Jeff Essner is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive experience in complex, high-stakes commercial, business and real estate litigation. Jeff has been lead counsel in several lengthy trials and arbitrations, and successfully tried to verdict numerous cases involving business fraud, securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, easements, partition, breach of contract, breach of lease and construction defects.

Jeff represents clients in a wide range of industries, including real estate, construction and technology, and has extensive experience in jury and bench trials, as well as binding arbitration. He has exceptional skill for developing litigation strategies to win trials or resolve cases on terms advantageous to his clients, whether at mediation or at trial.

Jeff served as legacy firm Hopkins Carley’s Managing Partner for seven years, a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Litigation Department.

Areas of Focus

Services

Sectors

Experience

  • Prevailed in three-week binding arbitration before Judge McKenney (Ret.) of JAMS. The case involved the interpretation and effect of dilution provisions contained in various LLC agreements on a $60 million real estate project. Clients were awarded punitive damages and attorney fees.
  • Prevailed in complex construction defect trial resulting in $16 million award, and full award of attorney fees.
  • Defended property owner in a $15 million claim in a private enforcement action for alleged Coastal Act violations.
  • Successfully defended Martin’s Beach against claims for public access to private beach property. Affirmed on appeal.
  • Obtained $14 million verdict for client following a five-week jury trial on a case involving complex loan transactions between two founders of a national mortgage bank. Affirmed on appeal.
  • Successfully defended a property owner against claims for easements by prescription and necessity. Affirmed on appeal.
  • Won $14.8 million judgment for client, including $10 million in punitive damages, after a two-week bench trial on a fraudulent transfer case
  • Successfully partitioned in trial, hundreds of acres of redwoods property resulting in the shaping of Butano State Park in San Mateo County.
  • Defended a real estate fund manager during a three-week binding arbitration against a $20 million fraud and concealment claim arising from a failed real estate project in East Palo Alto.
  • Prevailed in complex construction defect trial resulting in $7.5 million verdict plus attorneys’ fees and interest.

Credentials

Education

  • University of California - Hastings (J.D.)
  • State University of New York (B.A.)

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1985

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Professional Activities

  • Santa Clara County Superior Court, Judge Pro Tem
  • Santa Clara County Superior Court, Arbitrator
  • American Bar Association