Jennifer’s experience also includes providing legal services and business advice to public pension systems as special counsel relating to various areas of law, including, but not limited to: complex commercial litigation, and Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act matters.
Jennifer is an Oakland County Bar Foundation Fellow, a professional distinction limited to less than 5% of the total active membership of the State Bar of Michigan who practice in Oakland County. She is also a member of the Young Lawyers and Business Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan, President of the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers (ISIAL), and a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. Jennifer is also a past Associate Member of the Michigan Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (MAPERS).
Jennifer is active in the Michigan State University Alumni Association and MSU Alumni of Metro Detroit (Detroit Spartans), and has volunteered as a Moot Court Judge for the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Focus: Hope and Mariners Inn volunteer is also on the list of her professional activities. While studying at UDM Law Jennifer was an active member of the Women’s Law Caucus, Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, and the Environmental Law Society.
Before joining Foley, Baron, Metzger & Juip, PLLC, Jennifer worked at a small Detroit firm specializing in public pension system representation, business and real estate law.
During law school, Jennifer worked as a law clerk for a small Troy, Michigan firm which focused its practice on civil litigation, insurance defense, contract, tort, family, and construction law matters. During a summer in law school, she was a judicial intern for Oakland County Circuit Court, Family/Probate Division Judge Linda S. Hallmark.
Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System and Retirement Commission v Wayne County and Wayne County Commission, Wayne County Circuit Court Case #10-013013-AW; 301 Mich. App. 1, 836 N.W.2d 279 (2013); and 497 Mich. 36, 859 N.W.2d 678 (2014):
Second chair to the Special Counsel team that represented the Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System (WCERS) and obtained a $49 million judgment against Wayne County for violations of the exclusive benefit and prohibited transaction rules of the Public Employee Retirement System Investment Act (“PERSIA”) in the Wayne County Circuit Court on remand from the Michigan Supreme Court, which affirmed, in substantial part, the Michigan Court of Appeals decision invalidating portions of a 2010 ordinance which permitted the County to usurp approximately $32 Million of WCERS’ trust funds to offset the County’s annual required contribution.
The Police & Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit v Paramount Limited, LLC, et al, Wayne County Circuit Court Case #11-006035-CR:
Second chair to the Special Counsel team that represented DPF – successfully litigated a ponzi scheme case in Wayne County Circuit Court and other jurisdictions involving breach of a loan agreement, and a court appointed receiver; ultimately obtained several judgments against defendants, a majority of each in excess of $16 Million.
Peter Rhoades v General Retirement System of the City of Detroit (“DGRS”), Wayne County Circuit Court Case # 11-002962-CD:
Second chair to the Special Counsel team that represented DGRS – The Michigan Court of Appeals (in an unpublished opinion, dated June 17, 2014) affirmed the Wayne County Circuit Court’s decision granting summary disposition in favor of DGRS, denying Rhoades’ claims to retirement benefits by way of application of the City of Detroit General Retirement Ordinance Amendment which prohibited double-dipping on pension benefits upon Rhoades’ re-employment with the City.
Jennifer likes to be out on the water at any chance she can get (whether that means boating on a lake or kayaking/lazy tubing down a river) and likes to relax by doing yoga. She is also an eclectic music lover, and enjoys travel to warm beach getaways – though she still has on her bucket list to explore various parts of the U.S. and Europe.
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D., 2009
Michigan State University, James Madison College, B.A. in Social Relations, 2005
I will always be partial to the Motown genre, but also enjoy 90s hits and the Heat station on Sirius.
Australia where I studied abroad in college – LOVED it! I would also add New Zealand and Fiji to the list.
Sushi or Thai food – fresh fish, fruits and veggies
Neither – Iced tea please!
Spending time with my dog – travel – exploring craft brews and wines