Overview

Jay Lawlor is a partner and commercial real estate and litigation lawyer with Hoopes Morganthaler Rausch & Scaramozza LLC.  He focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation in both federal and state court nationwide, but also routinely represents and counsels clients in an array of commercial real estate matters, including purchases and sales, leasing and financing transactions, and business formations.  Mr. Lawlor’s extensive experience as a commercial litigator has given him important perspective that has proven invaluable when representing clients in transactional matters.

Mr. Lawlor has been central in obtaining tens of millions of dollars in recoveries for his clients – oftentimes, in cases involving complicated liability, damages, and related insurance coverage issues.  He also has successfully defended clients facing tens of millions of dollars in potential liability, often succeeding in having difficult cases dismissed by motion before trial, or otherwise obtaining deeply discounted settlements on favorable terms.

Mr. Lawlor’s strength as a lawyer is due in no small part to his dedicated approach and strong work ethic.  Based on excellent undergraduate academics, he obtained a full scholarship to law school, where he graduated fourth in his class.  When he took the bar exam the following summer, he scored in the 99th percentile of all test-takers — nationwide.

Recent Representative Experience

• Represented party to joint venture in obtaining injunction against opposing party, preventing it from using client’s trademark to compete with it in the manufacture of similar products.
• Represented bridge lender in connection with eight figure loan secured by hotel in western Pennsylvania.
• Represented creditors in contesting Chapter 15 bankruptcy petition filed by foreign representative of debtor claiming to be a participant in reorganization proceedings in the People’s Republic of China.  Obtained denial of recognition of petition and related emergency motion for interim relief.
• Represented bridge lender in connection with $9,000,000 loan secured by land in northeast Texas.
• Represented housing authority and its affiliate in defense of premises liability claims by plaintiff seeking millions of dollars in damages.  Obtained summary judgment on all claims.
• Represented Connecticut-based bank in connection with restructuring of seven figure permanent mortgage loan.
• Represented party to joint venture and its principal against lawsuit by co-venturer alleging fiduciary duty, CUTPA, and statutory theft claims seeking millions of dollars in damages.  Opened pre-representation defaults that entered against clients, and obtained stay of proceedings and order requiring parties to arbitrate disputes.
• Represented client against vexatious litigation and abuse of process claims seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.  Obtained pre-trial judgment in client’s favor on all counts.
• Represented client in connection with multimillion dollar solar panel installation involving millions of dollars in claims and counterclaims.  Obtained favorable settlement.
• Represented high yield lender in complicated foreclosure of mortgage securing a multimillion dollar loan.  Obtained judgment resulting in full payoff to client.
• Represented affordable housing developer in obtaining judgment of possession against adult entertainment establishment, whose tenancy was impeding development progress.  When tenant appealed, obtained order requiring tenant to post appeal bond that was, at the time, regarded by the court as the largest in Connecticut history.  The order effectively ended the appeal, as tenant was unable to post the bond.

Education

Mr. Lawlor earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, Heuisler Honor Society, 2011), where he was a member of the University of Baltimore Law Review.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from College of the Holy Cross (B.A., cum laude, Sigma Tau Delta, 2008).

Admissions

Mr. Lawlor is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland, and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Professional Memberships

Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court, Barrister (2022-2023)

Member, Connecticut Bar Association

Member, American Bar Association