John A. McDermott, Esq.

Areas of Practice
As an Associate, Mr. McDermott concentrates his practice in litigation and transactional matters in the areas of real estate development, conveyancing, building code violations, zoning, and land use planning.
Work for Clients
Mr. McDermott has developed a substantial background in both criminal and civil litigation, including experience as a Clerk in U.S. Immigration Court and as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, as well as representing clients in criminal defense matters. Since transitioning to private practice, Mr. McDermott has focused his practice in the fields of real estate litigation, landlord/tenant and eviction matters, foreclosure actions, and complex title curative litigation representing both individuals and large institutional clients in relation to secured assets and creditor’s rights matters. Additionally, Mr. McDermott has substantial experience in zoning and land use/planning matters involving both residential and large scale mixed use commercial/residential development projects, having represented numerous developers before local Zoning Boards of Appeal and Planning Boards throughout Massachusetts. He has also successfully litigated an array of cases in the District Court, Superior Court, Housing Court, and Massachusetts Land Court Departments.
As a counselor, Mr. McDermott regularly advises individuals and developers on real estate development and zoning and land use matters. Informed by his litigation experience and extensive knowledge of the Variance and Special Permitting processes across an array of communities, he is able to provide critical advice regarding the complexities of the permitting processes and varied zoning restrictions which can be extremely beneficial to developers in their analysis of whether and where to invest their resources in acquiring new project sites. Mr. McDermott is also a Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker, having had substantial experience in his family’s real estate business where he handled all aspects of sales, rentals, and property management.
Professional Activities
Mr. McDermott is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. While in law school, he received the New England Law |Boston Public Interest Fellowship upon having been accepted for a clinical internship in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Homicide Unit. Additionally, Mr. McDermott was a recipient of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) Annual Conference Scholarship having been selected as a Coordinator at the AILA Annual Conference which is attended by hundreds practicing attorneys from across the country, and he was the 2014 recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for having received the highest grade in his class in Refugee & Asylum Law at New England Law|Boston.
Personal and Community Activities
Mr. McDermott has and has participated as a panelist at the New England Law|Boston Alumni Career Services Fair. Outside of his career, he has served as a volunteer on numerous local and state political campaigns, and is an active member of his church’s young adult group which works with several area non-profits. Mr. McDermott is an avid skier and runner, having participated in the Falmouth Road Race for several years.
Education
Mr. McDermott worked in the Clerk’s Office in U.S. Immigration Court, Boston in the Executive Office of Immigration Review for four years while in college and law school. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Politics, with distinction, from Saint Anselm College, and his Juris Doctorate from New England Law|Boston.
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Real Estate Conveyancing
- Zoning/Permitting and Land Use
- Landlord/Tenant
- Foreclosures and Title Curative Claims