Jennifer Escalante
Counsel
Suite 1400
Orlando, FL 32801
Jennifer represents developers, financial institutions, insurers, and businesses in complex construction and commercial disputes that directly affect operations, capital, and long-term enterprise value. Her practice focuses on construction defect litigation, multi-party contractor and subcontractor disputes, purchaser conflicts, business torts, and high-exposure contractual matters. She approaches each engagement with a strategic, business-centered lens, aligning litigation...
Jennifer represents developers, financial institutions, insurers, and businesses in complex construction and commercial disputes that directly affect operations, capital, and long-term enterprise value. Her practice focuses on construction defect litigation, multi-party contractor and subcontractor disputes, purchaser conflicts, business torts, and high-exposure contractual matters. She approaches each engagement with a strategic, business-centered lens, aligning litigation decisions with broader operational and financial objectives.
With Am Law 100 training and a foundation in both litigation and real estate transactions, Jennifer brings a comprehensive perspective to every matter. She regularly advises developers in concurrent construction disputes involving defective construction claims, warranty issues, design professional liability, and performance-related conflicts across active projects. She also handles commercial eviction matters and complex contractual disputes, including sensitive conflicts between companies and former executives or employees. Clients rely on her not only for disciplined courtroom advocacy, but for measured, forward-looking counsel that protects relationships and preserves project viability.
Jennifer has also represented lenders, borrowers, and investors in substantial commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financings, leasing, and due diligence for large-scale developments. This transactional background informs her ability to anticipate risk, structure defensible agreements, and guide clients through disputes with clarity and leverage.
Jennifer has represented Fortune 500 companies, regional developers, banks, and growth-stage businesses in state and federal courts. She is committed to building long-term client relationships grounded in trust, responsiveness, and strategic judgment, and she actively works to expand and deepen client partnerships through consistent, high-quality counsel.
In addition to her commercial practice, Jennifer has devoted significant time to pro bono advocacy. She has represented survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence in complex civil and immigration matters, including securing immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal protections. She has successfully petitioned for vacatur of criminal convictions for trafficking survivors and has advocated for vulnerable clients in state courts and administrative proceedings. Her pro bono work reflects a deep commitment to justice and reinforces the integrity and client-centered approach she brings to all her representations.
decisions with broader operational and financial objectives.
With Am Law 100 training and a foundation in both litigation and real estate transactions, Jennifer brings a comprehensive perspective to every matter. She regularly advises developers in concurrent construction disputes involving defective construction claims, warranty issues, design professional liability, and performance-related conflicts across active projects. She also handles commercial eviction matters and complex contractual disputes, including sensitive conflicts between companies and former executives or employees. Clients rely on her not only for disciplined courtroom advocacy, but for measured, forward-looking counsel that protects relationships and preserves project viability.
Jennifer has also represented lenders, borrowers, and investors in substantial commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financings, leasing, and due diligence for large-scale developments. This transactional background informs her ability to anticipate risk, structure defensible agreements, and guide clients through disputes with clarity and leverage.
Jennifer has represented Fortune 500 companies, regional developers, banks, and growth-stage businesses in state and federal courts. She is committed to building long-term client relationships grounded in trust, responsiveness, and strategic judgment, and she actively works to expand and deepen client partnerships through consistent, high-quality counsel.
In addition to her commercial practice, Jennifer has devoted significant time to pro bono advocacy. She has represented survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence in complex civil and immigration matters, including securing immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal protections. She has successfully petitioned for vacatur of criminal convictions for trafficking survivors and has advocated for vulnerable clients in state courts and administrative proceedings. Her pro bono work reflects a deep commitment to justice and reinforces the integrity and client-centered approach she brings to all her representations.
Experience
Previous Professional Experience
- Attorney, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2020–2024)
- Principal Attorney, Florida-Based Practice (2019–2020)
- Senior Staff Attorney, Public Interest Legal Organization (2011–2013)
- Associate, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2006–2009)
- Associate, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2003–2006)
Representative Matters
- Represents developer in multiple concurrent construction and commercial disputes, including multi-party defective construction litigation against contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals; coordinate strategy across related actions to protect project viability and manage exposure.
- Advises developers and property owners in purchaser disputes, warranty claims, subcontractor performance conflicts, and commercial eviction matters, guiding matters from pre-suit assessment through negotiated resolution or litigation.
- Counsel corporate clients in high-exposure contractual and employment-related disputes, including conflicts between companies and former executives, with focus on strategic resolution and reputational protection.
- Represents lenders and developers in substantial commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financings, leasing, and due diligence for large-scale projects; draft and negotiate loan documents, purchase agreements, and ancillary closing instruments.
- Contributed to high-value commercial real estate transactions, including a multi-billion-dollar REIT sale and a $280 million commercial property disposition; advised on condominium conversion projects exceeding 250 units.
- Advocate on a pro bono basis for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, securing immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal protections and obtaining vacatur of criminal convictions to restore client rights and opportunity.
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, JD
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BA, Comparative Literature, magna cum laude
Admissions
- Florida
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Previous Professional Experience
- Attorney, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2020–2024)
- Principal Attorney, Florida-Based Practice (2019–2020)
- Senior Staff Attorney, Public Interest Legal Organization (2011–2013)
- Associate, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2006–2009)
- Associate, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2003–2006)
Representative Matters
- Represents developer in multiple concurrent construction and commercial disputes, including multi-party defective construction litigation against contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals; coordinate strategy across related actions to protect project viability and manage exposure.
- Advises developers and property owners in purchaser disputes, warranty claims, subcontractor performance conflicts, and commercial eviction matters, guiding matters from pre-suit assessment through negotiated resolution or litigation.
- Counsel corporate clients in high-exposure contractual and employment-related disputes, including conflicts between companies and former executives, with focus on strategic resolution and reputational protection.
- Represents lenders and developers in substantial commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financings, leasing, and due diligence for large-scale projects; draft and negotiate loan documents, purchase agreements, and ancillary closing instruments.
- Contributed to high-value commercial real estate transactions, including a multi-billion-dollar REIT sale and a $280 million commercial property disposition; advised on condominium conversion projects exceeding 250 units.
- Advocate on a pro bono basis for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, securing immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal protections and obtaining vacatur of criminal convictions to restore client rights and opportunity.
Professional Activities
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
Community
- NightBlue Performing Arts Company
- Board President (2010-2012)
- Annual Gala Chair (2010, 2015)
- Grants Committee Member (2016-2018)
- Volunteer, Voting Rights (2004, 2020)
Leadership
- Chicago Bar Association
- Co-Founder, Alliance for Women’s Mentoring Circles
- Executive Committee Member, Alliance for Women
- Co-Chair, Advocacy & Domestic Violence Committee
Jennifer represents developers, financial institutions, insurers, and businesses in complex construction and commercial disputes that directly affect operations, capital, and long-term enterprise value. Her practice focuses on construction defect litigation, multi-party contractor and subcontractor disputes, purchaser conflicts, business torts, and high-exposure contractual matters. She approaches each engagement with a strategic, business-centered lens, aligning litigation... decisions with broader operational and financial objectives.
With Am Law 100 training and a foundation in both litigation and real estate transactions, Jennifer brings a comprehensive perspective to every matter. She regularly advises developers in concurrent construction disputes involving defective construction claims, warranty issues, design professional liability, and performance-related conflicts across active projects. She also handles commercial eviction matters and complex contractual disputes, including sensitive conflicts between companies and former executives or employees. Clients rely on her not only for disciplined courtroom advocacy, but for measured, forward-looking counsel that protects relationships and preserves project viability.
Jennifer has also represented lenders, borrowers, and investors in substantial commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financings, leasing, and due diligence for large-scale developments. This transactional background informs her ability to anticipate risk, structure defensible agreements, and guide clients through disputes with clarity and leverage.
Jennifer has represented Fortune 500 companies, regional developers, banks, and growth-stage businesses in state and federal courts. She is committed to building long-term client relationships grounded in trust, responsiveness, and strategic judgment, and she actively works to expand and deepen client partnerships through consistent, high-quality counsel.
In addition to her commercial practice, Jennifer has devoted significant time to pro bono advocacy. She has represented survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence in complex civil and immigration matters, including securing immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal protections. She has successfully petitioned for vacatur of criminal convictions for trafficking survivors and has advocated for vulnerable clients in state courts and administrative proceedings. Her pro bono work reflects a deep commitment to justice and reinforces the integrity and client-centered approach she brings to all her representations.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Previous Professional Experience
- Attorney, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2020–2024)
- Principal Attorney, Florida-Based Practice (2019–2020)
- Senior Staff Attorney, Public Interest Legal Organization (2011–2013)
- Associate, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2006–2009)
- Associate, Am Law 100 National Law Firm (2003–2006)
Representative Matters
- Represents developer in multiple concurrent construction and commercial disputes, including multi-party defective construction litigation against contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals; coordinate strategy across related actions to protect project viability and manage exposure.
- Advises developers and property owners in purchaser disputes, warranty claims, subcontractor performance conflicts, and commercial eviction matters, guiding matters from pre-suit assessment through negotiated resolution or litigation.
- Counsel corporate clients in high-exposure contractual and employment-related disputes, including conflicts between companies and former executives, with focus on strategic resolution and reputational protection.
- Represents lenders and developers in substantial commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financings, leasing, and due diligence for large-scale projects; draft and negotiate loan documents, purchase agreements, and ancillary closing instruments.
- Contributed to high-value commercial real estate transactions, including a multi-billion-dollar REIT sale and a $280 million commercial property disposition; advised on condominium conversion projects exceeding 250 units.
- Advocate on a pro bono basis for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence, securing immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and related federal protections and obtaining vacatur of criminal convictions to restore client rights and opportunity.
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, JD
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BA, Comparative Literature, magna cum laude
Admissions
- Florida
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Practice Areas
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
- NightBlue Performing Arts Company
- Board President (2010-2012)
- Annual Gala Chair (2010, 2015)
- Grants Committee Member (2016-2018)
- Volunteer, Voting Rights (2004, 2020)
- Chicago Bar Association
- Co-Founder, Alliance for Women’s Mentoring Circles
- Executive Committee Member, Alliance for Women
- Co-Chair, Advocacy & Domestic Violence Committee
Highlights from the Firm’s Insights
