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Doran_Jennifer

Jennifer V. Doran

PartnerBoston

Jennifer focuses her practice on business law, with an emphasis on closely held and family owned businesses, commercial transactions, and creditors’ rights.

She specializes in advising closely held businesses on intergenerational issues, succession planning, and growth strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, ESOPs, and intra-company transactions. Jennifer also counsels clients on formation issues, joint ventures, contract preparation, security issues, equipment leasing, distribution rights, licensing, and other commercial matters. She has particular expertise in the construction and distribution industries.

Jennifer also represents creditors in insolvency and bankruptcy matters, including workouts, preference and fraudulent transfer actions, the assumption of real estate leases, single purpose entity structures, the acquisition of assets from bankruptcy, and other issues facing both secured and unsecured creditors.

Jennifer serves on Hinckley Allen’s Executive Committee, Co-Chairs the Privately Held & Family Owned Business Group, and Chairs the Bankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights & Workout, and Corporate Matters, Governance & Strategic Planning for Construction Businesses Groups.

Construction Industry Transactions

  • Represented the owner of a union drywall company in the sale of 100% of its ownership to an ESOP, including pre-transaction restructuring and lender financing.
  • Represented the owners of a company specializing in the distribution and installation of accessories, equipment, and furnishings for the construction industry in the sale of its assets to a private equity buyer.
  • Represented heavy highway construction firm consisting of multiple subsidiaries in the sale of 100% of its ownership to an ESOP.
  • Represented construction business in connection with sale of minority interest to an ESOP.
  • Advised multi-generational business on a restructuring transaction to transition ownership to the next generation.
  • Represented a mechanical contractor in negotiating and receiving a structured equity investment from an international private equity company.
  • Represented a marine construction company in its strategic asset acquisitions to fulfill business division expansion goals.
  • Represented a hardware distributor in the sale of its business, including equity rollover, to a private equity company.
  • Advised specialty general contractor in connection with transition to key employee owners.

Other Industries

  • Represented alcoholic beverage distribution business in the sale of all of its assets to a strategic buyer.
  • Represented life sciences consulting firm in connection with sale of minority interest to an ESOP.
  • Represented the Estate of Laura Halloran, founder of a life science consulting firm, in the sale of the company, which was also partially owned by an ESOP, to a global provider of comprehensive healthcare services.
  • Represented professional services firm in ownership transition and strategic acquisitions.
  • Won arbitration award on behalf of real estate investment company against former partner in business separation contract dispute.
  • Represented specialty medical practice in connection with strategic growth plan.

General Advisory Services

  • Assist with strategic planning and business growth.
  • Prepare succession plans and contingency plans.
  • Structure complex joint venture agreements.
  • Provide advice regarding security interests, consignment, and bailment arrangements.
  • Assist with contract review and drafting.
  • Represent borrowers in connection with bank financing transactions.

Representative Bankruptcy and Workout Matters

  • Represent financial institutions in forbearance and workout arrangements with borrowers in a variety of industries, including real estate, healthcare, personal services, and charitable institutions.
  • Represent real estate developers in connection with the default of project partners and contractors.
  • Counsel to real estate developer in connection with bankruptcy of special use project entity.
  • Chief workout and restructuring counsel to heavy civil construction company with over $1 billion in annual revenues, and subsequent role as special counsel in company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case
  • Counsel to numerous third party plan proponents in Chapter 11 cases of equipment leasing, real estate, and commercial/industrial companies culminating in confirmation of plans of reorganization.
  • Counsel to numerous construction companies in the bankruptcy of owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, addressing issues including project close-out, mechanics’ liens, settlement of claims, and joint venture issues.
  • Represented major financial institution in the bankruptcy of its principal contractor and addressed project close-out and mechanics’ lien issues.
  • Counsel to creditor in a dispute over copyright ownership with a debtor attempting to sell assets free of the copyright interest.
  • Represented holder of right of first refusal in bankruptcy of property owner.
  • Successfully defended numerous preference and fraudulent transfers representing millions of dollars of exposure in bankruptcy cases throughout the United States.

Work Experience

  • Hinckley Allen
    • Executive Committee Member
    • Chair, Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights & Workout
    • Chair, Corporate Matters, Governance & Strategic Planning for Construction Businesses
    • Co-Chair, Privately Held & Family Owned Business
    • Partner (2009-Present)
    • Associate (2001-2008)
    • Summer Associate (2000)
  • Health Law Advocates, Inc.
    • Research Assistant (1999)

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America® (2018-2026)
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Boston Magazine, Top Lawyers (2022-2025)
    • Bankruptcy and Workout (2025)
    • Corporate Counsel (2022-2024)
  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
    • Top Women of Law (2025)
    • Go To Lawyer, Business Transactions (2022)
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Massachusetts (2005-2016)
  • Boston Bar Association, Law Day Honoree, Public Interest Leadership Program (2009)

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Boston YMCA, Education and Training Branch, Advisory Board Member
  • MCLE Annual New England Bankruptcy Law Conference, Co-Chair (2016-Present)
  • New England Network of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation, Co-Chair (2013-2015)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • American Bar Association
  • Boston Bar Association
    • Bankruptcy Committee, Co-Chair (2017-2019)
    • Co-Chair (2014-2016)
    • Young Lawyers Committee, Bankruptcy, Co-Chair (2004-2006)
    • Public Interest Leadership Program, Member (2006-2007)
  • International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation
  • Rhode Island Bar Association
  • Turnaround Management Association

Bar Memberships

  • Massachusetts, 2002
  • Rhode Island, 2002
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 2002
  • United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, 2010
Publication

Employee Stock Ownership Plan: How to Leverage Stock Appreciation Rights and Warrants

When a company is contemplating a transaction involving an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”), there are a lot of considerations regarding structure, including how to retain, incentivize and reward key individuals. One set of considerations is stoc…

Publication

Is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) the Right Succession Tool for You?

Succession planning is complicated but essential for any closely held business. A business needs to consider the next generation of leadership to ensure that the business remains viable, retains its value and fulfills its obligations to employees, customer…

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Firm News

Boston Magazine Recognizes 26 Hinckley Allen Attorneys in 2025 Top Lawyers List

Hinckley Allen is proud to announce that 26 of its attorneys have been named to Boston Magazine’s 2025 Top Lawyers list, representing a broad range of its practice groups. This year, six Hinckley Allen attorneys are newly recognized among the pu…

Firm News

Hinckley Allen Partner Jennifer V. Doran Named a 2025 Top Women of Law Honoree by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

Hinckley Allen is proud to announce that Partner Jennifer V. Doran has been recognized as a Top Women of Law honoree by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. This prestigious award celebrates exceptional women lawyers who are pioneers, educators, trailbla…

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Case Study

Hinckley Allen Guides Complex ESOP for Family-Owned Construction Firm

Hinckley Allen represented Rifenburg Holdings, Inc. (“Rifenburg”) in the sale of 100% ownership interests to the organization’s newly formed Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Rifenburg, one of Upstate New York’s oldest and largest family-owned …

Case Study

Hinckley Allen Secures Complex Financing Package for Construction of Medical Campus at Rock Row in Westbrook Maine

In a remarkable display of legal acumen, Hinckley Allen successfully closed a highly intricate financing transaction, marking an exciting moment for long-time client Waterstone Properties Group. The over $100 Million financing will help facilitate the cons…

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Past Event

24th Annual Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference

March 31, 2026

Jennifer V. Doran, Partner; Chair of the Bankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights & Workout and Corporate Matters, Governance & Strategic Planning Groups; and Co-Chair of the Privately Held & Family Owned Businesses Group, will be a featured speaker at …

Past Event

MCLE New England: 27th Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference 2026

February 4, 2026

Jennifer V. Doran, Partner; Chair of the Bankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights & Workout and Corporate Matters, Governance & Strategic Planning Groups; and Co-Chair of the Privately Held & Family Owned Businesses Group, will serve as Co-Chair of th…

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