Two Dundee Park, Suite 102, Andover, MA  | 978-474-8880

attorneys

Joseph J. Wadland  |  James L. Ackerman  |  Lawrence J. Mullen

Joseph J. Wadland
Mr. Wadland started the firm in 1993 after having practiced with one of New England’s largest law firms for several years. Mr. Wadland has represented Fortune 500 companies, numerous New England based companies and businesses, family businesses and individuals in litigation and trial. His practice is focused in the areas of health care, medical malpractice, products liability, insurance coverage, subrogation, traumatic personal injury with emphasis on spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries and wrongful death, closely-held corporation disputes, employment litigation, and clergy sex abuse. Mr. Wadland's practice encompasses state and federal courts, having represented clients in all six New England states as well as California, Florida, New Jersey and New York. Mr. Wadland also represents clients before various licensing authorities, administrative agencies and in the case of individual health care providers, before hospital boards, committees and boards of registration. Mr. Wadland is licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

After having completed the Harvard Negotiation Institute 2019 Program on Mediating Disputes sponsored by the Harvard Law School Executive Education Program, Mr. Wadland has recently added mediation to his practice.

Mr. Wadland attended law school in the evening at Suffolk University and graduated in 1986 (magna cum laude). Prior to 1986, Mr. Wadland worked for the U.S. Department of Interior. Mr. Wadland’s other degrees include a M.Ed. in Public Health from Boston University (1977) and a B.A. from Bridgewater State College (1976). Mr. Wadland also serves in the following capacities:
  • Advisory Council, Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence;
  • Board of Directors, Bourque Family Foundation;
  • Board of Directors, MW Fund;
  • Sponsor, Journey Forward (Canton, MA)
 
James L. Ackerman
James L. Ackerman practices in the areas of corporate law and business litigation. Mr. Ackerman joined Wadland & Associates in 2000 and the partnership of Wadland & Ackerman was created in 2001. Since that time, his focus has been on corporate law matters. However, because of his 25 years of litigation experience prior to that date, he also continues to devote a fair amount of time to that area of law. Experience prior to 2001 includes his practice from 1971 - 1998 with one of New England’s largest law firms, Day, Berry & Howard. Mr. Ackerman opened the Boston office in 1981, which grew from two to over fifty lawyers during his tenure. Mr. Ackerman managed the litigation practice for that office. His accomplishments include:
  • Working with groups of insurers following enactment of 1980 environmental law to develop industry position regarding coverage of risk and to shape law respecting new issues;
  • Trying innumerable cases to juries, judges and arbitrators, for amounts up to $75 million. Largest judgment obtained for a client, $34 million. Substantive areas have included securities laws, real estate issues and P&S Agreements;
  • Chairing numerous committees of counsel in large, multi-party cases, including development and implementation of multi-million dollar litigation budgets for multi-party groups;
  • Hiring, coordinating and dismissing local counsel in many types of cases. Helping to develop law regarding operation of special litigation committees of boards in evaluating merit of stockholder derivative claims;
  • Developing and implementing long-term strategies to minimize impact on clients of mass tort litigation; and
  • Helped to create, on a pro bono basis, programs at the Kennedy School of Government for Russian government officials.
Mr. Ackerman obtained his JD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1969, and BA, cum laude, from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1966.
 
Lawrence J. Mullen
Lawrence J. Mullen graduated from the University of Virginia with High Distinction in 1976, and from the University of Maine School of Law (cum laude) in 1981. After a one year clerkship to the Maine Superior Court, he served seven years on active duty with the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corp. After leaving the Navy he was an associate at Hoch & McHugh in Boston for 8 years. He joined Wadland & Associates, the predecessor firm to Wadland & Ackerman in 1997. Mr. Mullen is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. His practice concentrates in litigation in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, personal injury, products liability, business, and commercial collections. His clients include marine insurance carriers, banks, national and local businesses, and individuals.