John R. Blake, Jr.

John R. Blake, Jr. is a Partner in Shipman & Goodwin LLP’s Boston office. His practice focuses on real estate and commercial lending. John advises developers, lenders, landlords, tenants, borrowers, and other clients on real estate planning, finance, leasing, permitting, land use, zoning, and environmental issues. His work helps clients structure transactions, evaluate risk, and move real estate projects forward with clear legal guidance.

John earned his J.D. from Vermont Law School in 1991 and received his B.A. from Columbia University in 1988. His education provides a strong foundation in legal analysis, negotiation, and practical problem solving. This training supports his ability to advise clients on complex real estate transactions, commercial financing, land use concerns, and regulatory issues that can affect development and property matters.

John works with both borrowers and lenders on debt structuring, loan documentation, and secured-interest enforcement. His experience includes matters involving ground-up projects, adaptive reuse, mill conversions, commercial property acquisitions, title review, due diligence, and commercial leasing. Through these matters, he helps clients address financing, operational, environmental, regulatory, and contractual concerns before they become obstacles to a successful transaction.

John R. Blake, Jr. has been listed in Boston Magazine as a Top Lawyer for Real Estate Commercial and has been recognized as a Massachusetts Rising Star for real estate, banking, and environmental law. He is affiliated with the Massachusetts Bar Association, the New Hampshire Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association. His former community roles include service with the Chelmsford Zoning Board of Appeals, the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, and the Merrimack Valley Venture Forum.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Shipman & Goodwin LLP
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, New Hampshire Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association

Licensed State

• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire

Education

• Vermont Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Columbia University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges