Resume

The firm, led by Mr. Ward, has recently developed an expertise in defending large landlords against class actions, especially those based in alleged violations of the security deposit statute. The firm recently defeated three separate class actions which were denied class certification due to the zealous defense provided by the team led by Mr. Ward.

PUBLICATIONS

In 1996, Mr. Ward published Massachusetts Landlord-Tenant Practice: Law and Forms. In 2011, he published Massachusetts Landlord-Tenant Practice: Law and Forms – Security Deposits and Last Month’s Rent, which is presently available through the Amazon website.

ASSOCIATIONS

Emil Ward is a former member of the advisory board of Massachusetts Finance Housing Association, now known as Mass Housing. There, he also served as President for a number of years. Additionally, Mr. Ward served on the Board of Editors for Lawyers’ Weekly for approximately ten years. Mr. Ward is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the Small Property Owners’ Association and has held that position for many years.

LECTURES

Attorney Ward has recently given lectures to the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Foundation and to the Real Estate Bar Association regarding the impact of the new medical marijuana law on rental property owners and on the pitfalls of buying occupied properties. Previously, Attorney Ward was the featured landlord-tenant speaker at the Massachusetts Association of Realtors conventions for three years running.

Mr. Ward has given numerous lectures to groups such as landlord attorneys, tenant attorneys, real estate brokers, to judges of the Housing Court, and to other groups on many topics involving landlord-tenant law. Attorney Ward was a guest lecturer at the Lorman Education Services seminar regarding landlord tenant law. Attorney Ward taught as an adjunct professor of law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, as well as having taught real estate courses at the BU Paralegal School.

RADIO AND TV APPEARANCES

Emil Ward has been a guest on Media One’s Andover Law school television program: “You Be the Judge,” regarding landlord-tenant law. In the last year, Emil Ward was a contributing expert on the popular radio show “Real Estate Radio,” which airs on WBZ Radio.

Mr. Ward now has a podcast: “Don’t Get Burned in Real Estate”.

MEDIATION

Having trained with Mediation Works, Incorporated, Mr. Ward was recently appointed to the panel of mediators for REBA, the Real Estate Bar Association.

EXPERT WITNESS

Mr. Ward has been retained by an insurance company as an expert witness in the recent past.

TESTIMONY

Attorney Ward has testified on numerous occasions before the Massachusetts House Joint Committee on Housing and Urban Development in favor of passing a mandatory rent escrow law, which would level the playing field in Massachusetts for landlords. Mr. Ward was a consultant to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and to the Small Property Owners Association analyzing and critiquing bills having to do with mandatory rent escrow.

EDUCATION

B.S., Biology, Dickinson College

Juris Doctor, Northeastern University Law School

LICENSES

Massachusetts Bar

Federal Bar, First Circuit, Massachusetts

Real Estate Broker’s License