Education

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2010, cum laude
  • Allegheny College, B.A. with Political Science Honors, 2007, cum laude
    • Pi Sigma Alpha
    • Phi Alpha Theta

Civic Involvement

  • Engage! Cleveland
    • Member, Leadership Council 2018 – 2019
  • Ohio Climbers Coalition
    • Member, Board of Directors 2013 – 2016

Professional Affiliations

  • Northern District of Ohio Advisory Group, Member
  • Ohio Eighth Judicial Conference (Life Member)
  • Meritas
    • Member, US Leadership Committee, 2019 – 2021
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
    • Adjunct Professor, Appellate Practice, 2014 – 2016

Bar / Court Admissions

  • Ohio State Courts
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Awards

  • Selected to Ohio Rising Stars, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021
  • CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Appellate Practice, Spring 2009

Presentations & Publications

Justine Lara Konicki

Partner

jlk@kjk.com 216.736.7211 216.621.6536

Overview

Justine has distinguished herself as a tenacious attorney who is not afraid to take on the most sophisticated and complex issues. With extensive litigation and transactional experience, she is committed to finding solutions that best meet her clients’ goals.

Much of Justine’s current legal work focuses on real estate and finance, including the representation of borrowers, lenders, developers and tenants in a wide variety of business and commercial issues. Justine is skilled in finance work-out and distressed asset deals and works closely with the firm’s Finance team to manage the sometimes dual track of work-out and litigation. Justine also serves as outsourced in-house counsel to a public company, managing its litigation matters. Additionally, she frequently works on behalf of individuals, middle-market and small businesses in such matters as contract and shareholder disputes.

Outside of her client work, Justine has served as an adjunct professor teaching appellate practice at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law and is an avid rock climber.

“I enjoy rock climbing. It requires grit, determination, on the spot problem solving, accurate appraisal of risk and confidence―the same tasks and strengths required for successful legal results.” – Justine Lara Konicki

Representative Experience

“Justine, it’s difficult to fully express the magnitude of your help to our group. You were able, like few lawyers I know, to explain the complexities of the legal situation to the diverse background group in layman’s terms, while also expressing the genuine nature of the situation – all the while keeping everyone ‘focused on the prize.’ In the end, I could not have imagined a better outcome. I seriously can NOT imagine getting to where we did without you!”

– Randy Podolsky, President of Riverwoods Development Partners

  • Manages outside litigation and performs duties as “outsourced in-house counsel” to publicly traded manufacturer headquartered in Ohio
  • Successfully prevented lender’s summary judgment in a $26.4M commercial foreclosure proceeding over industrial building in Independence, Ohio and then closed on refinancing for the borrower/owners while foreclosure litigation was pending
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of real estate development company, which was being harassed with false accusations of fraud and misdeeds
  • Protected and advanced relocation of company’s world headquarters to MidTown Cleveland when the landlord and majority owner were threatened by a request for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction
  • Defended construction defect cases against a developer and builder and roofing company
  • Facilitated the resolution of a complex, multi-party real estate redevelopment dispute regarding a prominent Cleveland property
  • Worked to protect property owners across Ohio when the State appropriated their land
  • Represented management company and affiliates in a case that uncovered and defeated landlords’ conspiracy to put the operators of 21 nursing homes across Ohio out of business
  • Served as counsel in drafting multiple winning appellate briefs and gave oral arguments in cases at the 5th and 8th District Court of Appeals
  • Served as part of the team that created the successful bid for Cleveland to host the 2016 Republican National Convention