Education

Boston College Law School, Newton, MA, J.D., magna cum laude, 2003

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, B.A. History, cum laude, 1994

Admissions to Practice

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

United States District Court, District of Massachusetts

Professional Affiliations

Former Co-Chair, ABA Regional White Collar Crime Young Lawyers Subcommittee

American Bar Association

Boston Bar Association

Awards and Recognitions

Rising Star, General Litigation, New England Super Lawyers (2012)

Rising Star, Criminal Defense, White Collar, New England Super Lawyers (2009-2011)

Privitera Family Commencement Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Exceptional Contribution to Boston College Law School (2003)

Order of the Coif, Boston College Law School (2003)

Continuing Education and Commitment to Excellence

Panelist, "What Every Federal Practitioner Needs to Know About Federal Government Litigation," Boston Bar Association (2011)

Participant, American Bar Association Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime Conference (2009, 2011)

Participant, National Institute for Trial Advocacy

Publications and Press

Co-Author, "Evidentiary Issues in the Superior Court," Massachusetts Superior Court Criminal Practice Manual (MCLE 2013) (forthcoming)

Collora LLP Names Three to Partnership

Author, "Images of Icons of Justice," Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, May 28, 2012

Dwyer & Collora Attorneys Win First Circuit Case That Limits Who May Bring Claims Against Federal Contractors Under the Federal False Claims Act

White Collar/Government Enforcement Blog

Pro Bono / Community Service

Supporter and former Board of Directors member, Families for Depression Awareness

Member and volunteer, Boston College Law School Alumni Association     

Volunteer attorney, Framingham Project for Incarcerated Women

Justin P. O'Brien

617 371 1035

jobrien@collorallp.com

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Clients and Industries

Justin has served public and private companies, professional service firms, executives, managers, and licensed professionals in a variety of fields, including financial services, securities trading, health care, pharmaceuticals, engineering, construction, insurance, real estate, software, retail, and government. 

Practice Areas and Experience

Justin has appeared in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, and before various government agencies, representing clients in civil litigation and in defense of government enforcement actions.

In civil matters, he has dealt with commercial disputes involving many different claims, including actions for fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract, professional malpractice, unfair and deceptive business practices, breach of fiduciary duties, and unpaid deferred compensation.

In his work related to government investigations and enforcement actions, he has dealt with actions by federal prosecutors, the state Attorney General, and various state and federal agencies. He has particular experience in matters relating to alleged false claims against the government and various forms of civil and criminal fraud.

Professional Experience Outside of Collora LLP

Justin served as a law clerk to the Honorable Patti B. Saris on the United States District Court and as an attorney at Foley Hoag LLP before joining Collora LLP in 2005. He also previously worked as a public affairs consultant and as a political campaign organizer for candidates including U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry.

Sample of Results in Practice *

• Won jury trial for plaintiff in state Superior Court regarding multiple fraudulent transfers of financial assets worth over $2 million.
• Won dismissal of federal civil False Claims Act case against our clients, including a city and its mayor, in case involving alleged housing fraud, and succeeded in having dismissal affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit based in part on issues of first impression.
• Part of legal team that won a multi-million dollar federal court verdict for a domestic subsidiary of a multi-billion dollar international company involved in a complex commercial agreement dispute. Our client won despite a previous indictment and conviction of the client’s local manager in connection alleged wrongdoing related to the contract. Case involved issues of first impression under the Uniform Procurement Act in Massachusetts.
• Successfully settled civil lawsuit prior to trial involving dispute over rights to certain engineering intellectual property, attaining the goals set by the client.
• Won reversal on appeal of a trial court’s damages award against our client regarding real estate finance transactions.
• Defended public contractor in federal and state investigations and in civil litigation stemming from Central Artery Project (the "Big Dig") with successful pretrial resolutions of all matters.

* This sampling of cases represents a selected, small portion of this lawyer’s total experience, and past performance is not intended to be a representation of likely future results, which must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

About Justin

Justin grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, the youngest of six children. A student of history and politics, he has worked in all three branches of the federal government, committed the names of every U.S. president in order to memory, and is an avid reader of historic markers and plaques. Justin also enjoys hiking and Red Sox baseball, and considers The Godfather the best movie ever made.