Skip to Main Content

Overview

James Carignan concentrates his practice on business and consumer bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, distressed debt matters, and complex commercial litigation. He regularly represents clients in lien enforcement, consumer finance disputes and appellate proceedings. Drawing on deep experience with financial restructuring and fiduciary representation, James guides creditors, lenders and fiduciaries through high-stakes bankruptcy matters, out-of-court workouts and cross-border insolvencies.

James also counsels clients in real estate matters, such as acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, and valuation litigation. His experience includes navigating projects in multifamily housing, healthcare and retail developments, offering tailored guidance to property developers, investment managers, REITs and lenders across all phases of a transaction.

Before joining MG+M, James served as a staff attorney for an international law firm, where he handled matters involving business reorganization, real estate litigation and trial advocacy. Prior to that, he held roles as of counsel and associate at two national US firms representing clients across industries in corporate, commercial and fiduciary litigation.

Experience

  • Acted as debtor’s counsel in Chapter 11 proceedings of global environmental solutions provider, facilitating section 363 auction and sale of debtors’ assets and confirmation of Chapter 11 Plan.

  • Represented bondholders in execution proceedings against Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, successfully obtaining attachment of equity shares to enforce judgment in excess of $150 million.

  • Represented a major bank in appeal of adverse judgment in Massachusetts state court, where the trial court had imposed liability in excess of $115,000, finding violation of Massachusetts' consumer protection statute. Successfully obtained a complete reversal on appeal, by citing the trial judge’s numerous evidentiary and legal errors.

  • Represented PHH Mortgage Corporation and its investor, HSBC, as trustee of a REMIC trust in an appeal of an adverse sanctions order in New Jersey state court, where the trial court had found that HSBC failed to comply with a court-approved settlement agreement and sanctioned HSBC in excess of $172,000. Successfully obtained a complete reversal, on appeal, by citing the trial judge’s application of an erroneous and impermissible analysis in assessing the sanction.

Involvement

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Turnaround Management Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Delaware State Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
  • New Jersey Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Inns of Court
  • Villanova Law School Alumni Association

Education

  • Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law, JD, 2002
  • University of Central Florida, BA, 1999

Bar Admissions

  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey

Court Admissions

  • US District Court, District of Delaware