PRACTICE AREAS
Estate Planning
Estate Tax
Trusts for Minor Children
Living Wills
Revocable (Living) Trusts
Will Drafting and Execution
Probate
ADMITTED
Maryland, 1990
District of Columbia, 1992
EDUCATION
Georgetown University, J.D., magna cum laude, 1990
Barnard College, B.A., 1983
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
District of Columbia Bar Association
Maryland State Bar Association
PRACTICE AREAS
Estate Planning
Guardianship
Trusts for Minor Children
Living Wills
Revocable (Living) Trusts
Will Drafting and Execution
Probate
ADMITTED
District of Columbia, 2013
Rhode Island, 2010
Massachusetts, 2010
EDUCATION
Boston College Law School, J.D., 2010
Boston College, B.A., cum laude, 2006
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
District of Columbia Bar Association
Rhode Island Bar Association
Giannina (Gina) Lynn
Since 1994, I have had a general law practice on Capitol Hill. I probate estates, draft wills and trusts, assist in trust administration, and assist individuals who need to file for guardianship and conservatorship for a loved one. I also litigate estate matters and real estate issues related to estates.
A long time member of the D.C. Superior Court’s fiduciary panel, I was appointed by the court to serve as successor personal representative in estate administration cases, as conservator for incapacitated individuals, and as special master in cases requiring investigations. I have served on the panel of reduced fee attorneys for the AARP/Legal Counsel for the Elderly since 1996.
Between 1992 and 1994, I was associated with the law firm of Holland & Knight (formally known as Dunnells & Duvall). While working for this firm, I handled many different types of commercial litigation: complex landlord/tenant disputes, investigations of financial institution mismanagement, defense of professional malpractice, bankruptcy matters, contract and collection cases. I also defended white collar criminal cases.
Before joining Dunnells & Duvall, I was an Assistant Public Defender in Montgomery County. As the Public Defender’s office I tried numerous misdemeanor cases. Approximately one-third of these were alcohol-related traffic offenses.
I graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, I clerked for the Honorable John H. Pratt of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
My publications include the Mail and Wire Fraud Section of the Fifth Survey of White Collar Crime, 25 Am. Crim. L. Rev., 931-54 (1989), Maryland Courts Limit Lender Liability, Corridor Real Estate Journal, August 28, 1992 and Legal Tips for Gay Partners, The Hill Rag, May 15, 1995.
Jessica Palumbo practices in the area of estate planning, probate, trust administration and guardianship/conservatorship matters. She is a provisional member of the fiduciary panel of the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, through which she is appointed to guardianship and conservatorship cases. She has been licensed to practice law since 2010. Jessica especially enjoys estate planning for families with young children.
Prior to joining Giannina Lynn’s private practice, Jessica was as an assistant public defender in Rhode Island, where she represented indigenous criminal defendants. During her time there, she tried dozens of cases, and handled criminal dockets in both District and Superior Court. During her time there, Jessica developed an interest in working with clients with complex mental health diagnoses. Prior to her time as a public defender, Jessica worked as a law clerk to the Justices of Massachusetts Superior Court.
Jessica earned her J.D. from Boston College Law School. During law school, she was a member of the Boston College National Mock Trial Team and participated in the school’s criminal defense clinic. She also interned at the Public Defender Service here in DC. Jessica was awarded the Kimberly Baker Irvin award for exceptional leadership in mock trial and moot court advocacy, and was also recognized for her pro bono contributions.
Prior to law school, Jessica was a legal assistant for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, where she assisted with implementing a program to train attorneys at law firms to provide legal representation to unhoused residents of San Francisco.
Jessica lives on Capitol Hill with her spouse and two young children.
My civic activities include pro bono activities through the DC Bar. I helped start a wills clinic at the Bread for the City for low income residents and regularly volunteer for the DC Bar’s Advice and Referral clinic.
Since 2020, I have served on the Estate Administration Working Group, which was spearheaded by the Council for Court Excellence and the D.C. Access to Justice Commission. This group drafted and lobbied the “Strengthening Probate Administration Amendment Act of 2024” which is now law in DC.
I have served on the Board of Endowment of St. Marks Episcopal Church, the Board of Directors of CHAMPS (Capitol Hill Area Merchants and Professionals Association), and on the Board of Trustees of Two Rivers Public Charter School.
I also served for six years on the Steering Committee of the Estates, Trusts and Probate Section of the D.C. Bar, including two years as co-chair. Our section organizes monthly educational programs for lawyers in our field. I previously served as lead editor for the Wills and Estates and Intervention Proceedings chapters of the D.C. Practice Manual. I also testified in front of the D.C. Council in support of changes to D.C. laws relating to estate planning and estate and trust administration. I have presented on estate planning for community groups and professional organizations. I was treasurer and secretary of the School Without Walls Home and School Association, and now serve on the informal steering committee of the St. Marks Meditation Center.
I was selected as one of the top Estate and Probate Lawyers by Washingtonian magazine (December 2004 issue).
Jessica Palumbo
