Nelson P. Lovins
Nelson Lovins is the Founder and Principal of Lovins & Metcalf. He has decades of experience in civil litigation, business law, family law, criminal defense, and appellate litigation. In his civil work, Nelson represents individuals and businesses across a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, technology, construction, real estate, and health care. He has tried dozens of cases in state and federal court, obtaining jury verdicts for clients as both plaintiffs and defendants. He has also successfully argued appeals before the Massachusetts Appeals Courts and Supreme Judicial Court, and has arbitrated cases before the Financial Industries Regulatory Authority, American Arbitration Association, and JAMS.
In his criminal defense work, Nelson represents individuals charged with crimes at the trial and appellate levels. He also represents clients suspected of wrongdoing in government, workplace, and independent investigations. In one notable recent case, Commonwealth v. Warren, he convinced the Supreme Judicial Court to overturn his client’s conviction on appeal. In that landmark ruling, Massachusetts’ highest court held that an African-American male’s flight from police may not be probative of guilt in light of the Boston police department’s documented pattern of racial profiling. The case was reported nationally across news outlets, including CNN, NPR, and US News & World Report.
Active in the legal community, Nelson is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. He has authored numerous articles in diverse areas of the law and has served as an external editor for the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence. He has also taught courses on business law and business litigation at Suffolk University Law School and Massachusetts School of Law.
Representative Civil Matters
Obtained $1,000,000 settlement in medical malpractice case for client who suffered severe complications from plastic surgeon’s negligent calf implant surgery
Successfully defended a Boston-area law school against student’s claim of disability discrimination in jury trial involving a number of novel issues under state discrimination laws
Recovered $850,000 after instituting suit for legal malpractice against client’s prior attorney, who misappropriated client’s funds
Obtained settlement in excess of $400,000 for client injured in snowmobiling accident in foreign country in case involving complex issues of international law
Obtained $375,000 settlement from employer for client injured at hospital construction site
Navigated multi-million dollar takeover of closely-held family corporation on behalf of three sons whose father attempted to freeze them out of the business in case entailing four separate lawsuits, which were ultimately resolved through a complex corporate transaction
Successfully represented Middle Eastern-based military camera distributor in arbitration involving breach of contract claim against a large United States-based publicly held corporation
Negotiated $800,000 settlement on behalf of group of plaintiffs in land fraud case
Representative Criminal Matters
Persuaded Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to overturn client’s weapon-related conviction in groundbreaking decision holding that a black man’s flight from Boston police might be logical and not probative of guilt
Persuaded the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to overturn client’s larceny conviction based on district court’s improper admission of arguably coerced confession
Prevailed in jury trial to achieve the release of civilly committed client after forty years of hospitalization
Prevailed in jury trial to achieve an acquittal for client accused of domestic assault and battery on a defense-of-others defense
Education
Suffolk University Law School, J.D. cum laude
Tufts University, B.A.
Admissions
Massachusetts
United States District Court, Massachusetts
United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Unites States Supreme Court
Affiliations
Massachusetts Bar Association
Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Middlesex Defense Attorneys
Selected Publications & Speaking Engagements
Massachusetts Guide to Evidence
Arbitration: Deadlock Buster or Bust (Law Review of Massachusetts School of Law)
Legal Fees in Arbitration (Law Review of Massachusetts School of Law)
Causes of Action in Intellectual Property (Massachusetts Bar Association)
Practice Guide to Massachusetts Criminal Law (LexisNexis): Co-author of chapter on Pretrial and Motion Practice
Massachusetts Criminal Appellate Procedure (Suffolk University Law School Law Review)
Director and Officer Liability (Suffolk University Law School Conference on Corporate Governance)
The Partnership Form in Litigation (Suffolk Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy)