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August 4, 2025 | Press Release

Nutter today announced the addition of two new partners and one associate to its New York office, accelerating the firm’s growth in its key real estate, litigation, and intellectual property practice areas and expansion of its New York footprint as the firm continues to scale nationally.

Jon C. Popin will join as a partner in Nutter’s nationally ranked Real Estate Department. Popin is highly experienced in land use and zoning laws governing property use and development, with a particular focus on New York City. He brings over 20 years of experience advising developers and property owners and representing them before New York City agencies on high-stakes matters involving land use, air rights, and development strategies. Known for delivering practical, results-driven solutions, Popin enhances Nutter’s ability to deliver comprehensive real estate solutions in New York for premier developers across the country. Popin joins Nutter from Duane Morris.

James S. Trainor will join as a partner in Nutter’s Litigation Department and a member of the Intellectual Property litigation practice group. Known for his first-chair trial and appellate counsel expertise, Trainor brings a proven track record of protecting clients in significant patent disputes and guiding them through every stage of litigation – from early strategic planning to courtroom victories. Trainor has successfully defended clients before U.S. district courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Trainor furthers the firm’s capabilities in complex intellectual property litigation, particularly in the growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Trainor joins Nutter from Fenwick.

Jordana A. Garellek will join as an associate in the Real Estate Department. Garellek is well-versed in land use and zoning law, with a focus on property acquisition, land use and development. She joins from Duane Morris.

“We are excited to welcome Jon, Jim, and Jordana to the firm,” said Michael E. Scott, co-managing partner at Nutter. “This talented team strengthens our core areas, grows our New York presence, and elevates Nutter’s exceptional service for clients nationwide.” 

“Nutter is strategically expanding its legal team in key practice areas that continue to experience high demand, as clients continue to seek first class legal representation from our firm,” added Liam T. O’Connell, co-managing partner at Nutter. “Jon, Jim, and Jordana are exceptional attorneys with well-earned reputations for excellence who will enhance our ability to provide strategic, results-driven legal guidance from our expanding New York office.”

Jon Popin represents clients in various land use matters before key New York City municipal agencies, including the New York City Planning Commission, New York City Department of City Planning, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, New York City Department of Buildings, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals. Popin holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and a B.S. from California State University, Los Angeles.

“I am pleased to join Nutter’s award-winning real estate team, where commitment to collaboration and deep industry expertise ensure exceptional client service,” said Popin. “Nutter’s entrepreneurial spirit, national footprint, and strategic focus on continued growth in the New York real estate market perfectly complements my land use practice and long-established relationships with the city and developers. I look forward to helping clients navigate land use regulations in New York City with the same vision and impact that Nutter brings to transforming the Boston skyline.”

James Trainor is an experienced, Chambers-rated first-chair trial and appellate counsel who specializes in patent and life sciences litigation but also frequently represents clients in commercial, antitrust, and First Amendment-related litigation. Beyond the courtroom, he advises clients on intellectual property matters, including technology licensing and strategic counseling, and assists corporations and private equity houses in navigating IP issues that arise during funding rounds and M&A transactions. He holds a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and a B.S.C.E. from Tufts University.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Nutter’s litigation team, known for the quality and legal acumen of its legal teams and its impeccable track record of obtaining favorable outcomes for clients,” said Trainor. “In today’s rapidly evolving marketplace, safeguarding intellectual property is essential, and I look forward to working with clients across the country and globally to protect their ideas and innovations in high stakes IP disputes.”

Jordana Garellek advises clients on land use and zoning issues as well as IP litigation. She represents developers and property owners in re-zonings, variances, and other zoning matters, and facilitates acquisitions of unused development rights for both sellers and buyers. Garellek earned a J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law and a B.S., summa cum laude, from William E. Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College.

Nutter’s Real Estate Department is nationally and regionally recognized for its deep experience across all asset classes and project types. Backed by a Band 1 Chambers ranking, Nutter has a proven track record across the entire development lifecycle - from land acquisition and permitting to financing, construction, and leasing. In 2024 alone, Nutter attorneys advised on more than 330 acquisitions and dispositions, secured approvals for 200+ developments, negotiated 260+ leases, and closed 180+ real estate loans. Nutter’s real estate team provides trusted legal guidance to owners, developers, institutional investors, lenders, and public entities on complex transactions, financing, permitting, land use, and environmental matters. The team has broad experience covering real estate and financing transactions, as well as related entitlement, land use, and environmental matters.

Nutter’s Litigation team has a proven track record of successfully resolving complex commercial litigation in the real estate, corporate, and banking verticals. Nutter’s Intellectual Property and Litigation Departments earned a Tier 1 ranking from Best Lawyers for both Litigation – Intellectual Property and Patent Law. Additionally, the Boston Business Journal recognized Nutter as one of the largest and most influential IP law firms in Massachusetts - underscoring Nutter’s leadership and unmatched expertise in the field. Nutter’s IP litigation capabilities include major disputes involving patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, and trade secrets. The firm’s litigators bring trial experience, industry expertise, and a strong commitment to providing innovative solutions for clients.

About Nutter
Nutter is a Boston-based law firm that provides legal counsel to industry-leading companies, entrepreneurs, institutions, foundations, and families, across the country and around the world. The firm’s corporate, intellectual property, litigation, real estate and land use, labor and employment, tax, and trusts and estates practices are national in scope. The firm was co-founded in 1879 by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, before his appointment to the Court. For more information, please visit www.nutter.com and follow the firm on LinkedIn.