ATTORNEYS
Jay Lawlor
Jay Lawlor is a partner at Hoopes and Morganthaler LLC and a highly seasoned commercial real estate, finance, and litigation attorney. His practice spans complex commercial litigation and sophisticated transactional matters, with a particular emphasis on commercial finance, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, secured lending, and business structuring.
Mr. Lawlor regularly represents lenders, developers, investors, and business owners in middle-market and institutional transactions, including bridge and permanent financing, distressed assets, restructurings, and enforcement of creditor rights. He brings to his transactional practice the perspective of a veteran litigator, allowing him to identify and mitigate risk at the deal stage and to structure transactions with an eye toward enforcement, downside protection, and dispute avoidance.
On the litigation side, Mr. Lawlor has extensive experience in high-stakes commercial disputes in both federal and state courts nationwide, including matters involving complex liability theories, damages modeling, fiduciary duty claims, statutory business torts, and insurance coverage. He has been central in obtaining tens of millions of dollars in recoveries for plaintiffs and in defending clients facing eight- and nine-figure exposure, frequently securing early dismissals, summary judgment, or favorable resolutions well before trial.
Clients value Mr. Lawlor for his breadth of practice, commercial judgment, and work ethic—a combination that allows him to serve as both deal counsel and litigation quarterback when transactions or relationships break down.
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).
Bar 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 & Civic Organizations:
Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court, Bencher (2025)
Member, Connecticut Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Alternate Member, West Hartford Zoning Board of Appeals