Davis, Malm & D'Agostine P.C. Attorneys at Law - Boston Law Firm: Laurence M. Johnson

Practice Focus and Experience

Larry Johnson practices in the Litigation Group and the Business Group. For over forty years he has concentrated his practice in the trial and appeal of complex litigation for individuals and all sizes of businesses, including many Fortune Five Hundred companies. His litigation practice focuses on the areas of securities, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, high technology including computer software licensing and implementation disputes, real estate development and construction, financing, corporate governance, partnership disputes, insurance coverage, executive employment relations, terminations, and estate disputes. Larry has also handled substantial cases involving automotive and other products liability and intellectual property; business venture and professional corporation disputes; environmental claims defense; attorney and accountant errors and omissions, professional liability and discipline; and utility rates.

For over forty years, Larry has had lead counsel responsibility, and has successfully represented large and medium-sized business corporations, including numerous Fortune Five Hundred companies, several European and Far Eastern corporations, numerous regional companies, and individuals, in multimillion dollar disputes tried to juries and judges in state and federal courts and administrative agencies in numerous jurisdictions. Larry is particularly experienced in the preparation and presentation of sophisticated business disputes to juries.

Prior to joining Davis Malm, Larry was a partner at several well-known Boston firms. He served as Law Clerk to the late Justice R. Ammi Cutter of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1964-65.

Representative Matters

Presently representing minority stockholder in large regional concrete supplier in litigation regarding self-dealing transactions engaged in by management/majority stockholders.
Represented preferred stock investor/former CEO of technology company in legal malpractice claim against company's former corporate counsel arising from invalid proposed stock offerings.
Represented stockholders as lead counsel in two securities actions under the Investment Company Act against the investment advisors to families of leveraged, tax-exempt municipal bond funds challenging the legality of advisory compensation agreements which made the amount of the advisors' compensation dependent upon their continued maintenance of the funds' leverage.
Represented a national developer of human resources management software systems in defense of various products/contract claims arising under software licensing and implementation agreements.
Represented a national provider of direct mail fundraising services to non-profits in legal malpractice claim against former counsel arising out of federal false claims and revenue recovery claims prosecuted by the United States with respect to a fundraising contract negotiated and prepared by former counsel.
Represented a multinational producer/importer/distributor of fresh and processed tropical fruits in defense of private, civil antitrust litigation brought by unsuccessful bidder for the purchase of Central American plantations and shipping facilities.
Represented a leading multinational oil company in defense of antitrust claims arising out of the purchase by its venture capital diversification subsidiary of variable speed electronic drive technology developed by a professor at MIT.
Represented a far-eastern automobile manufacturer in defense of antitrust claims arising out of the termination of its northeast regional distributor.
Represented a British union pension fund in the defense of Williams Act claims brought by the REIT which was the target of its hostile tender-offer.
Represented a national insurance replacement automobile rental company in defense of breach of contract and fraud claims asserted by the purchaser of its retail automobile rental business.
Represented the promoter of the first commercially sponsored running of the Boston Marathon in claims for compensation for promotional services in connection with raising over $4 million in sponsorship contributions.
Represented a venture capital limited partnership in securities litigation under Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act against a computer technology company, its chief executive officer and its counsel resulting from defendants' acts in preventing purchase of a substantial position from a founder of the company.
Was lead national counsel for a multinational insurer in prosecution of declaratory judgment actions against the major asbestos producer/manufacturers with respect to the insurer's obligation to provide defense/indemnity with respect to asbestos claims.
Represented owners of a transportation company in defense of CERCLA claims arising out of alleged transportation of hazardous materials to a Superfund site.

Professional

Distinctions: Peer review "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest bestowed rating; Massachusetts Super Lawyer, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.
Admitted: Massachusetts; numerous Federal District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeals; United States Court of Claims; United States Supreme Court.
Elected Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. Life Fellow and Trustee: Massachusetts Bar Foundation (President, 2008-2009; Vice President, 2007-2008; Treasurer, 2006-2007; Member; Massachusetts IOLTA Committee) Member: Supreme Judicial Court Law Clerks' Society, 2004- (Board of Governors, 2008- ).
Member: Boston Bar Association; Massachusetts Bar Association; American Bar Association; Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association, 1977-present. Elected Member: American Law Institute (Life Member).

Community Involvement

Has taught trial and appellate advocacy courses in numerous law school and trial advocacy programs over the past twenty-five years.
Director of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for the past thirty-five years.

Articles

Managing Your Relationship With Outside Litigation Counsel, New England In-House, Laurence M. Johnson (author)
"Controlling Exposure to Software Claims," Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (author)
"Controlling Your Software Claims Exposure," Software Developer Times (author)
"Twenty Years of Civil Rights: Epilogue and Prologue," Boston Bar Journal (author)

News