Portrait of Justine Baakman

Justine Baakman

Counsel

Justine Baakman is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Construction Law Practice Groups. Justine’s practice includes representing corporate clients in complex commercial matters including claims of breach of contract, fraud and material misrepresentation. She has also litigated matters involving allegations of violation of consumer protection laws and unfair trade practices. Additionally, Justine has defended clients against claims involving the due diligence of their boards and directors and has represented her clients in litigation stemming from the dissolution of partnerships.

Justine has experience with large-scale government, commercial and residential construction matters including construction defect and bond claims. She has been involved in the pursuit and defense of mechanic’s liens. Justine has also successfully defended clients against allegations of violations of applicable federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, and regulatory standards, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Beyond representing her clients in active litigation, Justine also counsels clients on strategies to avoid litigation, including implementing document retention policies, safety and job training programs and risk transfer via contract terms. She often plays a role in negotiating contract terms for her clients to ensure optimum business outcomes.

    Education

    • Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law (J.D.)
    • University of Scranton (B.S., magna cum laude)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Pennsylvania
    • New Jersey

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

    Recognitions

    • Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Litigation Construction (2024-2025)

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Artful Donations: Exploring Museum Exchange
    In this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler welcomes Robert Wainstein and Michael Darling, co-founders of Museum Exchange, the first digital platform dedicated to facilitating art donations to museums and nonprofit institutions across North America. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the way collectors, artists, estates, and cultural organizations connect through charitable giving. Robert and Michael explain the inspiration behind Museum Exchange, the challenges they set out to solve, and how the platform has grown into a network of more than 400 museums. They walk listeners through the donation process—from evaluating artwork and matching donors with institutions to handling logistics, documentation, and tax considerations. Along the way, they discuss the realities of museum collecting, why many donations are declined, and how thoughtful placements can help preserve artists' legacies while expanding access to important works of art. The conversation also explores Museum Exchange's work with living artists, artist estates, hospitals, universities, and smaller regional museums, as well as the launch of the Charis Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit designed to steward significant collections before placing them with institutions that can best benefit from them. Robert and Michael conclude by sharing their vision for the future of charitable art transactions and how Museum Exchange is helping reshape philanthropy in the arts for generations to come.