Areas of Practice
James Hannifan concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, business transactions, and municipal law. Attorney Hannifan’s general business practice has involved significant transactional experience, including formation, financing, purchase and sale of most forms of business; drafting, negotiation and review of contracts; and on-going advice to business owners on wide variety of matters. His commercial and residential real estate practice includes purchase, sale, subdivision development, leasing and financing. Attorney Hannifan has worked on major real estate transactions for an insurance holding company’s investment portfolio. He has also worked on mergers, acquisitions and financings for a Fortune 500 computer software company.
Attorney Hannifan has been a contract attorney to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts handling a variety of matters as assigned by the City Solicitor, including City’s response to issues arising from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ oversight of the flood control system along the Connecticut River, and City’s response to proposed revisions of the flood hazard maps by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He is currently serving as legal counsel to the Springfield Redevelopment Authority’s Casino Liaison Office handling a variety of matters relating to the development of the MGM Springfield Project. Attorney Hannifan has served in a variety of capacities as legal counsel to the City of Springfield including providing advice to Mayor, City Council and City Departments; review, negotiation and approval of all types of City contracts; drafting, review, negotiation and approval of grant contracts for UDAG and CDAG programs. He has served as legal counsel to the City’s Industrial Development Finance Agency, and as bond counsel to the City of Springfield.
Professional Activities
Attorney Hannifan is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association. He is a past Treasurer of Springfield Public Forum.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Siddall & Siddall, P.C., Attorney Hannifan served as vice president and in-house counsel for a commercial construction site contractor and an asphalt paving contractor. During the same period he was a shareholder and in-house counsel for a wholesale pulp and paper company. Prior to that, he was a partner with Martinelli, Discenza & Hannifan, P.C., and an associate with Gary E. Martinelli & Associates, P.C. Prior to joining Gary E. Martinelli & Associates, P.C., Attorney Hannifan was an associate with the firm Ryan & White, P.C., and was formally a member of the Law Department of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Bar and Court Admissions
Attorney Hannifan is admitted to the bars of Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Publications
Associate Editor of The Investment Adviser’s Counsel, a quarterly newsletter concerning legal and regulatory matters affecting investment advisers.
Education
J.D., Western New England University School of Law, 1981
B.A., Syracuse University, 1978