JENNIFER R. COLLESANO

Jennifer brings to KSLN over twenty-five years’ experience as a commercial litigator from the DC metro area and New York. In her most recent position, as attorney for the Buffalo Public Schools, she handled numerous state and federal education, discrimination and injury cases, real estate, and data privacy issues. She works with business owners on company structure, partnerships, financing, corporate governance, contracting, and continuity and succession plans, and has represented a variety of commercial entities, government contractors, and real estate firms, including home-owners associations. Jennifer has represented technology and Internet businesses, helping to protect intellectual property and key employees; and craft licenses and agreements. She brings a creative and cost effective approach to commercial projects and successful resolution of complex disputes.

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Real Estate: Jennifer has performed services as lead counsel on behalf of the Buffalo City School District, the second largest school district in New York, which operates 60 buildings throughout Buffalo and maintains commercial leases and maintenance and architectural staff in its Department of Plant Services. Jennifer has advised the General Counsel, the Superintendent, the Board of Education, and Department administrators in commercial lease matters, contracts, construction issues, environmental assessments, easements, and related issues. She also represents as outside general counsel the Bristol Harbour Village Association, Inc., a non-profit association and Board of Directors overseeing a Planned Urban Development on the western shore of Canandaigua Lake in the Town of South Bristol, consisting of approximately 350 residential homes, townhomes, and condominiums, common elements and recreational amenities, and waterfront property. She has previously worked as a principal and attorney for a real estate title company in Maryland, and in that role performed legal services in sales transactions and litigation on behalf of commercial and residential buyers and sellers and developers.

 

Federal Litigation and Constitutional Claims: Jennifer has conducted federal litigation involving various constitutional claims throughout her practice beginning in 1997 in the DC-metro area. In 2007, she graduated with a Master of Arts in U.S. Constitutional Law and History from the University of Maryland, College Park. Most recently, on behalf of the Buffalo City School District and Buffalo Board of Education, and the Binghamton City School District, she has litigated the following claims involving constitutional issues, due process, ADA, and similar claims.

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Employment Law and Litigation: Jennifer has worked as counsel for the Buffalo City School District, which employs over 7000 staff and teachers, and in this capacity, she has advised the Chief of the Department of Human Resources and department directors on matters of employee discipline, investigations, accommodations, harassment, and retaliation. She has handled numerous employment discrimination claims before the New York Division of Human Rights.