Lina Telese

Lina Telese joined Jaros, Baum & Bolles in 2015 as General Counsel and is responsible for all legal matters at JB&B. She provides proactive professional advice on critical strategic, legal and internal policy issues. She is part of the executive team, interacting closely with the firm’s partners and providing legal support to the Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, and Information Technology Departments. Ms. Telese is responsible for the firm’s contract negotiations and oversees the firm’s litigation support, risk management, employment, and licensing compliance affairs.

Prior to joining JB&B, Ms. Telese was a partner at Zetlin & DeChiara, LLP, a leading national construction law firm. She has more than 20 years of legal experience, including over 15 years in architecture, engineering, and construction law, with a targeted focus on construction contract drafting and negotiations for sophisticated building projects. She has counseled clients on general business matters, risk management, professional licensing, corporate organization, and ownership transition as well as insurance issues.

Ms. Telese is the past president of the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) in New York (now CREW NY) and in 2014 received AREW’s Founders’ Award. She remains active in both the local chapter and national network of CREW. Ms. Telese is also a member of the board of directors of the Women Builders Council (WBC) and served as Co-General Counsel of WBC in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2009, 2014, and 2016 Ms. Telese was recognized with WBC’s “Outstanding Women in the Building Industry” award and in 2013 she was recognized as one of the Top Women in Real Estate by Sokol Media, Inc. Ms. Telese was selected for inclusion on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list in 2013. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and American Bar Association and is admitted to practice law in the States of New York and Connecticut. She is also a member of the Legal Counsel Form of the American Council of Engineering Companies' national and local chapters, and of the Association of Corporate Counsel, She is actively involved in both organizations and is an Honorary AIA of the State of New York.