Overview
Jessica concentrates her practice on real property law, representation of electric cooperatives and business transactions.
Jessica’s work includes representing property owners in boundary disputes and adverse possession matters, resolving title issues, working on easement and right-of-way transactions, assisting clients with environmental regulatory issues, and advising electric cooperatives on a variety of matters including governance, finance and right-of-way.
Jessica has written extensively on the law of adverse possession in Wisconsin and has been actively involved with legislation on the topic. She is a frequent presenter on real property law matters including boundaries and utility easements, and on issues relating to electric cooperative management and governance.
Services
Experience
- Represented electric utility on real estate and finance matters in the acquisition of a power plant.
- Represented commercial developer on the acquisition and leasing of retail shopping centers.
- Regularly represents electric utilities in right-of-way disputes and acquisition.
- Successfully litigated a boundary dispute against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Regularly evaluates title documents, plats and surveys, and assists clients with resolving title defects.
Credentials
Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 2009, cum laude
- Beloit College, B.A., 2003
Admissions
- Wisconsin, 2009
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Recognition
- Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law, 2025; Real Estate Law, 2025
- Up and Coming Lawyers Award, Wisconsin Law Journal, 2014
Civic & Professional
Professional Activities
- Wisconsin Remote Notary Council, 2020, 2021-present
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Board of Governors, 2023-present
- State Bar of Wisconsin Real Property, Probate and Trust, Board Chair 2022-2023, Director 2016-2022
News & Insights
News
Publications & Presentations
Publications
Co-Author, Wisconsin Law of Easements and Restrictive Covenants, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE®, May 2022
Author, Dealing with the Expiring Perpetual Easement Problem, WisBar Inside Track, March 2021
Author, An End to the Doctrine of Adverse Possession in Wisconsin?, WisBar InsideTrack, November 2015
Author, Wait! Is That My Land? More on Adverse Possession, Wisconsin Lawyer, July 2015
Author, Hey! That’s my land! Understanding Adverse Possession, Wisconsin Lawyer, March 2010
Presentations
Right-of-Way Law Update, DPC Operations/Line Superintendents Conference, March 24, 2022
Joint Use Pole Attachments and Telecommunications Easements, 2022 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, March 23, 2022
Easement Update Including Broadband Easements, 2021 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, June 23, 2021
Utility Row Law Update, Law Update 2020, Wisconsin Public Utility Institute, March 4, 2020
Interpreting Easements & Member Easement Issues, 2020 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, February 11, 2020
Easements, Basic Resident Real Estate Practices, State Bar of Wisconsin, February 6, 2020
The Problem with Easements, 71st Surveyors’ Institute, Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, January 30, 2020
The Right in Right-of-Way – An In-Depth Look at Public Road and Utility Rights-of-Way, 71st Surveyors’ Institute, Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, January 30, 2020
Get Off My Lawn: Adverse Possession Issues, 2019 Graduate Course, Wisconsin Land Title Association, October 17, 2019
Beware of Unique Easements (Public Roads, Utilities and Railroads), 2019 Graduate Course, Wisconsin Land Title Association, October 17, 2019
Easements involving Various Entities (Public Roads, Utilities and Railroads), 2019 Annual Real Estate Update, State Bar of Wisconsin, October 11, 2019
Lending Forms Webinar, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, September 27, 2019
Adverse Possession, Wisconsin Real Property Listers Association, September 26, 2019
Real Estate Purchase Considerations; and Board Meetings – Who, What, When, Where & How, 2019 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, February 14, 2019
Understanding Utility Easements in Wisconsin, State Bar of Wisconsin, October 16, 2018
Tribal Rights-of-Way and Contracts; and Taking Advantage of Ch. 185 Changes, 2018 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, April 3, 2018
Chapter 185 Revisions, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, February 15, 2018
Adverse Possession and Prescriptive Easements – Applying the Law to the Facts, 69th Surveyor’s Institute, Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, January 24, 2018
The “Right” in Right-of-Way, Wisconsin REC Superintendent’s Conference, September 6, 2017
Advanced Adverse Possession, Northeast Chapter of Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, March 31, 2017
Membership Agreements – Best Practices; and Current Bylaw issues, 2017 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, February 8, 2017
Adverse Possession and the Surveyor, 68th Surveyor’s Institute, Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors, January 26, 2017
Dealing with Utility Easements, 2016 Annual Real Estate Update, State Bar of Wisconsin, October 6-7, 2016
Adverse Possession & Trespass, Get Off My Lawn: Handling Property Disputes, State Bar of Wisconsin, April 28, 2016
Adverse Possession, This is Your Land? State Bar of Wisconsin, April 28, 2016
Adverse Possession, The Basics, Wisconsin Land Title Association, April 19, 2016
Common Easement Issues Cooperatives Face, 2016 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, March 16, 2016
Determining Land Ownership and Access Rights, Understanding Riparian and Water Rights, HalfMoon Education, Inc., September 18, 2014
Right-of-Way Issues; and Primer on Consumer Lending Laws that May Impact Cooperative Practices, 2014 Legal Update, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, March 19, 2014
Consumer Lending, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, April 10, 2013
Easements, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, September 6, 2012