Attorneys

Jessika K. Johnson

San Francisco

TEL: 415.543.4111

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FAX: 415.543.4384

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Jessika K. Johnson is a Shareholder in the San Francisco office and is Chair of the firm’s Business, Property, and Construction Practice Group.  Her practice encompasses a wide array of transactional and litigation matters, with a focus on real property, contracts, and environmental law. She advises and represents school districts and community college districts in the preparation and review of environmental impact reports (EIRs) and other environmental processes, and assists clients in the development of strategies for compliance with statutory and regulatory procedures, in particular the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Jessika also litigates cases brought against school and community college districts under CEQA.

In addition, Jessika counsels school districts on the substantive and procedural legal issues concerning school impact fees (developer fees), including proper expenditures of developer fees, justification studies and SFNAs, and mitigation and reimbursement agreements. She has successfully defended and advised clients in connection with developer fee protests and litigation matters.

Jessika regularly drafts and negotiates a variety of contracts, including service contracts, joint use agreements, and other types of facility use contracts.  In the real property area, Jessika has extensive experience advising clients on a range of facilities issues, including facility use, the Civic Center Act, and policy development. Her expertise also extends to property acquisition and disposition, leasing, property exchanges, land use and zoning issues, and surplus property requirements. As a litigator, Jessika has represented and defended clients in mediations, arbitrations, depositions, and trials. Jessika has also written and successfully argued motions in federal and state court, including demurrers, motions to dismiss, and motions for summary judgment.

Prior to joining Dannis Woliver Kelley, Jessika was an associate in the litigation and land use departments of a law firm in San Diego. While in law school, Jessika was president of the Tulane Law School Student Bar Association her 3L year. In addition, she was a member of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law and served as a Graduate and Professional School Association representative to the University Senate. During her 2L year, Jessika was a visiting student at the University of California−Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law, where she was a visiting member of the California Law Review. Jessika holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate accreditation (LEED® GA) by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Education

Tulane University Law School (J.D.)
University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A.)

Admissions

State Bar of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Professional Activities

Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) Annual Conference Planning Committee, Roundtable/Mini-Workshop Co-Chair, 2018 – 2020; Legislative Advisory Committee, Member, 2020 – present

Practice Areas Business and Property , Construction , Community Colleges / Higher Education , Litigation

PUBLICATIONS