James L. Rudolph, Esq.

Managing Partner

Jim Rudolph is the managing partner of Rudolph Friedmann LLP. Several years ago he was named “Best Lawyer” by Boston Magazine. He has also been selected as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer by Boston Magazine in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

As a seasoned business attorney, Jim tries to bring his clients sound practical and legal advice. Over the last twenty-five years, Jim and his full-service law firm have assisted thousands of individuals and companies to meet their personal and professional goals, be it business consulting, negotiating or litigating. In addition to advising businesses on partnership and corporate law issues, Jim has an expertise in real estate, construction law and stockholder disputes.

To stay abreast of the ever-changing business climate, Jim is actively involved in several business, industry and community activities. In addition to Jim’s legal practice, he is a frequent writer and speaker.

Jim is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, the national directory of lawyers, which is the highest rating attainable.

Jim’s representation of clients has included:

• Managing sophisticated and complex litigation for clients
• Transactional work for several institutional and private lenders involving commercial and real estate loans.
• Negotiation of many complicated mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies in various types of businesses.
• Handling of various types of construction related matters including lien and bond claims, bid contests, arbitrations and mediations, and complex litigation.
• Legal services in connection with the sale of hotels and restaurants.
• Employment law including wrongful terminations and non-compete agreements.
• Stockholder Disputes — Some of the cases involving stockholders rights and business divorces include the following:
  • Mark Berkowitz vs. Legal Seafoods, Inc.;
  • James Cafarelli’s suit against his former partner, chef Todd English;
  • Other stockholder disputes involving the following businesses: Colella’s Super Markets, Inc., Quality Components, Inc., Newbury Guest House, Harborside Inn, Air Carrier Support, Incorporated, Color Technology, Inc., Gilcorp, Inc., Security Source, Inc., Austin Sportswear, Inc., Prophecy Development, Inc., Barnsider Group, United Marble Fabricators, Inc., Curtain Insurance Agency, Inc., Formaggio Kitchens, Rustic Kitchens, Electric Supply Center, Inc., National American Rubber Thread Company, Inc., Porthole Pub and Restaurant, Waves, Inc., and AIAL, Inc.

Areas of Practice:

Business Transactions

Real Estate

Civil Litigation

Construction Law

Bar Admissions:

Massachusetts, 1975

U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1976

U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1976

U.S. Supreme Court, 1984

Education:

Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1975 – J.D.

University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, 1972 - B.A.
Major: Political Science 

Governor Dummer Academy, Byfield, MA, 1968

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Shareholder Rights In Closely-Held Businesses, The Boston College Club, April 16, 2010 

Business Partnerships “Makeups and Breakups”, SBANE, March 9, 2010 

Getting Paid in Difficult Times, NorthEast Electrical Distributors, March 4, 2010 

Shareholders Rights in Closely Held Businesses, National Association of Credit Valuation Analysts (NACVA), January 28, 2010 

Getting Paid in a Difficult Economy; Legal Rights and Remedies Available in the Construction Industry, Air Purchases, Inc., November 19, 2009 

Shareholder Rights in Closely Held Businesses, Eastern Bank, November 18, 2009 

Shareholder Rights in Closely Held Businesses, Associated Builders and Contractors, November 4, 2009 

“Dispute Resolution in Today’s Economy”, McGladrey & Pullen LLP, November 7, 2008 

“Construction Litigation in Massachusetts “, Association Builders and Contractors, 2007 

“New Public Construction Reform Act May be Amended”, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Merit Shop Newsletter, 2005 

“Pay When Paid Clauses: Proposed Legislation And Recent Cases May Change the Law”, 2004 

“How to Buy Commercial Real Estate”, Building Massachusetts, 2002 

“Contractor’s Beware-Triple Damages and Legal Fees in Arbitration Cases”, Building Massachusetts, 2002 

“The Art of Negotiation”, Seminar for Bank Commercial Lenders, April 2, 2002 

“Construction Litigation in Massachusetts”, Lorman Educational Seminars, January 29, 2002 

“Negotiating in the New Economy”, Associated Builders and Contractors, February 21, 2002 

“We’ll Show You the Money; Legal Remedies for Contractors in the New Millennium”, Associated Builders and Contractors, March 22, 2001 

“Shareholders Rights in Closely Held Corporations”, Litigation Support and Business Valuation Committee, Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, January 17, 2001 

“The Art of Negotiation”, Associated Builders and Contractors, June 24, 1999 

“Close Quarters in Small Companies”, Mass. High Tech, Law and Technology, April 26, 1999 

“Stockholders Rights in Closely Held Corporations”, Society of Appraisers, Massachusetts Chapter, March 3, 1999 

“Stockholders Rights in Closely Held Companies”, National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, January 16, 1999 

“The Special Litigation Committee: Origin, Development and Adoption Under Massachusetts Law”, Massachusetts Law Review, 1998 

“Massachusetts Law Protects Rights of Shareholders in Close Corporations”, Law & Accounting Section of Bankers and Tradesmen, November 16, 1998 

“Shareholders’ Rights in Closely Held Companies”, February 19, 1998 

“Recent Amendments Improve the Massachusetts Lien Law”, Associated Builders and Contractors Associated Builders and Contractors, 1997 

“A Layman’s Guide to Getting Paid in the Nineties; Legal Remedies Available to the General Contractor, Subcontractor and Material Supplier”, 1995 

“Abuses of The Law Should Be Dealt With Severally”, Daily News Mercury, March 1, 1994 

“Attorney Outlines Sex Harass Grounds”, Daily News Mercury, April 6, 1994 

“Attorney Answers on Price Control Suit”, Daily News Mercury, April 29, 1994 

“Damages Can Be Retrieved by the Courts”, Daily News Mercury, March 28, 1994 

“Workers Rights Are Hot Topic”, Daily News Mercury, May 9, 1994 

“Negligent Salvage; Reduction of Award, Forfeiture of Award or Damages”, Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, 1976

Honors and Awards:

Bennett I. Solomon Community Leadership Award, 2009 

Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Boston Magazine, 2004 – 2011 

JRC Recognition Award (Jewish Rehabilitation Center for Aged of the North Shore), 2001 

David Ben-Gurion State of Israel Leadership Award, 1999 

“Best Lawyer 1998″, Boston Magazine 

Community Leadership Award, Anti-Defamation League, 1996 

Chairman’s Award, Anti-Defamation League, 1990 

Marquis Who’s Who in American Law, 1999 – Present 

Professional Associations and Memberships:

North Shore Chamber of Commerce, 2009 – Present

Member, Board of Directors 

Legal Sales and Service Organization (LSSO), 2009 – Present

Member, Board of Directors 

Anti-Defamation League, New England Board, 2009 – Present

Chair, Board of Overseers 

Anti-Defamation League New England Regional Board, 2006 – 2008

Chair, New England Regional Board 

Anti-Defamation League, 2003 – Present

Member, National Executive Committee 

New England Regional Board, 2003 – 2006

Chair, Nominating Committee; Center For Leadership Development 

Anti-Defamation League,, 1990 – Present

New England Board 

The Governor’s Academy, 1997 – Present

Secretary to Board; Trustee 

Associated Builders and Contractors, Massachusetts, 2001 – 2002

President 

Associated Builders and Contractors, Massachusetts, 2002 – 2009

General Counsel and Member of Board of Directors 

Jewish Rehabilitation Center for the Aged of the North Shore, 1978 – 2009

Member, Board of Directors 

Jewish Rehabilitation Center for the Aged of the North Shore, 1992 – 1994

Past President 

JRC Charitable Foundation, 2000 – 2002

Past President 

Town of Swampscott, 1990 – 1993

Selectman 

Swampscott Zoning Board of Appeals, 1982 – 1989

Member and Chairman 

USTrust/Essex and USTrust/Middlesex, 1994 – 2000

Board of Directors 

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency Multi-Family Advisory Committee, 1992 – 1995

Member 

Camp Kingswood, Bridgeton, Maine, (A CJP Constituent Agency), 1987 – 1989

President 

Camp Bauercrest, 1985 – 1987

Member, Board of Directors 

Massachusetts Bar Association 

Massachusetts Conveyancers Association