Jennifer R.Fearnow
Partner
Commercial Litigation
jfearnow@seyfarth.com
PROFILE
EXPERIENCE
NEWS & INSIGHTS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
More About Jennifer
Jennifer is an experienced commercial litigator. She counsels clients in resolving complex disputes in all phases of litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts and alternative dispute resolution forums. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, business disputes, and employment litigation.
Education
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Education
- JD, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
- BA, Stanford University
International Relations
Clerkship
- Honorable Teri L. Jackson, California State Superior Court
Admissions
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Admissions
- California
Courts
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Courts
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Related Services
Related Services
EXPERIENCE
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EXPERIENCE
- Represented California’s largest school transportation company in a multi-year, highly contentious case under California’s False Claims Act (“CFCA”), involving sensational allegations regarding school bus safety, novel legal issues yet to be tried to verdict in a California State Court, and a number of third-party actors including the California Highway Patrol, the City Attorney’s office, multiple labor unions, and the local school board. Negotiated a highly favorable settlement on the eve of trial, after shaping the conditions for trial by discrediting Plaintiffs’ credibility, and creating the opportunity to engage the local school board in a broader settlement dialogue.
- Represented one of the largest banks in the Bay Area in a complex regulatory lawsuit filed against it by the California Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, a division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The State’s lawsuit alleged that the bank breached its duties as trustee over a state-regulated “Master Trust” that held the deposits for pre-need funeral services for thousands of members of the public. During years of acrimonious litigation, Reed Smith scored numerous wins in discovery battles and other key pre-trial motions. Having shaped the case for trial significantly in the bank’s favor, Reed Smith was able to engineer a highly favorable settlement, convincing the Attorney General’s Office to settle for less than 4% of alleged damages.
- FINRA Arbitration - In August 2011, following two weeks of hearings, second chaired a matter which won a unanimous decision for Charles Schwab. See FINRA Case Number: 09-05551. The case originated in the District of Colorado, but we successfully compelled the matter to arbitration. The District Court confirmed the arbitration award in January 2012. See 2012 WL 202776 (D. Colo. Jan. 24, 2012). The matter involved an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve who claimed Charles Schwab failed to promote him following his return from a long-term military leave of absence.
- USERRA [Northern District of California] - Throughout 2012-2013, Jennifer second-chaired a contentious USERRA matter on behalf of Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. The matter involved an Air National Guard officer that complained he was improperly reinstated and denied raises upon his return from a long-term leave of absence. The matter settled favorably for in early 2013.
- Successfully represented a leading date integration employer during administrative investigations of gender based discrimination claims including matters investigated by the EEOC, DFEH and DLSE. Jennifer’s work has led to no merit findings by the government or case closure letters.
Leadership & Professional Affiliations
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Leadership & Professional Affiliations
- Bar Association of San Francisco
- Bar Association of San Francisco's Justice & Diversity Center, Pro Bono - Leadership Council
More About Jennifer
Jennifer is an experienced commercial litigator. She counsels clients in resolving complex disputes in all phases of litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts and alternative dispute resolution forums. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, business disputes, and employment litigation.
Education
Click to expand content section
Education
- JD, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
- BA, Stanford University
International Relations
Clerkship
- Honorable Teri L. Jackson, California State Superior Court
Admissions
Click to expand content section
Admissions
- California
Courts
Click to expand content section
Courts
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- US District Court, Northern District of Texas
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Related Services
Related Services
EXPERIENCE
Click to collapse content section
EXPERIENCE
- Represented California’s largest school transportation company in a multi-year, highly contentious case under California’s False Claims Act (“CFCA”), involving sensational allegations regarding school bus safety, novel legal issues yet to be tried to verdict in a California State Court, and a number of third-party actors including the California Highway Patrol, the City Attorney’s office, multiple labor unions, and the local school board. Negotiated a highly favorable settlement on the eve of trial, after shaping the conditions for trial by discrediting Plaintiffs’ credibility, and creating the opportunity to engage the local school board in a broader settlement dialogue.
- Represented one of the largest banks in the Bay Area in a complex regulatory lawsuit filed against it by the California Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, a division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The State’s lawsuit alleged that the bank breached its duties as trustee over a state-regulated “Master Trust” that held the deposits for pre-need funeral services for thousands of members of the public. During years of acrimonious litigation, Reed Smith scored numerous wins in discovery battles and other key pre-trial motions. Having shaped the case for trial significantly in the bank’s favor, Reed Smith was able to engineer a highly favorable settlement, convincing the Attorney General’s Office to settle for less than 4% of alleged damages.
- FINRA Arbitration - In August 2011, following two weeks of hearings, second chaired a matter which won a unanimous decision for Charles Schwab. See FINRA Case Number: 09-05551. The case originated in the District of Colorado, but we successfully compelled the matter to arbitration. The District Court confirmed the arbitration award in January 2012. See 2012 WL 202776 (D. Colo. Jan. 24, 2012). The matter involved an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve who claimed Charles Schwab failed to promote him following his return from a long-term military leave of absence.
- USERRA [Northern District of California] - Throughout 2012-2013, Jennifer second-chaired a contentious USERRA matter on behalf of Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. The matter involved an Air National Guard officer that complained he was improperly reinstated and denied raises upon his return from a long-term leave of absence. The matter settled favorably for in early 2013.
- Successfully represented a leading date integration employer during administrative investigations of gender based discrimination claims including matters investigated by the EEOC, DFEH and DLSE. Jennifer’s work has led to no merit findings by the government or case closure letters.
Leadership & Professional Affiliations
Click to expand content section
Leadership & Professional Affiliations
- Bar Association of San Francisco
- Bar Association of San Francisco's Justice & Diversity Center, Pro Bono - Leadership Council