Jennifer Harris

Practice Areas

Construction & Infrastructure

Business Litigation

Real Estate Law

Government Contracts

Professional Memberships

Washington Building Congress

NAWIC DC Chapter, Board Member 2023-2024

Associated Builders and Contractors Metro Washington, Women Building Washington Committee - Chair, 2023-2024

ACE Mentor Program, Greater Washington-Metro Chapter

Career

Jennifer Harris is a Partner in Peckar & Abramson’s Washington, D.C. office. Her primary areas of practice are construction law, government contracts, and complex commercial litigation.

Jennifer assists her clients on both public and private projects. Jennifer’s construction experience includes representation of general contractors and subcontractors in matters involving claims for nonpayment, mechanic’s liens, wage and hour claims, design defects, and delay and disruption claims, as well as the representation of clients in the investigation and defense of payment and performance bond claims and indemnity actions. Jennifer also counsels her clients on federal and state compliance issues, joint ventures, mentor protégé relationships, and assists her clients with minority certifications.

Over the course of her career, Jennifer has counseled her clients in arbitrations and mediations, as well as in all stages of state and federal litigation, including jury trials and appeals.

Prior to joining Peckar & Abramson, Jennifer was a real estate and business litigation attorney in Baltimore, Maryland. Jennifer also clerked for the Honorable Mickey J. Norman in the Third Judicial Circuit of Maryland.

Jennifer holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the Heuisler Honor Society. During law school, Jennifer was on the Executive Board of the University of Baltimore Law Review, competed on the National Labor Law Moot Court Team, and served as a Rule 16 Attorney for the Civil Advocacy Clinic. Jennifer also completed externships with the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Jennifer is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Education

Publications

•Virginia Construction Law, Virginia Practice Series 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 Editions, (co-author). Contributor for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 Editions

•“Wage Theft and Misclassification: Recent Developments and How to Avoid the Consequences,” ABC Regional Construction Summit, March 2025 (Presenter)

•“Riding the Waves: Navigating the Uncertain Waters of Diversity Initiatives,” Groundbreaking Women in Construction (GWIC) New York, March 2025

•“Key Risks, Implications, and Consideration When Working on Public Projects,” 2024 Construction Super Conference, December 2024 (Presenter)

•“Taking Advantage of New Tax Credits and Prevailing Wage Bonuses Under the Inflation Reduction Act for Clean Energy Construction Projects,” ConsensusDocs Newsletter, September 2024 (Co-Author)

•“AI: What You Do Not Know Could Hurt Your Business,” ABC-Metro Washington Chapters Building Washington Magazine, Summer 2024 (Co-Author)

•“Change Order Management: Maximize Your Recovery, Minimize Your Costs & Time,” Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington – Women Building Washington Webinar, May 2024 (Presenter)

•“Lunch Table: Taking the Lead and Embracing Opportunity,” Groundbreaking Women in Construction Conference, May 2024 (Presenter)

•“AI in Construction: Exploring the Opportunities and Risks,” Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington – Women Building Washington, March 2024 (Presenter)

•“United States Department of Labor Finalizes Independent Contractor Rule,” ConsensusDocs Newsletter, April 2024 (Co-Author)

•“New Certification Requirements for Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns Seeking Public Procurement Contracts,” P&A Client Alert, January 2024 (Co-Author)

•“United States Department of Labor Finalizes Independent Contractor Rule,” P&A Client Alert, January 2024 (Co-Author)

Awards