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Jessica L. Franklin

SENIOR ATTORNEY
Jessica Franklin

Jessica L. Franklin (“Jessie”) is a senior attorney at the Miami-based law firm Pathman Law, LLC.  She focuses her practice on general real estate matters and contract disputes, including development and construction matters.  With a special focus on construction, Jessie provides dispute resolution/litigation, transactional, and project consultation services to Florida’s construction industry, including representing developers, general contractors, trade contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners in private development and public construction projects. She also has experience with matters involving the construction of hotels, commercial buildings, shopping centers, restaurants, industrial facilities, transportation structures, condominiums, airports, luxury homes, and more.

Prior to entering the legal field Jessie spent nearly a decade in the real estate industry, working as a real estate agent, eventually obtaining her broker’s license in 2015. A Florida native, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Florida International University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Jessie worked at a prestigious boutique law firm where she co-led the construction practice alongside the firm’s managing partner, acting as outside general counsel for a prominent real estate developer and private clubs, as well as representing a national general contractor involved in various complex multi-party litigations.

Her dispute resolution practice includes mediation, arbitration and litigation in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies. Jessie’s transactional practice entails the drafting and negotiation of contracts and project management agreements. Her diverse background has been extremely impactful in her deep understanding of commercial and residential real estate, construction, and business in the South Florida area.  Jessie leverages her experience in commercial litigation to counsel clients regarding strategy and risk in transactional matters.

Practice Areas

  • Construction Contract Formation, Administration & Performance
  • Construction Litigation
  • Construction Defect/Delay Claims
  • Contract Law
  • Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Arbitration
  • Administrative Law

Representative Experience

  • Represented Seller of a residential parcel of real property in a breach of contract action based upon the buyer’s breach of the purchase and sale agreement. Prevailed on Summary Judgment.
  • Represented Developer in an action against a General Contractor surrounding a dispute that arose during the construction of a Condominium Project prior to the termination of the General Contractor. Obtained a Summary Judgment in Miami-Dade County’s Complex Litigation Division.
  • Negotiated Master Service Agreements on behalf of a general contractor for commercial build-outs of all South Florida locations for an international bank.
  • Procured favorable resolutions for a multitude of delay, payment, extra work, and construction/design defect disputes, both pre-suit and in litigation, on behalf of owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals.
  • Prevailed in dispositive motions based upon dispute resolution procedures and contingent payment clauses in both prime and subcontract agreements.

Bar Admission

  • The Florida Bar

Education

  • Florida International University, College of Law, 2014, J.D.
  • Queens College, 2009, B.A., Political Science and Government, magna cum laude

Professional Associations

  • Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker
  • The Florida Bar
  • United States District Court of the Southern District of Florida