Mark W. Corner

Overview

Mark Corner is a respected and accomplished litigator with nearly four decades of practice. His courtroom experience spans all departments of Massachusetts state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as various administrative agencies and arbitration tribunals. Mark's appellate advocacy is particularly noteworthy, having briefed and argued more than twenty-five appeals before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Courts, as well as the First Circuit. His persuasive written and oral communication acumen have earned him a reputation for delivering favorable outcomes across highly complex litigation matters.

The cornerstone of Mark's practice is real estate litigation involving "the ground and structures built on it." In and out of court, he excels in resolving disputes over property ownership, zoning challenges, land use conflicts, construction litigation, and commercial lease disagreements. His multi-dimensional understanding of property law allows him to navigate the intricate legal landscape where real estate and litigation intersect. Clients value his strategic approach to streamlining resolution, combining technical legal knowledge with practical business considerations to realize efficient resolution even when there is no clear winner.

Beyond real estate matters, Mark maintains a diverse practice that includes complex business litigation, intracompany disputes, and commercial litigation. He also represents insurance companies in personal injury and property damage defense, first-party claims, coverage disputes, and bad faith allegations. Mark’s versatility allows him to serve clients across a multitude of industries, bringing veteran perspective, thorough analysis, and strategic thinking to each case. Whether representing individuals, businesses, developers, or contractors, in active litigation or as a trusted advisor, Mark's approach to dispute resolution and litigation remains focused on achieving practical, cost-effective solutions.

Experience

• Successful appeal affirming application of full faith and credit of foreign divorce judgment in a Massachusetts eviction proceeding
• Favorable jury verdict in a breach of contract action involving the purchase of a telephone answering service business, in which the jury verdict limited damages to the amount of the purchase price previously offered by the client, and not the much larger claim asserted by the plaintiff
• Successfully challenged, following evidentiary hearing, unreasonable conditions imposed by a town on a comprehensive permit authorizing development of two affordable housing projects, as well as defense of the neighborhood appeal of such project
• Successful defense of adverse possession trial, by which client’s abutter sought to establish title to the client’s property on which the abutter had erected structures without permission
• Prevailed on summary judgment, and affirmed on appeal, a landmark ruling restricting the imposition of unreasonable conditions upon the use of property allowed as a matter of right but requiring site plan approval
• Jury verdict in favor of a bankruptcy trustee seeking to recover damage to a houseboat that constituted property of the debtor’s bankruptcy estate; judgment affirmed on appeal, in which the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit delineated jury trial rights in a turnover claim brought by a federal bankruptcy trustee

Honors, Publications, & Speeches

Honors

• AV rating from Martindale Hubbell

• Massachusetts Super Lawyer, 2008 to Present

Publications

• Author, "The End of 'Prohibition by Condition': Castle Hill Apartments Limited Partnership v. Holyoke Planning Board," Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review, Vol. 9, No. 1, March 2007

Presentations & Speeches

• Webinar Panelist, “Adjudicatory Proceedings During COVID: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Boston Bar Association, September 21, 2021

Civic

• Board of Directors, Frank J. Murray Inn of Court
• Member, Massachusetts Interscholastic Wrestling Officials Association
• Board of Directors, Neighbor Brigade
• Planning Committee, National Brain Tumor Ride
• Member and Chair, Wayland Zoning Board of Appeals, 1994-2001

Professional

• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, USA 500 Clubs, 2017 to Present

Community

Mark is an avid cyclist and National Brain Tumor Ride Planning Committee member. He served for over five years on the Board of Directors of Neighbor Brigade, a non-profit corporation that establishes community-specific networks of volunteers to help individuals facing sudden crisis. A member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Wrestling Officials Association, Mark also serves as a referee in wrestling matches/tournaments at the high school/prep school levels. Mark was awarded the 2026 Official Longevity Award from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Wrestling Officials Association for his service.