Sander A. Rikleen is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department.
Sander’s practice includes a wide variety of commercial trial work, with considerable experience in real estate litigation, securities arbitrations, and appellate work. He has more than 40 years of trial experience in the state and federal courts and in the FINRA (formerly NASD and NYSE) and AAA arbitration forums.
Sander is frequently called upon to solve business problems through the development of strategies to avoid litigation as well as the use of litigation as part of a broader strategy to obtain business objectives. He has experience handling such sensitive matters as the investigation of suspected employee dishonesty and is particularly skilled in matters involving substantial mathematical detail. Sander has been included in the New England Super Lawyers listing, a Thomson Reuters publication since 2004 and is listed in the Commercial Litigation and Real Estate sections of The Best Lawyers in America.
Prior to joining the firm, Sander was a Partner in the Boston office of Edwards Wildman. He was a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the New England School of Law from 1977 to 1985.
Experience
- Numerous state and federal jury and bench trials and appeals
- Numerous Land Court, State and Federal Court actions involving leases, zoning, building at risk, trespass, rights of first refusal, easements, adverse possession, property lines, eminent domain, and title and environmental/conservation matters
- Numerous arbitration defenses of broker-dealers and stockbrokers against customer claims for mishandling retail brokerage accounts, including obtaining specific findings permitting clients to clear their regulatory record
- Obtained defense judgment invalidating a state income tax lien of $11+ million
- Obtained defense judgment against claim for $4+ million damages arising out of redeveloping a shopping center without required tenant consent
- Obtained $1+ million plaintiff’s jury verdict for attorney malpractice in connection with buyout of real estate partnership interest
- Obtained plaintiff’s jury verdict setting aside a real estate foreclosure sale
- Obtained plaintiff’s jury verdict against bank for mishandling wire transfer
- Obtained arbitration award against former employer of a dishonest employee for losses sustained by subsequent employer
- Representation of companies in class action matters involving collection and use of personal identification information, including zip codes
Accolades
Speaking Engagements & Publications
- “Title established by adverse possession not a taking,” co-author, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, May 26, 2020
- “Potential Expansion of Abutter Rights Turned Back,” co-author, Banker & Tradesman, April 16, 2020
- “SJC upholds dismissal of zoning appeal for lack of standing,” co-author, New England Real Estate Journal, April 3, 2020
- “Massachusetts SJC Announces Outcome Prior to Decision, Reverses Appeals Court Decision and Upholds Dismissal of a Zoning Appeal for Lack of Standing,” co-author, Boston Real Estate Times, March 19, 2020
Related Blog Posts
- The Importance of Recordkeeping in Commercial Lease Administration, March 17, 2017
- Residential Security Deposits Provide Protection for a Landlord, but There can be Unexpected Pitfalls, April 29, 2016
- Massachusetts Permit Session Jurisdiction Explained, February 27, 2015
- Take Advantage of the Massachusetts Personal Property Tax Exemption for Solar Installations, December 17, 2014
Memberships
Community Involvement
- Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts
- Former president
- Current board member and clerk
- JCAM Charitable Foundation
- Former president
- Current board member and clerk
- Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments
- Former chair and member
- Temple Shir Tikva (Wayland, MA)
- Former member board of trustees
- Capital campaign finance chairperson for two of its capital campaigns
- Former recording secretary
- Wayland-Weston Rowing Association,
- Former board member
- Wayland Swimming and Tennis Club
- Former treasurer and board member
