- Of Counsel
< go back to attorney list
"Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and they get in over their heads unintentionally. My psychology background helps me counsel my clients and provides a basis for me to guide people who are acting on an emotional rather than the logical level. My goal is to provide rational and reasonable solutions, calm unreasonable fears and put my clients at ease so that I can help them overcome difficult times."
Justin is a general practitioner who specializes in business and financial matters. In addition to handling Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcies, he also does financial planning, conducts foreclosures, and handles collection matters for lenders, as well as family law and real estate.
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Mediator
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 2001
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court District of Connecticut
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts
- J.D. – 2000
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: CALI Award for Excellence in Civil Procedure
- Honors: CALI Award for Excellence in Trusts and Estates
- Honors: CALI Award for Excellence in Jurisprudence
- Honors: Law Review Scribes Committee, Chair, 1998
- Honors: Student Bar Association, Member of Scholarship Committee
- Law Review: Western New England Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1999 – 2000
- Law Review: Western New England Law Review, Junior Staff Member, 1998 – 1999
- Southern Connecticut State University
- Master of Arts – 1997
- Major: Psychology
- Southern Connecticut State University
- Bachelor of Science – 1996
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Psi Chi, National Honor Society in Psychology
- Major: Psychology
Published Works
- Regional Law Firm Attorneys Honored as 2012 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars, February 21, 2013
- Ten Misconceptions about: Bankruptcy, BusinessWest, March 16, 2009
- "Means Test" or "Just a Mean Test": An Examination of the Requirement That Converted Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Debtors Comply With Amended Section 707(B), American Bankruptcy Institute, March 9, 2009
- Dollars and Sense - How to Negotiate a Pre-foreclosure Workout Agreement, Business to Business, November 14, 2007
- Forestalling Foreclosures - Is There a Solution to This Regional and National Problem?, BusinessWest, September 21, 2007
- Calm Before the Storm - Dealing with Secured Lenders When Times Become Tough, BusinessWest, December 1, 2006
- Timing is Everything-or Is It? - Cortez Challenges the "Snapshot" Approach to Analyzing Abuse Pursuant to 11 USC - 707(b), American Bankruptcy Institute, November 17, 2006
- The New Bankruptcy Law: Assessing The Law's Impact on Women, Massachusetts Bar Institute, October 18, 2006
- Good News for Landlords - Bankruptcy Law Revisions Make it Easier to Evict, BusinessWest, May 15, 2006
- Choose Your Entity, BusinessWest, October 5, 2005
- Light at the End of the Tunnel - Often, Bankruptcy Isn't the End, but the Beginning - of a Turnaround, BusinessWest, August 25, 2003
Classes/Seminars
- Seminar, Ninth Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference November 16, 2010
- Seminar, Eighth Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference October 6, 2009
- Contributor, Bankruptcy Bits
- Lecturer, Hampden County Bar Association's Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force, February 2009
- eBook Author, Seeking Bankruptcy Assistance in Western Massachusetts? Your top 12 personal bankruptcy questions answered., 2008
- Guest Speaker, Taxes & Assets, WHMP Radio, July 21, 2007
- Published Decision, In re Crocker _B.R._ 1st Cir. BAP (Mass) 2007
- Lecturer, Fifth Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Law Conference, October 2006
- Co-Author, Who Is Your Client? Ethical Considerations Potential Counsel Must Consider, Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, August 6, 2005
- Published Decision: In re Holyoke Nursing Home, Inc., 372 F3rd 1 (Mass) 2004
- In RE: Desroches, John V. et al 21, represented lender and successfully defeated Homestead claim to validate mortgage, 03-44855HJB, 2004 WL 1949739 (Bank D. Mass. August 31, 2004)
- Prosecutorial Discrimination or Contract Theory Restrictions? - The Implications of Allowing Judicial Review of Prosecutorial Discretion Founded on Underlying Contract Principles, 22 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 149 (2000)
Honors and Awards
- Recipient, SuperLawyers Rising Star Award Boston Magazine, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012
- Designated as "SuperLawyer Rising Star" in Boston Magazine, 2010
- Recipient, Massachusetts Bar Association Community Service Award, June 18, 2009
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Hampden County Bar Association Bankruptcy Committee, Chair
- Square One, Member, Board of Directors
- Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation, Member, Board of Directors
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Hampden County Bar Association
- Hartford County Bar Association
- Hampshire County Bar Association
- Turnaround Management Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Teacher, Bankruptcy, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, 2008
- Teacher, Non-Profit Business Law, Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, MA, 2008
- Teacher, Introduction to Law, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, 2004 to Present
- Teacher, Real Estate Law, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, 2003 to Present
- Teacher, Business Law, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, 2003 to 2007
- Teacher, Torts, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, 2006
- Teacher, Trusts and Estates, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA, 2006
- Volunteer, United Way Funds Allocation Panel
- Volunteer, Dial-A-Lawyer, Western New England School of Law
- Team Coordinator, American Cancer Society Relay for Life
- Youth Soccer Coach, Longmeadow, MA
- Youth Coach, Brookside Soccer Club in Springfield, MA
Past Employment Positions
- Notary Public
Regional Law Firm Attorneys Honored as 2012 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars
February 21, 2013
Ten Misconceptions about: Bankruptcy
BusinessWest, March 16, 2009
“Means Test” or “Just a Mean Test”: An Examination of the Requirement That Converted Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Debtors Comply With Amended Section 707(B)
American Bankruptcy Institute, March 9, 2009
Dollars and Sense – How to Negotiate a Pre-foreclosure Workout Agreement
Business to Business, November 14, 2007
Forestalling Foreclosures – Is There a Solution to This Regional and National Problem?
BusinessWest, September 21, 2007
Crunch Time? – Lenders Tighten the Reins on Mortgage Loans
BusinessWest, September 14, 2007
Calm Before the Storm – Dealing with Secured Lenders When Times Become Tough
BusinessWest, December 1, 2006
Timing is Everything-or Is It? – Cortez Challenges the “Snapshot” Approach to Analyzing Abuse Pursuant to 11 USC – 707(b)
American Bankruptcy Institute, November 17, 2006
The New Bankruptcy Law: Assessing The Law’s Impact on Women
Massachusetts Bar Institute, October 18, 2006
Good News for Landlords – Bankruptcy Law Revisions Make it Easier to Evict
BusinessWest, May 15, 2006
Choose Your Entity
BusinessWest, October 5, 2005
Light at the End of the Tunnel – Often, Bankruptcy Isn’t the End, but the Beginning – of a Turnaround
BusinessWest, August 25, 2003
Regional Law Firm Attorneys Honored as 2011 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars
December 9, 2011
Regional Law Firm Attorneys Honored as 2010 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars
December 17, 2010
Regional Law Firm Attorneys Honored as 2009 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars
November 16, 2009
Personal bankruptcies up nearly 60% in Mass., real estate publisher reports
Republican, July 21, 2009
Group urges hearings before foreclosures
Republican, June 20, 2009
Western Mass. dealerships try to keep positive attitude in wake of General Motors’ reorganization filing
Republican, June 1, 2009
Springfield-Based Attorneys Educate About Foreclosures
April 2, 2009
Bankruptcy bill could result in ‘tsunami’ of filings
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, March 2, 2009
Bankruptcy filings spike
Republican, February 13, 2009
Foreclosure assistance planned
Republican, February 10, 2009
Local Lawyers Recognized as 2008 SuperLawyers & Rising Stars
November 21, 2008
Local Attorney Helps Initiate Predatory Loan/Foreclosure Training Program for Area Attorneys
June 24, 2008
8 SuperLawyers Rising Stars Among Regional Law Firm
April 20, 2007
8 SuperLawyers Rising Stars Among Regional Law Firm
May 1, 2006
Bacon & Wilson Handles Chapter 11 Reorganization of Williamstown Company
June 30, 2005
Bacon & Wilson Files First Electronic Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in Massachusetts
July 7, 2003
Credit card pitfalls
January 5, 2011
The Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Process
December 21, 2010
Preparing for bankruptcy: gathering required paperwork and other tips
November 5, 2010
You own property you can’t afford. What can you do?
October 22, 2010
Homestead Declaration: How to get one and what protection it offers Massachusetts homeowners
September 28, 2010
Preventing foreclosure – quick action can stop the bank from foreclosing on your home
August 27, 2010
Bankruptcy Types Explained: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 11
August 16, 2010
Seminar: Ninth Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference November 16, 2010
Seminar: Eighth Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference October 6, 2009
Contributor: Bankruptcy Bits
Lecturer: Hampden County Bar Association’s Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force, February 2009
eBook Author: Seeking Bankruptcy Assistance in Western Massachusetts? Your top 12 personal bankruptcy questions answered, 2008
Guest Speaker: Taxes & Assets, WHMP Radio, July 21, 2007
Published Decision, In re Crocker _B.R._ 1st Cir. BAP (Mass) 2007
Lecturer: Fifth Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Law Conference, October 2006
Co-Author: Who Is Your Client? Ethical Considerations Potential Counsel Must Consider, Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, August 6, 2005
Published Decision: In re Holyoke Nursing Home, Inc., 372 F3rd 1 (Mass) 2004
In RE: Desroches, John V. et al 21, represented lender and successfully defeated Homestead claim to validate mortgage, 03-44855HJB, 2004 WL 1949739 (Bank D. Mass. August 31, 2004)
Prosecutorial Discrimination or Contract Theory Restrictions? – The Implications of Allowing Judicial Review of Prosecutorial Discretion Founded on Underlying Contract Principles, 22 W. New Eng. L. Rev. 149 (2000)