Mike Lane Email and Phone Number

I am a trial attorney who represents corporate clients in an extensive range of litigation matters, including those involving employment and bankruptcy law.I regularly represent consumer lending institutions, such as mortgage lenders, investors and servicers, in connection with the defense of claims by borrowers. I also assist corporations in contractual disputes relating to purchase and sale agreements, service contracts, loan agreements and security interests. In the bankruptcy forum, I represent secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and related litigation. This includes preference and fraudulent transfer actions, claim objections, and other adversary proceedings, including actions relating to commercial and consumer loans and mortgage servicing. My bankruptcy experience also includes assisting clients with proofs of claims, contract assumption or rejection issues, use of cash collateral, sale of estate assets, and relief from stay efforts.Specific matters include:- Represent mortgagee and loan servicer in four-day adversary proceeding bench trial relating to alleged misapplication of post-petition payments; - Represent aircraft and engine manufacturers, suppliers, and lessors in numerous aviation and aerospace bankruptcies, including defense of preference claims relating to priority of artisan liens; - Represent loan servicer in defense of borrower’s claims for violations of the FDCPA and bankruptcy discharge injunction; - Represent mortgagee in post-foreclosure litigation by tenants alleging breaches of warranty of habitability and the covenant of quiet enjoyment; - Advise employers regarding PTO accrual and usage policies, enforcement of restrictive covenants, and drafting of employment agreements; - Represent commercial lessors and lessees in litigation relating to lease provisions and the impact of governmental COVID-19 orders; - Represent homeowner in Land Court trial relating to easement rights for recreational beach use.

Represented clients in a broad range of business litigation, employment litigation, ADA accessibility and accommodation issues, while also heavily involved in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations, and associated contested matters and adversary proceedings including claim objections, contested plan confirmations, collateral valuation proceedings, avoidance actions and other adversary proceedings. Matters included:-- Successfully confirmed numerous Chapter 11 plans of reorganization.-- Obtained dismissal of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6) nondischargeability claim related to debtor’s purported efforts to thwart collection of judgment debts. Cordeiro v. Kirwan (In re Kirwan), 558 B.R. 9 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2016)-- Successfully defended numerous cases on behalf of business owners over alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, including through summary judgment. See, e.g., Marradi v. Galway House Inc., Civ. No. 13-10813RGS, 2014 WL 1454266 (D. Mass. Apr. 15, 2014).-- After bench trial, obtained judgment in favor of Chapter 11 debtor-developer against purported purchaser’s claim for specific performance of contract to purchase condominium unit. Karailla v. 7 Bay Corp. (In re 7 Bay Corp.), 16-AP1102-FJB (Bankr. D. Mass.)-- After bench trial, avoided judicial lien pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 522(f) through homestead exemption, despite ambiguous deed. In re Freeman, 520 B.R. 341 (Bankr. D. Mass. Oct. 27, 2014). -- Obtained partial summary judgment on behalf of assignee of commercial mortgage and lost promissory note, entitling lender to recoup proceeds from foreclosure sale. Desmond v. Raymond C. Green, Inc. (In re Harborhouse of Gloucester, LLC), 505 B.R. 365 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2014), aff'd 523 B.R. 749 (B.A.P. 1st Cir. 2014).-- Represented former employee in Wage Act claim for unpaid commissions on long term service contracts.

Wrote over 125 articles providing thoughts and perspectives on the stock market, personal equity positions, real-time decision-making, and macro and micro economic trends while having my real life investment portfolio tracked and performance measured against highly successful investors.

Drafted legal memoranda and decisions relating to vast array of federal and state law claims, including Title VII discrimination claims, ERISA actions, Walker Process antitrust actions, and Massachusetts’s Consumer Protection Act, Wage Act, and Independent Contractor Statutes.

Drafted memoranda and decisions relating to vast array of state and federal claims while also managing civil case dockets and interviewing and supervising student interns. Also involved with the court-assisted mediation program of the District Court.

Researched legal issues for upcoming motions and drafted bench memoranda. Specific areas of law included, among others, 45 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.