Katy Koestner Esquivel opened Esquivel Law Chartered on November 1, 2013 — shortly after the birth of her son, and with 15 years of litigation experience already behind her. She had built a reputation as a fearless, thorough, and aggressive advocate, and she decided to channel that same determination into building the kind of firm she actually wanted to work at: focused, technology-forward, and built around the needs of working mothers long before the pandemic made remote practice mainstream.

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That focus has never wavered. Esquivel Law Chartered is one of the few firms in the country dedicated exclusively to PACA and federal transportation law — and Katy believes that staying within a narrow range of practice is exactly what gives her clients the best representation available.

 

Katy is admitted to practice in Florida and Illinois and is admitted to appear in federal district courts across the country — 13 federal districts, four circuit courts of appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. She has litigated cases on behalf of produce growers, buyers, and sellers, and regularly counsels clients on regulatory compliance in food safety, transportation, licensing, and business dealings. When your matter requires federal court, Katy has almost certainly been there.

 

In fact, she's making a point of it. Katy is on a quest to visit as many United States federal courthouses as she can — documenting every stop along the way. Some visits are for cases. Some involve her family making an unplanned detour because there happens to be a federal courthouse inside a national park. Follow her journey on LinkedIn.

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Katy is a past President and current Membership Chair of the Michael R.N. McDonnell American Inn of Court, a local organization of attorneys and judges dedicated to fostering excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills. She serves as President of the St. Ann Catholic School advisory board and has completed the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course to stay current on food safety standards within the industry. She is also a member of the International Cannabis Bar Association, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and the Transportation Lawyers Association, among others.

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In her spare time, Katy enjoys her husband, two sons, and their mini dachshunds. She is a self-described terrible cook who enjoys needlepointing, listening to true crime podcasts, and tending to her flock of chickens.

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REPORTED DECISIONS 

• Great Lakes Packers v. P.K. Produce, 542 F. Supp. 3d 685 (N.D. Ohio 2021)

• Scotlynn USA Div., Inc. v. Titan Trans Corp., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 157678 (M.D. Fla. 2021)

• Skyline Potato Co. v. Hi-Land Potato Co., 188 F. Supp. 3d 1097 (D. Minn. 2016)

• Jacobs Silver K Farms, Inc. v. Taylor Produce, LLC, 101 F. Supp. 3d 962 (D. Idaho 2015)

• Skyline Potato Co. v. Hi-Land Potato Co., 909 F. Supp. 2d 1225 (D.N.M. 2012)

• Skyline Potato Co. v. Tan-O-On Mktg., 285 F.R.D. 617 (D.N.M. 2012)

• Skyline Potato Co. v. Tan-O-On Mktg., Inc., 879 F. Supp. 2d 1228 (D.N.M. 2012)

• Sato & CO., LLC v. S&M Produce, Inc., 859 F. Supp. 2d 923 (N.D. 2012)

• Onions Etc., Inc. v. Z&S Fresh, Inc., 880 F. Supp. 2d 1092 (E.D.Ca. 2012)

• Skyline Potato Co. v. Tan-O-On Mktg., 278 F.R.D. 628 (D.N.M. 2011)

• Di Mare Homestead, Inc. v. Dixie Produce & Packaging, L.L.C. (In re Dixie Produce & Packaging, L.L.C.) 368 B.R. 533 (E.D. La. 2007))

• Agri-Sales, Inc. v. United Potato Co., 436 F. Supp. 2d 967 (N.D. Ill. 2006)

• Cont’l Food Group, LLC v. P.J. Produce, Inc., 372 F. Supp. 2d 750 (S.D.N.Y 2005)

• Calavo Growers, Inc. v. Anthony Gagliano Co., 294 F. Supp. 2d 1021 (E.D. Wis. 2003)

• Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. v. Steinberg (In re Steinberg), 307 B.R. 310 (S.D. Fla. 2003)

• Platz v. Auto Recycling & Repair, 795 So. 2d 1025 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001)

• Zurstrassen v. Stonier, 786 So. 2d 65 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001)​​

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BAR ADMISSIONS 

• Florida (1998)

• Illinois (2000)​​​

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FEDERAL COURT ADMISSIONS 

• Northern District of Florida

• Middle District of Florida

• Southern District of Florida

• Central District of Illinois

• Northern District of Illinois

• Southern District of Illinois

• Southern District of Indiana 

• Eastern District of Wisconsin

• Western District of Wisconsin

• District of Colorado

• Eastern District of Texas

• Southern District of Texas

• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

• United States Supreme Court​​

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COURTS WHERE MS. ESQUIVEL HAS APPEARED 

• Northern District of Alabama

• Eastern District of Arkansas

• Western District of Arkansas

• Northern District of California

• Eastern District of California

• District of Colorado

• Middle District of Georgia

• District of Idaho

• Eastern District of Louisiana

• District of Maryland

• Western District of Missouri

• District of Nebraska

• District of New Mexico

• Eastern District of New York

• District of Nevada

• Eastern District of North Carolina

• Northern District of Ohio

• Southern District of Ohio

• Western District of Oklahoma

• District of Oregon

• Eastern District of Pennsylvania

• Middle District of Pennsylvania

• Western District of Tennessee

• Eastern District of Tennessee

• Western District of Texas

• Eastern District of Washington

• Western District of Washington

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 

• Southwest Florida Federal Bar Association 

• The Produce Blue Book

• Conference of Freight Counsel

• Transportation Lawyers Association

• Transportation Intermediaries Association

• International Cannabis Bar Association

• Florida Association of Women Lawyers

• Collier County Bar Association

• Collier County Women’s Bar Association

• Michael R.N. McDonnell American Inn of Court

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