Bio
Jodi S. Wilenzik is a Principal with the Firm’s Commercial Litigation, Higher Education, Employment Law, and Construction practice groups. Ms. Wilenzik’s clients include educational institutions, banking institutions, financial services institutions, owners and contractors, and a variety of commercial businesses.
Investigations:
Ms. Wilenzik conducts prompt, neutral, and efficient workplace and campus investigations. With an appreciation for the complex and nuanced nature of investigations, she combines knowledge of applicable laws, and experience in interviewing witnesses, with the ability to identify, gather, and analyze the necessary information and data integral to providing thorough results.
Ms. Wilenzik has conducted investigations into allegations of sexual and other misconduct and discrimination, improprieties at public and private academic and other institutions, commercial matters to determine liability and related insurance coverage issues, and construction-related claims, as well as alleged policy and code of conduct violations for a variety of organizations. Ms. Wilenzik also provides healthcare professional and hospital interview defense in connection with regulatory body inquiries and complaints.
A certified Title IX investigator, Ms. Wilenzik also conducts impartial investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct for colleges and universities. She is also a member of the National Association of Colleges and University Attorneys (NACUA).
Commercial Litigation:
Ms. Wilenzik focuses on litigation matters facing colleges and universities including allegations of misconduct, premises liability, construction and related matters. She also focuses on commercial litigation disputes involving contracts, banking law, real estate, construction issues, trade secrets, and insurance law.
Ms. Wilenzik has substantial experience in the area of financial services and has represented national financial services institutions in commercial and residential foreclosure actions, debt collection matters, loan servicing, confessed judgments, lender liability, mortgage fraud, business torts, title issues, contested foreclosures, predatory lending, state and federal unfair and deceptive trade practices (UDAP) statutes, and other alleged violations of law arising from clients’ lending, servicing, and collections activity. Her practice includes counseling, contract drafting and negotiation, as well as dispute resolution via federal and state administrative processes, arbitration, and litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts.
In 2015, 2016 and 2024, Ms. Wilenzik was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and was designated as a 2012 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star, an honor bestowed upon less than 3 percent of eligible attorneys annually.
Education
-
J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, 2002
Paul J. Gitnik Academic Scholarship; Award for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Religion & Law - A.B. in Organizational Behavior Management, Brown University, 1996
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- The National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
Representative Engagements
- Conducted an independent investigation into high-profile accusations of student-on-student sexual assault alleged to have occurred both on and off-campus.
- Conducted investigation into student-on-student sexual assault allegations in connection with fraternity/sorority members.
- Conducted investigation into non-student, non-employee college campus resident’s personal injury allegations.
- Conducted investigation into hospital employees’ claims that remote work policies were discriminatory and related claims for unpaid/underpaid wages.
- Conducted liability and insurance coverage investigation into corrosive chemical leak in a newly constructed municipal water treatment facility.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of a university in connection with graduate student allegations of wrongful expulsion from the University in connection with stalking and misconduct claims.
- Successfully defended numerous colleges and universities in matters originating from student, faculty, and staff misconduct allegations, grade disputes, employment-related matters, and premises liability.
- Successfully defended, and pursued claims on behalf of, commercial clients in matters involving, among others, theft of trade secrets, conversion, contract claims, non-compete agreements, shareholder disputes, condemnation matters, real estate-related issues, ERISA, and coverage claims.
News & Insights
Education
-
J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, 2002
Paul J. Gitnik Academic Scholarship; Award for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Religion & Law - A.B. in Organizational Behavior Management, Brown University, 1996
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- The National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)