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Michael A Pezza Jr

Litigation Attorney at NEWTON CENTER, MA

5.0   1 review
  • Licensed for 42 years
    State MA
    Acquired 1980
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Michael

Learn Michael’s areas of practice.

4
Practice areas
  1. Litigation
    50%
    General civil litigation, including representing businesses and individuals in contract, tort, and media and First Amendment matters.

    43 years

  2. Communications and media
    30%

  3. Insurance
    15%

  4. Business
    5%

 

 I am a Boston trial,  media, and  business lawyer with more than 29 years of experience.  I am also a trained mediator.

LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL A. PEZZA JR.

My law practice, Law Office of Michael A. Pezza Jr., focuses on civil litigation (including litigation of business and insurance matters), media and First Amendment, and business matters.  I offer the benefits of more than two decades of training and experience in large firms, coupled with the small firm benefits of efficiency, flexibility, hands-on personal attention, and competitive rates.

I have represented large and small businesses, and individuals, in a variety of matters concerning, among other things, business disputes, business transactions and contracts, confidentiality and non-disclosure issues, employment issues, contract and tort claims, insurance disputes, construction defects, product liability, serious personal injury, real estate disputes, bad faith claims, copyright and trademark disputes, substantial commercial property losses, media and First Amendment matters, and litigation avoidance and management.  

As a litigator, I have prepared, evaluated, and tried jury and non-jury cases, argued motions, briefed and argued appeals, and resolved disputes before state and federal courts in Massachusetts and other states.  I have extensive experience in conducting discovery in other states and abroad, as well as in resolving disputes through mediation and arbitration.

I am a member of several  bar associations and professional organizations, with a focus on litigation, business, dispute resolution, and media law issues.  I serve as a Vice Chair of the ABA Media, Privacy, and Defamation Law Committee, and I am a member of the Media Law Resource Center's Defense Counsel Section, its Pre-Publication/Pre-Broadcast Committee, and the MLRC Institute Speakers Bureau.

My pro bono work includes the successful representation of a teen-ager from China who sought asylum in the United States after he was imprisoned and tortured in China because of his religious beliefs, and representation of artists in a variety of matters.  I am panel counsel for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts.  

I have been recognized with the Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated certification for many years.

The Web site for my law practice provides additional information about me and the services I offer in my practice.

BOSTON DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES

I founded Boston Dispute Resolution Services in 2008 as an adjunct to my law practice, to provide timely and cost-effective mediation and other dispute resolution services--such as conciliation, case evaluation, and business facilitation--to the legal, insurance, and business communities. Particular areas of interest--based on my experience as a trial lawyer--include commercial disputes (including breach of contract and business torts), commercial property damage claims, serious personal injury cases, complex insurance coverage disputes, professional liability claims, defamation claims, product liability claims, and construction claims.

The BDRS Web site is .  My email at BDRS is

TEACHING

In addition to my law practice and BDRS, I am a member of the adjunct faculty at Northeastern University School of Law, where I most recently taught entertainment law.

 

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Law Office of Michael A Pezza Jr.
PO BOX 590278
NEWTON CENTER, MA, 02459

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  1 customer review
5 Star
 
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4 Star
 
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1 Star
 
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Posted by anonymous | December 4, 2008
Boart Longyear Client Review and Rating
Michael worked with me on several agreements. Most being very complicated and international or mulinational. His knowledge and advise where greatly appreciated.

Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 275-400 per hour
  • Contingency 25%-35%
Payment methods
Check

Resume

AVVO RATING 8.3 (Excellent)

Work Experience

  • Founder
  • Boston Dispute Resolution Services
  • 2008 - Present
  • Adjunct Faculty
  • Northeastern University School of Law
  • 2007 - Present
  • Law Office of Michael A. Pezza Jr.
  • 2004 - Present
  • Senior Counsel
  • Holland & Knight LLP
  • 2003 - 2004
  • Partner
  • Morrison Mahoney & Miller, LLP
  • 1980 - 2003
View all work experience

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1980
  • Colgate University
  • A.B.
  • 1977

Legal Cases

  • Pappas v. Commerce & Industry Ins. Co.
  • SJC adopted client's posiiton on case of first imp
  • Joyce v. Robert Slager and The Wareham Observer
  • Dismissed under anti-SLAPP statute

Associations

  • Online Media Legal Network @ Harvard's Berkman Center
  • Panel Counsel
  • 2009 - Present
  • American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Media, Privacy and Defamation Law Committee
  • Vice Chair
  • 2004 - Present
  • American Bar Association
  • Member
  • N/A
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Member
  • N/A
  • Boston Bar Association
  • Member
  • N/A
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Member--Defense Counsel Section
  • N/A
  • Association for Conflict Resolution
  • Member
  • N/A
  • Association for Conflict Resolution (New England chapter)
  • Member
  • N/A
  • Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts
  • Panel Counsel
  • N/A
  • Colgate University
  • Class President and Reunion Chair
  • N/A
  • Colgate University
  • Annual Fund Committee Member
  • N/A
View all associations

Honors and Awards

  • AV Rating
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2017
  • Best Oral Advocate
  • Dunmore Moot Court Competition, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  • N/A
  • National Moot Court Team
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  • N/A

Publications

  • Best of MCLE Journal
  • Defense Considerations in Soft Tissue Injury Cases
  • N/A
  • Resolution Solutions
  • A periodic e-newsletter from Boston Dispute Resolution Services
  • N/A
  • In Brief: Media Matters
  • A periodic e-newsletter from Law Office of Michael A. Pezza Jr. regarding media and First Amendment law
  • N/A
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Various Law Firm Client Presentations
  • Bad Faith Defense
  • N/A
  • Various Law Firm Client Presentations
  • Property Loss Recovery
  • N/A
  • Speaker, MCLE Soft Tissue Inujry Program
  • Defense Considerations in Soft Tissue Injury Cases
  • N/A
  • Program Chair, MCLE Soft Tissue Injury Cases Program
  • Program Chair
  • N/A
  • Melrose Public Television
  • First Amendment, Religion, and Holidays
  • N/A
  • Melrose Human Rights Commission
  • First Amendment, Religion, and Holidays
  • N/A
  • MCLE 60 Minute Lawyer Audio Series
  • Fetaured Speaker
  • N/A
  • First Amendment Class
  • Reporter's Privilege
  • N/A
  • Entertainment Law Class
  • Reporter's Privilege
  • N/A
  • Entertainment Law Class
  • Reporter's Privilege
  • N/A
  • Boston Public School Music and Arts Faculty Conference
  • First Amendment, Religion, and Holidays
  • N/A
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (1)
Given (1)
Endorse Michael
Litigation Attorney | Sep 30
Relationship: Other
"I enthusiastically endorse Attorney Pezza. Mike and I were partners in a large firm for many years. He was a strong litigator; and was also recognized throughout the firm as thoughtful and scholarly in his broad understanding of the law. Over the years Mike has developed a particular expertise in media and constitutional issues, while still pursuing litigation matters in a number of other areas. I would be happy to provide further information with regard to Attorney Pezza."
Litigation
NEWTON CENTER Litigation Lawyer Michael A Pezza Jr
Michael A Pezza Jr
Litigation Attorney
NEWTON CENTER, MA
Licensed for 42 years