Jennifer O. Schiffer

Shareholder

jschiffer@beankinney.com

T: 703.526.5590 F: 703.525.2207

Jennifer Schiffer is a shareholder of Bean, Kinney & Korman. Jennifer represents various businesses and their owners in matters relating to business counseling and entity formation, purchase and sale of company stock or assets, business contracts, shareholder or membership agreements, disclosure agreements, commercial real estate, commercial property, and leasing transactions. Jennifer is also well-versed in business succession planning, estate planning, and estate administration.

Jennifer’s clients range from individuals to a wide array of business entities, including restaurants, medical practices, retailers, builders, limited liability companies, and professional service providers, such as accountants and financial planners. Jennifer is well attuned to the needs of her clients, and her broad experience in representing individuals and a variety of businesses helps her anticipate and address the legal issues affecting them.

Jennifer is a graduate of Vanderbilt University where she earned a B.A. in Economics and her J.D.

Service Areas

• Business and Financial Services
• Entity Formation and Structuring
• Start Up Advice
• Business Planning
• Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights
• Franchising
• Contracts
• Commercial Finance (incl. Small Business Lending & Real Estate Lending and Commercial Mortgages)
• Real Estate
• Commercial Leasing
• Commercial Real Estate Transactions
• Financing
• Foreclosure
• Wills, Trusts, Estates and Probate
• Estate Planning

Experience

Obtained judgment at trial for local business against general contractor.
Negotiated business separations.
Represents businesses in the negotiation of their leases and other matters that may arise.

Bar & Court Admissions

Virginia, 2006
District of Columbia, 2007
Maryland, 2009
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Education

Vanderbilt University, B.A., cum laude, 2003
Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 2006
Law & Business Certificate Program

Awards & Affiliations

Awards

Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law, Trusts and Estates, 2025-2026
Virginia Lawyers Weekly, “Go to Lawyer”, Business Transactions 2024
Arlington Magazine, Top Attorney – Trusts & Estates, 2021-2025, Business/Corporate, 2022-2025, Real Estate, 2024
Virginia Business, Legal Elite in Business Law, 2020, Taxes/Estates/Trusts, 2023-2025
Arlington Magazine, Top Attorney – Business/Corporate, 2019
Virginia Super Lawyers, Rising Star in Business/Corporate, 2016

Professional Affiliations

Tigerlily Foundation, Board of Directors
Women’s Bar Association of D.C.
Montgomery County Bar Association

Blogs

Estate Planning

Choosing the Right Trustee: What Jimmy Buffett’s Estate Dispute Can Teach Us

When iconic singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away in 2023, few expected that his carefully crafted estate plan would become the subject of controversy. But in a recent petition filed in Florida, Buffett’s wife, Jane Buffett, alleges that a co-trustee of her late husband’s estate slashed her income from the trust to less than 1%, acted with hostility, and failed to be transparent. Now she’s asking the court to have that co-trustee removed. This case is a cautionary tale for anyone…

June 12, 2025

Business and Financial Services

How to Stay Legally Compliant When Pivoting Your Restaurant

In recent years, the restaurant industry has undergone a dramatic transformation. Many restaurants, pressured by changing consumer habits, rising costs, and lingering effects of the pandemic, are turning to alternative service models such as ghost kitchens, catering operations, and delivery-only brands. These pivots offer growth opportunities, but they also introduce legal and compliance issues that…

June 6, 2025

How to Stay Legally Compliant When Pivoting Your Restaurant

Business and Financial Services

What DC Area Restaurant Owners Should Know Before Closing Their Doors: Legal Considerations Amid Lease and Business Challenges

A recent survey by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington revealed that 29% of respondents are at least somewhat likely to close their restaurants in 2025. That number rises to 44% for full-service casual establishments. [1] For many DC area restaurant owners, already grappling with high operational costs, staffing shortages, and shifting consumer habits, this…

April 15, 2025

What DC Area Restaurant Owners Should Know Before Closing Their Doors Legal Considerations Amid Lease and Business Challenges

Business and Financial Services

Maryland COVID-19 Small Business and Nonprofit Assistance

Maryland has announced a Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loan Relief Fund (“Loan Relief Fund”) and Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Grant Relief Fund (“Grant Relief Fund”) to support small businesses and nonprofits during the COVID-19 crisis. The Funds assist businesses or nonprofits that can demonstrate financial stress or disrupted operations. Maryland also created a COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund (“Layoff Aversion Fund”) to assist small businesses and nonprofits to create remote work…

March 24, 2020

Estate Planning

Problems with DIY Estate Planning

One of the most common questions asked by someone discussing the need for estate planning is, “why can’t I just do it myself?” There are many risks to preparing your own estate plan over the Internet without consulting an expert. The Potential Costs are High The online will may be “free,” but if there are any problems with it, they likely will not be discovered until it is too late for the problems to be corrected. Oftentimes, online wills default to a specific state for the applicable law.…

November 7, 2015

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Videos

Business and Financial Services

Lawyer Spotlight -- Jennifer Schiffer, Business Transactions & Estate Planning

January 29, 2025

Estate Planning

Estate Planning In Focus -- Episode 3: The Probate Process

In episode 3 of Estate Planning in Focus, attorney Jennifer Schiffer discusses the Probate Process in estate planning.

February 16, 2023

Estate Planning

Estate Planning In Focus -- Episode 2: Basic and Complex Estate Planning

In episode 2 of Estate Planning in Focus, attorney Jennifer Schiffer discusses both basic and complex estate planning issues.

January 23, 2023

Estate Planning

Estate Planning In Focus -- Episode 1: Intro to Estate Planning

Welcome to our newest BKK In Focus Series! In episode one of Estate Planning in Focus, attorney Jennifer Schiffer provides an introduction to estate planning with important information you should know.

January 17, 2023

Estate Planning In Focus -- Episode 1: Intro to Estate Planning

Franchising

Episode 5 -- Franchise Law In Focus: Starting a New Small Business, Part 2

In Episode 5 of Franchise Law in Focus, attorney Jennifer Schiffer brings you Part 2 of what to expect when starting a new small business.

February 3, 2020

Episode 5 -- Franchise Law In Focus: Starting a New Small Business, Part 2

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News & Publications

Seventeen Attorneys from Bean, Kinney & Korman Recognized as Top Attorneys for 2025 by Arlington Magazine

Arlington Magazine named seventeen Bean, Kinney & Korman attorneys to its 2025 Top Attorneys list, spanning practice areas including litigation, real estate, family law, and employment.

October 20, 2025

seventeen-attorneys-from-bean-kinney-korman-recognized-as-top-attorneys-for-2025-by-arlington-magazine

Twenty Attorneys from Bean, Kinney & Korman Listed in 2026 Best Lawyers in America and Seven Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Bean, Kinney & Korman earned 27 total recognitions in the 2026 Best Lawyers editions, with twenty attorneys in the main list and seven in Ones to Watch, across seventeen practice areas.

August 21, 2025

twenty-attorneys-from-bean-kinney-korman-listed-in-2026-best-lawyers-in-america-and-seven-attorneys-listed-in-best-lawyers-ones-to-watch

Twenty-One Attorneys from Bean, Kinney & Korman Recognized as Top Attorneys for 2024 by Arlington Magazine

Arlington Magazine named twenty-one Bean, Kinney & Korman attorneys to its 2024 Top Attorneys list, recognized by peers across practice areas including family law, construction, real estate, and litigation.

October 25, 2024

twenty-one-attorneys-from-bean-kinney-korman-recognized-as-top-attorneys-for-2024-by-arlington-magazine

Eighteen Attorneys from Bean, Kinney & Korman Listed in 2025 Best Lawyers in America and Five Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Bean, Kinney & Korman earned 23 total recognitions in the 2025 Best Lawyers editions, with eighteen attorneys in the main list and five in Ones to Watch, across seventeen practice areas.

August 15, 2024