Esquivel Law, Chartered

09/29/2026

28 years in federal courts. Two industries. One focus.

Swipe through to see how Esquivel Law, Chartered helps transportation brokers, shippers, and carriers, as well as growers, brokers, and sellers in the produce industry.

09/24/2026

Chosen by her peers. Katy Koestner Esquivel, Founder and Managing Attorney of Esquivel Law, Chartered, has been named a 2026 Top Lawyer by Naples Illustrated.

Congratulations, Katy, and thank you to our clients, colleagues, and team for your continued trust.

09/24/2026

Congratulations to our Founder and Managing Attorney, Katy Koestner Esquivel, on being named a 2026 Top Lawyer by Naples Illustrated.

This recognition comes from a peer-review survey of attorneys in Collier and Lee counties, which means it was chosen by fellow members of the legal profession. That makes it especially meaningful to all of us.

For more than 25 years, Katy has helped businesses through complex legal matters and litigation. Today, she leads our boutique federal litigation firm focused on Produce and PACA Law and Transportation Law, serving U.S. and foreign businesses nationwide.

Thank you to our clients, colleagues, and team for your trust and support.

Read the September 2026 issue of Naples Illustrated:
https://issuu.com/pbmg/docs/naples_illustrated_september_2026/110

07/02/2026

Esquivel Law, Chartered will be closed Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day. We'll reopen Monday, July 6th.

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!

07/01/2026

Happy International Joke Day! Here's one for the legal crowd:

07/01/2026

Courthouse #3: The Pete V. Domenici U.S. Courthouse, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This one has a story.

In 2012, I was making multiple trips to Albuquerque for a case headed to trial. My husband and I had just discovered Breaking Bad — which, as it turns out, is filmed all over the city. So I went looking. Walter White's house. The Dog House. Los Pollos Hermanos. The car wash.

And somewhere in between all of that, this trip became one I will never forget, for reasons that had nothing to do with PACA.

The courthouse itself is remarkable. Swipe through.

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05/24/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, our office will be closed on Monday, May 25, as we honor and remember those who served and gave their lives in service to our nation.

We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

05/15/2026

Unofficially Hug a Freight Broker Day: Yesterday the Supreme Court issued a decision that is going to fundamentally change the entire industry. Brokers can now be held liable for negligence in selecting carriers. The landscape, including skyrocketing insurance rates, is going to change fundamentally.

As the author notes, “The Supreme Court told the freight industry …. If you pick the carrier, you own the choice. Document it. Defend it. Or answer for it.”

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that state negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the FAAAA. Twenty-eight thousand brokers just woke up in a different legal universe.

04/28/2026

In October 2023, our firm argued a case before a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Oral argument before a federal appellate court is one of the most significant milestones in a legal career. But what made this trip extraordinary wasn't just the argument — it was the team that showed up for it.

Our paralegal Colleen flew in from Pennsylvania. Our legal assistant and Mexican-licensed attorney Berenice traveled from Mexico. Our client made the trip from Seattle. Co-counsel Michael Connick came from Ohio, along with digital evidence expert and attorney Carlos Baradat from Florida. It was the first time Colleen, Berenice, and I had ever been in the same room together — and for both of them, it was their first visit to Chicago.

We set up a war room at the Palmer House Hilton. We watched en banc arguments the days before. We prepped, we prepared, and then we walked into that 30-story courthouse and did the work.

When it was over, we celebrated. Because that's what you do when your team travels across time zones and borders to stand with you.

This is Post #2 in our Gavel Gals Across America series — a look at the federal courthouses we've had the privilege of visiting and practicing in across the country.

04/22/2026

This Earth Day, we're proud to be part of the change.

At Esquivel Law Chartered, going paperless was never just about efficiency — it was a conscious decision to reduce our footprint while continuing to serve our clients with the same dedication and care.

Because the way we work matters. Small shifts in how we operate can make a real impact on the world around us.

Protecting our clients and protecting our planet can go hand in hand, and we wouldn't have it any other way.