John J. Lavin, a founding partner of the firm, is an attorney who far prefers the fast paced, think on your feet trial practice of the courtroom to his desk. Although he would rather be on his feet before a judge or an arbitrator, he knows that success in the world of litigation comes from strategic planning, risk evaluation and rigorous preparation, so he uses his time in the office wisely and with the end game of success in mind. He also prides himself on providing cost effective representation to his clients. John focuses his entire practice on litigation, especially commercial and construction litigation.

John brings his high-energy lifestyle and competitive nature to his practice. From being a competitive athlete in high school and college, rock climbing across the county to snowboarding first descents on the India/Pakistan boarder, he has taken on challenges that push him to his limits. He approaches his clients’ cases and claims with the same can-do attitude, vigor and will to succeed.

John has focused his practice on construction litigation for the last ten years. Aside from being familiar with both the courtroom and alternative dispute resolution from a lawyer’s standpoint, it seems John has been in training to be a construction lawyer since birth as he comes from a construction family and worked as an electrician from high school through law school. His personal understanding of construction projects and passion for building things gives him perspective that other attorneys do not have as he has actually been there, with boots on, tools in hand, trying to get through the struggles of a project. His practical and technical knowledge also helps bridge the gap between client and attorney because clients and experts can “talk-shop” with him. It also helps when it comes to analyzing claims and defenses. Knowing it is usually a far better option to complete a project than it is to litigate over it, John has the knowledge and experience to interpret contract provisions and provide practical guidance to see the project through while best protecting his client’s interest. If it does come down to litigation, be it in the courtroom or at arbitration, his ability to present the highly technical components of construction litigation claims in a clear, easy to understand manner, allows him to successively argue these complex cases to judges, jurors and arbitrators. John has represented clients in both private and public projects, including claims involving the Federal Government.

In addition to construction law, John handles the firm’s commercial litigation practice. He also is highly familiar with the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act as it applies to the regulation of contractors, construction projects and home improvements. John has also served as special litigation counsel for municipalities on topics from construction disputes to negotiation of labor contracts and dispute resolution before state agencies and boards.

John earned his B.S. from King’s College and his J.D. from the Quinnipiac University School of Law where he was on the school’s Moot Court Honor Society. Currently, John is the Co-Chair of the Construction Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is a regular speaker for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education and has spoken for Lorman Seminars as well as before numerous trade associations. He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Morris County Bar Association.   John is admitted to practice in New Jersey State and Federal Courts, before the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Federal Claims. He has also handled construction claims in four (4) other states. John was recently selected to the 2015 New Jersey Super Lawyers list. Only five percent of lawyers in the state were selected.

In his spare time, which there is not much of anymore, John likes to rock climb, snowboard and work on anything with an engine.

Speaking Engagements:

• Construction Law 2015 – June 2015
• Consumer Protection Statutes: Remedies and Defenses for Statutory Claims Relating to the Purchase of Property and Home Improvement Contracts – October 2014
• Consumer Law: Issues and Strategies 2014 – May 2014
• Consumer Fraud Act In Home Improvements and Purchases – September 2013
• Construction Law 2012: Tackling Contract Provisions and Insurance Issues – 2012
• Recent Developments and Changes in Construction and Mechanics Lien Laws – 2011
• What to Do When Construction Projects Go Bad – 2008

Publications:

• Navigating a Construction Contract Claim Against the Federal Government, Construction Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association Newsletter, Vol. 14, No. 1, August 2009
• The End of Arbitration of Residential Construction Disputes, Construction Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association Newsletter, May 2005, with Steven Cohen, Esq.

Cases:

• H&S Development Corp. v. New Jersey Dept. of Comm. Affairs, Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County: Law Div., Docket No. ESX-L-0879-05