Profile
Jennifer A. Surprenant is an experienced trial lawyer who focuses her practice on a broad range of commercial disputes in both state and federal courts. Over the last decade and a half, she has litigated over 30 trials and arbitrations to judgment. Though Ms. Surprenant maintains a diverse practice, she primarily focuses on disputes involving complex commercial contracts, intellectual property, products liability, mass torts, oil and natural gas, employment issues, and antitrust.
Ms. Surprenant’s clients are as diverse as her practice. She actively counsels multi-national corporations, privately held entities, start-ups, and high-wealth individuals across a broad range of industries, including financial products, real estate holdings, technology, tobacco, energy and natural gas, pharmaceutical and life sciences, retail, and distribution.
Ms. Surprenant has honed her brief writing and oral advocacy skills over many years of practice. Indeed, she has drafted and argued numerous discovery, dispositive, and pre-trial motions in both state and federal court. She also has deep experience questioning and preparing fact and expert witnesses both at deposition and at trial.
Ms. Surprenant spends a great deal of time investing in the community. Since 2014, she has served as an Assistant General Counsel to the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination. She is the author of the chapter “The Complaint” in Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Court (Fifth Ed.) published in December 2021 by Thomson Reuters and the author of the chapter “Sanctions” in Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts (Fifth Ed.) published in October 2020 by Thomson Reuters. She also serves as Counsel to the Board of the New York Foundation for the Arts (“NYFA”).
Ms. Surprenant received her B.A. degree from Fordham University, summa cum laude, where she was the Valedictorian and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received her law degree from Fordham University School of Law, magna cum laude, where she was an Editor on the Fordham Law Review.
Concentrations
- Complex civil litigation
- Arbitration and mediation
- Products liability and mass tort
- Energy & infrastructure
- Antitrust & Trade Regulation
- Life sciences and medical technology
- Corporate internal investigations
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented and managed client relationship with Fortune 100 oil and gas company in respect to upstream and downstream issues, including disputes, trading and commercial issues.
- Represented one of the world’s largest technology companies in patent dispute trials and defense of false advertising arbitrations throughout the United States.
- Represented large, privately-held software company in defense of allegations pertaining to theft of trade secrets, breach of contract, fraud, RICO, and various commercial torts.
- Represented major newspaper in connection with alleged antitrust violations premised on below-cost advertisements.
- Represented and advised major multi-state fitness company in connection with, among other things, monopolization allegations under Sherman Act, Section II, promotional contests and sweepstakes, and general retail disputes.
- Represented major tobacco company in connection with numerous state and federal trials in connection with alleged damages for injuries, FDA product challenges and other regulatory compliance issues, and against state governments in connection with enforcement of multi-state Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.
- Represented major agricultural conglomerate in connection with several suits involving alleged Coli contaminated beef.
- Represented large pharmaceutical device manufacturer in class action involving, among other things, alleged design defect.
- Represented large Manhattan real estate investment holding company in respect to various contractual disputes pertaining to its assets.
- Represented cult Napa Valley winery in connection with employment dispute, defamation, and other issues.
- Represented defendant pharmaceutical and life sciences client on various intellectual property issues including patent misuse and misappropriation of trademark.
- Coordinated internal investigation of multi-national life insurance company in regards to shareholder allegations of corporate fraud.
- Conducted numerous internal investigations on behalf of television network and production company regarding show rigging allegations and other disputes in connection with reality television series.
- Consulted in respect to various employment issues including terminations, downsizing, and various employment contracts—including litigation pertaining to same.
- Represented defendant, international law firm, in an employment discrimination mediation.
- Judicial Intern, the Honorable Loretta A. Preska, United States District Court, 2008
- Judicial Intern, the Honorable Allan L. Gropper, Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, 2007
Recognition & Leadership
- Shortlisted, Euromoney, Americas Women in Business Law Awards, "Litigation Rising Star," 2023
- Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021
- Assistant General Counsel, New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination, 2014-Present
- Board Counsel, New York Foundation for the Arts
- Member Ad Hoc, Future Trials Working Group, Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York’s Courts, formed by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, New York City Bar
Credentials
-
J.D., magna cum laude, Fordham University School of Law, 2009
- Order of the Coif
- Notes and Articles Editor, Fordham Law Review
-
B.A., summa cum laude, Fordham University, 2006
- Valedictorian
- Phi Beta Kappa
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York