Clients come to James A. Kellar to handle disputes involving commercial lending, bankruptcy, real estate, and construction matters. He routinely represents lenders and special servicers concerning defaulted commercial loans, commercial foreclosure actions, intercreditor disputes, and related lawsuits. Jim defends banks and other lenders in litigation regarding counterfeit and forged documents, credit reporting disputes, consumer protection statutes, and lender liability claims.
In his bankruptcy practice, Jim represents creditors and trustees in prosecuting or defending numerous adversarial bankruptcy proceedings involving director and officer litigation and attempts to recover fraudulent transfers and preferential payments.
Jim’s real estate and construction litigation experience includes handling foreclosures, landlord-tenant matters, and easement disputes and, in the construction sector, representing owners, contractors, and suppliers concerning mechanic’s liens, payments disputes, and other disputes affecting construction projects. Jim also assists these clients in drafting and negotiating agreements for construction services.
Jim also has extensive experience advising on matters involving New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act and similar sunshine laws.
Active in the legal education community, he serves as a coach with Seton Hall University School of Law’s Interscholastic Moot Court program. Jim also devotes time to pro bono matters each year, including advising homeowners in contractor disputes after Hurricane Sandy, analyzing disability appeals for veterans, and representing a victim of domestic violence in obtaining a restraining order.