Catherine F. Downing
Founding Partner
- Licensed in Massachusetts
Catherine F. Downing
CATHERINE F. DOWNING started her own firm in 1990, specializing in the representation of property management companies and landlords throughout Massachusetts. Prior to founding the firm, Ms. Downing graduated from Boston College in 1980 with a B.A. in history, magna cum laude, and from Suffolk University Law School in 1983 with a J.D., cum laude. She then served as a clerk to the Honorable Marilyn M. Sullivan at the Land Court. Following this clerkship, she went to work for a firm that specialized in real estate litigation, remaining there until she opened her own firm, which eventually became Downing Van Dyke. She is a frequent speaker for the New England Affordable Housing Management Association and has been honored by that group with an Award for Excellence in Providing Legal Education to the Affordable Housing Industry. Ms. Downing has also conducted seminars for the New England Resident Services Coordinators, Inc. and the Institute for Real Estate Management. She has also served as both panelist and chair for several programs for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. and for the Social Law Library, providing education to lawyers on landlord-tenant issues, including the annual Housing Court Judicial Forum, and basic and advanced seminars on reasonable accommodations in housing and conducting an eviction trial. Attorney Downing is also the editor and contributing author for the handbook for lawyers, Residential & Commercial Landlord Tenant Practice in Massachusetts, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. She has been honored by MCLE with one of the 2017-2018 Mentor-Scholar Awards, acknowledging her leadership in the landlord-tenant bar. An Army brat, Ms. Downing has traveled extensively, including living in eight states and a foreign country, prior to returning to her family’s roots in New England.
James H. Van Dyke
Managing Partner
Licensed in Massachusetts & New York
James H. Van Dyke
JAMES H. VAN DYKE received a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Northeastern University in 2005 and received his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 2009. Prior to joining Downing Van Dyke, Attorney Van Dyke worked at firms that specialized in complex civil litigation, including class action litigation. Attorney Van Dyke has spent the bulk of his legal career focusing on the representation of landlords and property management companies. Attorney Van Dyke is co-author of Discrimination Issues In Housing, contained in Residential & Commercial Landlord Tenant Practice in Massachusetts, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. Attorney Van Dyke was recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. This honor is reserved for fewer than 2.5 percent of all lawyers practicing in the state. In 2020, Attorney Van Dyke was named the exclusive recommended attorney in Boston, Massachusetts by Premier Real Estate Lawyers. Attorney Van Dyke frequently conducts training for clients and for industry organizations such as the New England Affordable Housing Management Association. When not practicing law, Attorney Van Dyke enjoys spending time with his Wife and children.
Anthony J. Coletti
Partner
- Licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Rhode Island
Anthony J. Coletti
ANTHONY J. COLETTI received his Juris Doctorate from New England Law Boston in 2005. Prior to joining Downing Van Dyke LLC, Attorney Coletti gained valuable experience working for a local law firm which specialized in title work, real estate conveyancing, and the post-foreclosure sale of residential properties. In June 2007, Attorney Coletti joined another local firm and continued his representation of lending institutions and government-sponsored entities. In the firm’s litigation department, he represented clients in all issues that could adversely affect their interest including consumer protection violations, post-foreclosure evictions, receiverships, and title challenges in several New England states in both state and federal courts. He was instrumental in creating the judicial foreclosure process for the state of Rhode Island and for training several of his colleagues. In 2018, Attorney Coletti joined Downing Van Dyke as a partner. He was responsible for expanding Downing Van Dyke’s coverage area to include Rhode Island and New Hampshire. He also expanded Downing Van Dyke’s client base to include national and international banks and trusts as well as government sponsored entities. Attorney Coletti routinely lectures on many topics associated with summary process eviction as well as courtroom procedure.
Michael J. Louis
Partner
Licensed in Massachusetts
Michael J. Louis
MICHAEL J. LOUIS graduated Summa Cum Laude from Assumption University in 2003 and from Syracuse University College of Law in 2006. Prior to joining Downing Van Dyke, Attorney Louis spent 10 years in-house representing the Boston Housing Authority (the largest landlord in New England), specializing in all phases of Summary Process actions, Appeals, fair housing/discrimination defense, and Section 8 terminations. Attorney Louis has argued for landlord rights in the Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court including the Landmark cases: Figgs v. Boston Housing Authority; Boston Housing Authority v. Y.A.. Prior to the BHA, Attorney Louis was an associate at Downing & Associates, specializing in the representation of property management companies and landlords throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attorney Louis is co-author of the Appeals chapter, contained in Residential & Commercial Landlord Tenant Practice in Massachusetts, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.. Attorney Louis is also the co-chair of the Residential Landlord Tenant section of the Real Estate Bar Association (REBA). In his free time, Attorney Louis volunteers for Pug Rescue of New England (PRoNE), and enjoys travel with his family.
Carl J. Woodworth
Senior Associate
Licensed in Massachusetts
Carl J. Woodworth
CARL J. WOODWORTH, is a senior associate with Downing Van Dyke, having previously worked as a Prosecutor with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. Prior to that, Attorney Woodworth represented applicants seeking Social Security Disability Benefits before the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review at the Social Security Administration. Attorney Woodworth received a Bachelors’ Degree in English from Bridgewater State University in 2000 and received his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University School of Law in 2005.
Drew M. Champigny
Senior Associate
Licensed in Massachusetts
Drew M. Champigny
DREW CHAMPIGNY graduated from Northeastern University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School in 2012. Drew’s early legal career was focused on representing institutional lenders in post-foreclosure conveyances and in post-foreclosure actions in the Housing Court. Over time, Drew developed a specialization in the representation of landlords and property management companies in the housing court. Drew has extensive experience representing clients in summary process and civil cases in court, in code enforcement matters, and in defending clients against discrimination complaints before administrative agencies. In addition, Drew also has significant experience assisting clients with issues related to fair housing. An avid reader, Drew has a lifelong love of literature and finding new and interesting books to read.
Bruno Ngjeliu
Law Clerk
Licensed in Massachusetts
Bruno Ngjeliu
BRUNO NIGJELIU received his Juris Doctorate from New England Law | Boston in 2023. Bruno Ngjeliu is awaiting admission to the Massachusetts Bar. Prior to his employment with Downing Van Dyke, Bruno Ngjeliu gained valuable experience by interning with Veterans Legal Services where he assisted eligible veterans in landlord and tenant matters. During law school Bruno Ngjeliu was awarded multiple awards from the Supreme Judicial Court Pro Bono High Honor Roll to the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Housing Discrimination.
