Leighton law group

609.298.4280

jennifer@leighton-law.com

Jennifer represents businesses and individuals in litigation and legal transactions, including contracts, real estate, and elder law matters.

Jennifer attended Georgetown University Law Center (J.D. '02) and Rutgers University (B.A. '99).  Upon graduation from law school, Jennifer joined the Newark, NJ firm of Robertson, Freilich, Bruno & Cohen, a premier litigation boutique founded by a former U.S. Attorney and the nation's top insurance, environmental, and trial attorneys.  She worked on complex commercial litigation cases representing public and private companies, their officers and directors in multi-million dollar cases before the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York.  Jennifer also practiced before the bankruptcy courts representing a trustee and creditors in various matters.

In July 2010, Jennifer founded her solo practice.  Relying upon her roots in litigation, Jennifer represented businesses and individuals needing an advocate both in and out of court.  Jennifer quickly expanded her practice to assist businesses with contracts, entity formation, asset sales/purchases, and commercial transactions, and to help individuals with estate planning/administration, real estate transactions, and contract review.

In September 2017, Jennifer was appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to serve a three-year term on the District III-B (Burlington County) Fee Arbitration Committee.  She is also a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Burlington County Bar Association.  Jennifer proudly works with her community on various endeavors, including volunteering with the Columbus Home & School Association, organizing parental rights seminars with the Mansfield Township Special Education Parents Advisory Group, and grant-writing and financial planning for the St. Peter's Freehold, NJ Building Crossroads community center project.  Jennifer also serves on the United States Tennis Association's New Jersey District Council having recently accepted appointment as Vice Chair for the 2021-22 term.

With a mixture of litigation and transactional experience, Jennifer works with her clients to avoid future pitfalls from the beginning but is prepared to go to court when necessary to protect her client's interests.

Education:

• Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor, 2002
• Rutgers University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1999
• Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, Golden Key National Honor Society, Dean's Scholar, Dean's List

Bar Admissions:

• State of New Jersey (Nov. 2002-02551)
• State of New York (Sept. 2003-4165734) (inactive)
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2007)
• United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2002)
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (2007)
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2007)

Publications:

• Author, "Trading With Insolvent Partners," 193 N.J.L.J. 326 (Aug. 2008)
• Co-Author, :" "Federal Pre-trial Order: An Obstacle to Case Resolution," Metro. Corp. Counsel (Nov. 2007)
• Co-author, "In-House Restrictive Covenants Loosened," 186 N.J.L.J. 930 (Dec. 4, 2006)

Speaking Engagements:

• National Business Institute, "Online Legal Research," (Nov. 2019)
• National Business Institute, "Probate and Trust Litigation," (Jul. 12, 2019)
• National Business Institute, "Find it Free and Fast on the Net: Strategies for Legal Research on the Web," (Nov. 2, 2018)
• National Business Institute, "Estate Administration From Start to Finish," (Sept. 24 & 26, 2018)
• National Business Institute, "The Probate Process from Start to Finish," (Dec. 19-20, 2017)
• National Business Institute, "Estate Planning from A to Z," (Oct. 19, 2017)
• National Business Institute, "Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important," (Jun. 20, 2016)

Volunteer Activities:

• USTA Middle States New Jersey District Council, Chair (2023-2026)
• USTA Middle States New Jersey District Council, Vice Chair (2021-2022)
• NJ Supreme Court Fee Arbitration Committee (2017-2021)
• USTA Middle States New Jersey District Council (2019-2020)
• Building Crossroads at St. Peter's, Freehold, NJ, Grant Committee (2017-present)
• Columbus Home and School Association, Chair of Scholastic Book Fair events at John Hydock Elementary School and Mansfield Twp. Elementary School (2017-present)