee (2019-2020), Education/Membership Subcommittee (2019-2020)
• Gamma Phi Beta/Alumnae (1989-Present):  Orlando Vice-President (1999-2003), Newsletter Editor (1996-1999), Founder’s Day Chair (2007), The Crescent Correspondent (2007)
• Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (2009-Present): Board of Directors (2009-2013), Immediate Past President (2012-2013), President (2011-2012), President-Elect (2009-2011), Founding Member (2009)
• Junior League of Greater Orlando, Fla., Inc. (1997-Present):  Sustainer (2005-Present), Board of Directors (2002-2003), Chapin-Hood Award Finalist (2003), Connections (Editor 2000-2001; Asst. Editor 1999-2000; Staff Writer 1998-1999), Strategic Planning (Chair 2001-2002), Vice-President of Marketing & Communications (2002-2003)  Assistant to the Vice-President of Marketing & Communications (2003-2004), Membership Mentor (2004-2005)
• Leadership Winter Park/Winter Park Chamber of Commerce (2000-2020):  Class XI, Alumni Council (2003-2004), Youth Leaders Law and Government Day (Co-Chair 2001), Sports, Recreation and Leisure Day (Co-Chair 2002), Recruitment (Chair 2003)
• Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (1995-2020):  Board of Trustees (2008-2009), Guardian Ad Litem (1997-1998)
• Loyola University Alumni (1989-Present):  Orlando President (1997-2000) 
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (2008-Present):  Annual Convention Host Committee (2015), Annual SE Regional Meeting Co-Chair and Moderator (2015), Alternate SE Regional Governor (2011-2013)
• Orange County Bar Association (1995-2020):
  • Outstanding Service Award (2009, 2006, 2005); Executive Council (2003-2009), Treasurer (2008-2009), Secretary (2007-2008), Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Association Representative Member (2007-2008), Brown v. Board Community Liaison (2003-2005), Citizens Dispute Settlement Mediator (1998-2000)
  • The Briefs:  Co-Editor (2005-2007), Director (2003-2005), 75^th Anniversary Articles Chair (2007-2009), SideBar Columnist (2007-2008), Hearsay Columnist (2000-2005), YLS: On the Move Columnist (2001-2002)
  • Committees:  Intellectual Property (2007-2020), Judicial Relations (2009-2020), Appellate (2008-2020), Social (2004-2009, Inaugural Chair 2004-2005), Strategic Planning (Inaugural Chair 2008-2009), Law Week (2009), Diversity (2002-2004, 2006-2009), Scholarship Program Task Force (2002-2005)
  • Young Lawyers Section:  Board of Directors (2001-2005), Secretary (2002-2005), ABA Affiliate Representative (2002-2005),  Afternoon in the Courthouse (1999, 2000),  Children's Witness Room (Co-Chair 1997),  Dinner with the Judiciary (1997-2001; Co-Chair 2000, 2001),  Evening with the Judiciary (2002-2005), Great Oaks Village (2000-2005), Habitat for Humanity (2001-2005), Holidays in January (2002), Law Week (1999-2002), Lawsuits (Chair 2001, 2002), Scholarship Program (1997-1998; 2000, 2002-2005)
• Orange County Bar Foundation (1995-2020):  Board of Trustees (2008-2016), President (2009-2011), Vice-President (2011-2013), Treasurer (2008-2009)
• Tulane University Alumni (1989-Present): Orlando Co-President (2002-2006)
• WMFE Community Advisory Board (2012-2016):  Vice-Chair (2015-2016)

Presentations & Publications

Presentations

• September 10, 2019:  “Florida’s iPen/RON and e-Closings”, Orange County Bar Association, Lecturer
• August 28, 2019:  “Florida’s iPen/RON and e-Closings”, Temple Terrace Bar Association, Lecturer
• April 16, 2019:  “Effective Relationships Between GC’s and Partners”, Association of Corporate Counsel Foundation, Panelist
• April 12, 2019:  “A Primer on PACE Liens” for Orange County Bar Association, Lecturer
• September 25, 2018:  “Alien Land Law Discussion” for FAMU APLASA and GOAABA, Moderator, and Lecturer
• December 7, 2017:  “What’s the SCORE?” Radio Show Appearance, Guest Speaker
• September 21, 2017: Emerging Issues in Real Estate Law for Harbor Community Bank, Lecturer
• September 21, 2017: Business and Real Estate Law Panelist for East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Lecturer
• March 30, 2017 (3 Sessions): Just Adulting for Elevate Orlando, Inc., at Evans High School, Lecturer
• September 21, 2016 (3 Sessions): Just Adulting for Elevate Orlando, Inc., at Oak Ridge High School, Lecturer
• July 21, 2016:  Every 20 Years – Florida’s Constitutional Revision Commission for East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Lecturer
• July 13, 2016:  Appeals for Law & Government Explorers Post #450, Lecturer
• December 17, 2015 (3 Sessions):  A Constitutional Primer of Civics and the Law for Elevate Orlando, Inc., at Evans High School, Lecturer
• November 17-18, 2015:  Legal Aspects of Fraud for BlackRain, Inc., at 3^rd Annual Business and Financial Crimes Seminar, Lecturer
• October 22, 2015:  Entrepreneur Advocates for Orlando, Inc., at 2015 Entrepreneurs Academy, Panelist
• August 10, 2015:  The ABC’s of Beginning Your Law Career for ABA Torts Insurance Practice Section Webinar, Panelist
• June 12, 2015: Corporate Counsel and Your Representation of Their Company Clients for NAPABA SE Regional Meeting, Panelist (also Meeting Co-chair and Meeting Moderator)
• March 10, 2015:  Professional Development for ABA Section of Litigation, at Barry Law School, Panelist
• February 19, 2015:  Strategic Motion Drafting: Take Your Audience Where You Want to Go for OCBA Appellate Practice Committee, Panelist
• November 13, 2014:  Words of Wisdom from Well Informed Women for CFAWL Mentoring Program, Panelist
• October 24, 2014:  Balancing Life and Law Program for FAMU College of Law and Florida Bar, Lecturer
• August 8, 2013:  Has the Death of the Billable Hour Been Greatly Exaggerated? for Moderator of ABA Annual Meeting, Panelist
• April 26, 2013:  Mastering Depositions for ABA Litigation Section Annual, Panelist
• March 26, 2013:  IP Litigation for Seminole State College Paralegal Program, Lecturer
• February 26, 2013:  Women Managing Success for CFAWL Mentoring Program, Panelist
• June 25, 2012:  Legal and Mediation Ethics for Barry University School of Law, Panelist
• April 19, 2012:  Predictive Coding:  Will Human Review Go the Way of the Dinosaur? for ABA Litigation Annual Meeting Panel, Moderator
• April 2012:  Real Estate Law/Title Insurance Issues for University of Central Florida, Lecturer
• February 4, 2012:  Florida’s Alien Land Law Constitutional Provision for National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Lecturer
• February 3, 2012:  911: Are You Prepared? for ABA YLD Mid-year Meeting, Moderator
• November 8, 2011:  Corporate Counsel Panel for Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association, Moderator
• July 19, 2011:  Real Estate Law/Title Insurance Issues for University of Central Florida, Lecturer
• May 20, 2011:  State Court Procedural Issues for Teacher's Legal Institute, co-sponsored by the Orange County Bar Foundation, Inc. and the Orlando Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Panelist
• April 21, 2011:  Florida's Alien Land Law Constitutional Provision for Orange County Bar Association, Lecturer

Publications

• Columnist for In the Courts, North American Title Insurance Company’s Looking North Periodical (2019)
• Author of U.S. v. Davis:  Cell Phone Location Information May be Compelled, ABA Section of Litigation Pretrial Practice and Discovery Website (July 16, 2015)
• Quoted in Over-Inclusive Confidentiality Designation Backfires, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News, Volume 40, Number 3 (Spring 2015 Newsletter)
• Quoted in Voluntary Dismissal After TRO Does Not Save Plaintiff’s Security, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News, Volume 40, Number 3 (Spring 2015 Newsletter)
• Quoted in Lawyers-Not Judges-May Select Their Own Juries for Trial, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News (March 26, 2015)
• Author of Two Islands Requires Indispensable Parties for Temporary Injunction, ABA Section of Litigation Pretrial Practice and Discovery Website (March 17, 2015)
• Author of “Salazar” Tolls Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations, ABA Section of Litigation Pretrial Practice and Discovery Website and Winter 2015 Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 2 (January 28, 2015)
• Author of When Is the Qualified First Amendment Privilege Waived?, ABA Section of Litigation Pretrial Practice and Discovery Website (December 30, 2014)
• Quoted in Circuits Split on Computer-Based Personal Jurisdiction, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News (March 11, 2013)
• Quoted in Zealous Advocacy Balanced Against Collaborative Discovery, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News (February 4, 2013)
• Quoted in Surprise Order Forces Parties to Identify Bloggers on Payroll, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News (January 3, 2013)
• Quoted in California Affirms Work Product Protection for Witness Statements, ABA Section of Litigation Litigation News (September 14, 2012)
• Author of LinkedIn Endorsement Violation Trend, ABA Section of Litigation Pretrial Practice and Discovery Website (September 24, 2013)
• Co-Author of Florida Alien Land Law:  Florida Retains Discriminatory Constitutional Provisions Against Asian Pacific American Homeowners, Attorney at Law Magazine^® Central Florida Volume 2, No. 2 (July 2012)
• Orange County Bar Association, Inc.’s The Briefs:  Co-Editor (2005-2007); Director (2003-2005); SideBar Columnist (2007-2008); 75^th Anniversary Articles Chair (2007-2009);  Hearsay Columnist (2000-2005);  YLS: On the Move Columnist (2001-2002)
• Gamma Phi Beta/Alumnae The Crescent Correspondent (2007); Gamma Phi Beta/Alumnae Newsletter Editor (1996-1999)
• Author of Planning for Discovery with Initial Disclosures, ABA Litigation Pretrial Practice and Procedure Newsletter (Spring 2007)
• Co-Author of Meet the MIPC Scholars, ABA YLD The Affiliate (May/June 2003)
• Junior League of Greater Orlando Connections (Editor 2000-2001; Asst. Editor 1999-2000; Staff Writer 1998-1999)