“Jessica L. Farmer is a formidable trial lawyer for high-stakes real estate, hospitality and consumer disputes, combining rigorous preparation with calm, strategic leadership. Her ability to manage complex class actions and arbitration while protecting commercial priorities makes her a trusted advocate for clients facing matters where risk, reputation and outcomes are tightly intertwined.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Jessica L. Farmer is a Partner in Holland & Knight’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice in Washington, D.C. She defends companies in commercial litigation, arbitrations and class actions, with a strong focus on the housing, real estate, hospitality and consumer services industries.

Clients rely on Jessica for decisive leadership, strategic judgment and a practical ability to resolve high-stakes disputes efficiently while minimising business disruption and reputational risk. She acts as national, regional and local counsel for corporate clients, managing matters across multiple jurisdictions from early case assessment through trial.

What Jessica Farmer Does

Jessica’s practice spans breach of contract, business torts, real estate and hotel management agreement disputes, unfair and deceptive trade practices, data privacy defence, product liability, environmental nuisance claims and complex multidistrict litigation (MDL). She has deep experience defending putative class actions, including claims involving contract disputes, consumer protection statutes and allegations related to fees described as junk fees or drip pricing.

She also routinely represents owners, operators and management companies in hotel and real estate management disputes involving termination rights, performance issues, fiduciary duties and property-level operational conflicts. Her work often includes managing extensive discovery, motion practice, evidentiary hearings, mediation strategy and trial preparation.

Why She’s Different

Jessica is known for meticulous preparation and a calm, practical approach that keeps disputes moving toward an outcome. She is particularly valued for simplifying complex issues, crafting persuasive arguments and building efficient case strategies that protect commercial priorities as well as legal positions.

Whether a case is best resolved early or needs to be fought through hearing or trial, Jessica focuses on clear decision-making, strong advocacy and disciplined risk management.

Representative Experience

Jessica’s recent experience includes:

• Lead counsel defending a privatized military housing operator in purported class actions alleging mold exposure on U.S. military bases.
• Defending national housing providers and hotel brands in class actions challenging resort, amenity and other fees under consumer protection statutes.
• Serving on a national counsel team defending a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in coordinated federal MDL and related state mass tort litigation.
• Obtaining complete dismissal on standing in an ERISA putative class action involving alleged fiduciary breaches and prohibited transactions arising from a $200 million ESOP transaction.
• Managing defence for a national mortgage lender in multiple putative class actions arising from an alleged data breach.
• Representing the manufacturer of an automated parking system in a wrongful death lawsuit.
• Securing favourable resolution in arbitration and litigation for a hotel management company.
• Representing landlords, tenants and developers in lease disputes and breach of contract litigation, including matters involving force majeure and COVID-19-related restrictions.
• Acting for an international engineering, procurement and construction contractor in a multibillion-dollar ICC arbitration involving a major infrastructure project with more than $4 billion at issue.
• Representing a television distributor in breach of contract litigation through trial and subsequent appeal.
• Defending commercial property owners and construction companies against Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act claims.

Pro Bono Commitment

Jessica is committed to pro bono service, including representing veterans in discharge upgrade and military sexual trauma matters before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Recognition & Trust Signals

Jessica has been recognised in The Best Lawyers in America guide as Commercial Litigation Ones to Watch in Washington, D.C. (2022–2026). She was also named a Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer for 2026 and was selected as a Holland & Knight Rising Star (Class of 2024).

Credentials

Jessica earned her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

She is admitted in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and is admitted to practise before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Location & Contact

Jessica L. Farmer is based in Washington, D.C.

Phone: +1 202 469 5222 Email: Jessica.Farmer@hklaw.com