Jennifer Dempsey's practice includes representing clients in commercial tort actions, commercial contract disputes, insurance and surety litigation, financial institution litigation and class action defense in the courts and arbitration settings. Ms. Dempsey's experience often includes litigating on behalf of numerous financial institutions in complex litigation matters. She has responsibility for an extensive case load for these financial institutions and the responsibility for the supervision of other attorneys and professionals in relation to that case load.

Ms. Dempsey has represented numerous financial institutions involved in disputes over the terms and administration of participation agreements.  Those disputes have typically involved the joint ownership of either real estate or real estate loans by various lending institutions. The real estate involved in these representations has including hotels, condominium projects, residential subdivisions, mining properties and commercial developments.  

Ms. Dempsey has experience arguing before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia. She has experience litigating matters for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Ms. Dempsey is active in the community, and serves on the Board of Directors of Everybody Wins, Atlanta, a non-profit association devoted to improving children’s literacy.

Select Representations

• Representation of 50+ participant banks in a dispute with a borrower over a $100 million line of credit secured by 6,000 acres of undeveloped land in Arizona resulting in a $43 million arbitration award in 2011.
• Representation of a participant bank in a dispute with the lead participant over the breach of a participation agreement involving $21 million property and the duties to administer the underlying loan which resulted in a summary judgment for the client compelling a buy-out of the client’s position.  Sun American Bank v. Fairfield Financial Services, Inc., 690 F. Supp. 1392 (M.D.Ga. 2010).
• Representation of participant bank in a dispute with the lead participant over the breach of a participation agreement involving a $50 million loan secured by a hotel in Florida which ultimately resulted in a successful refinancing.
• Representation of a participant bank in a dispute with the lead bank over the sale of commercially zoned real estate securing a $9 million loan in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
• Representation of lead bank in dispute with participant bank over the sale of residential subdivision in Clayton County, Georgia securing a $6 million loan.
• Representation of a lead bank in dispute with participant bank over administration issues and loan renewal refinancing to a residential subdivision in Clayton County, Georgia securing a $5 million loan.
• Representation of a large, regional correspondent bank in multiple issues and disputes with its participant banks across the southeast involving numerous projects from hotels to condo developments.

Bar and Court Admissions

Georgia, 2000

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Supreme Court of Georgia

Georgia Court of Appeals

Education

Georgia State University, J.D., with honors, 2000

Frostburg State University, B.S., 1993

Publications

• "A Re-Evaluation of Arbitration in Light of Class Actions and Appeal Rights -- Is it Still Worth It?" Georgia Bar Journal, August 2005

Professional Affiliations

• Atlanta Bar Association
• State Bar of Georgia – Products Liability Section; General Litigation Section

Civic Involvement and Honors

• Atlanta Legal Aid Society - Advisory Committee
• Georgia Super Lawyer - 2012-2013
• Georgia Rising Star - 2006-2011
• Everybody Wins! - Board of Directors, 2006-current
• Atlanta Women's Foundation Destiny Fund Class – Member, 2007-2008