Jennifer Lyons Ferrentino

Jennifer Lyons Ferrentino
Counsel

Jennifer specializes in the representation of individuals and businesses of all sizes in complex business, contract, real estate and construction disputes.  She takes great pride in the many long-term client relationships she has developed, which allows her to serve not only as a legal advisor, but also as a trusted partner to her clients.  Jennifer places a high value on ensuring that she understands her clients’ business models and individual needs, to enable her to craft customized and cost-effective solutions for each client.  Jennifer is known for her tenacity, organization, attention to detail and emotional intelligence (and her love of complex Excel spreadsheets).

Business Litigation

Jennifer’s extensive commercial litigation practice in both federal and state courts throughout California, and in arbitration, has encompassed fraud claims relating to multi-million dollar financial transactions, disputes regarding commercial and consumer sales transactions, property damage and contract claims relating to home improvement projects, partnership disputes involving dissolution and division of assets, boundary disputes, and a variety of personal injury claims.  In addition to commercial litigation/arbitration matters, Jennifer regularly handles contract negotiations and insurance coverage matters for a variety of small businesses and corporate clients.

One of the many retail and service companies with which Jennifer has developed a long-term relationship is a Fortune 100 retail and construction company, for which Jennifer has served as Regional Litigation Counsel for over 10 years.  This involves the management of the company’s commercial litigation in the 13 western states, in matters ranging from contract disputes and compliance issues to construction defect and property damage claims, including negotiations with regulatory and/or licensing agencies and the oversight of investigations and local counsel in numerous states.

Construction Defect Litigation / Insurance Litigation

Jennifer also represents developers and general contractors in residential and commercial construction matters, including defect claims, insurance coverage and various other construction-related claims (mechanics liens, on-site injuries, breach of contract).

Consistent with her pattern of investing in lasting client relationships, one of Jennifer’s major clients is an Orange County based developer and general contractor, which she has represented for nearly 10 years in a wide range of matters surrounding the company’s development of numerous single family home and apartment projects.  This has included several complex, multi-million dollar construction defect claims and the related indemnity and insurance coverage disputes.  In each case, Jennifer successfully negotiated settlements with the plaintiffs, the subcontractors, and dozens of insurance carriers that maximized the client’s contractual risk transfer rights, resulting in the minimum financial exposure to the client.

Before Newmeyer Dillion

Before joining Newmeyer Dillion, Jennifer began her legal career at a prominent plaintiffs’ personal injury firm in Los Angeles as an intern during law school and as an associate upon admission to the California bar.  Thereafter, Jennifer joined an insurance defense firm in Irvine, where she handled complex homeowners’ insurance claims and premises liability claims for another Fortune 100 company.

Awards & Recognition

  • Selected to the Rising Star list by Super Lawyers, 2013-2018

Professional Affiliations

  • Orange County Bar Association – Construction Law and Business Litigation Sections
  • Association of Business Trial Lawyers
  • November 10th Association Trustee
  • Constitutional Rights Foundation Mock Trial Competition, Judge

Admissions

  • California, 2003
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Education

  • University of Southern California Gould School of Law (J.D., 2003)
    • Moot Court Honors Program Participant and Executive Board
  • University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., 2000)
    • Psychology, Specialization in Business Administration
  • University of Salamanca (1999)
    • Study Abroad, Spanish Language and Culture

    Beyond the Office

    With five children, dogs and two full time careers, life beyond the office is anything but dull for Jennifer and her husband.  Depending on the day, you can find them on the soccer field, in the pool, tending to their garden (their pandemic project), at a country music concert, on the local trails, around town checking off the infinite list of “To Do’s,” or just playing in the yard – sometimes in “divide and conquer” mode, other times “en masse.”  No matter the itinerary, family is always the central focus.