Mr. Ontell’s practice is primarily dedicated to real property law. Mr. Ontell represents lenders and private clients in both commercial and residential conveyancing transactions. He has also litigated several real estate related matters and was both trial counsel and appellate counsel in the important case, Keller v. Teschke, 38 Mass. App. 627. Mr. Ontell serves as title agent in large and medium size sophisticated commercial transactions. As title agent, he reviews abstracts of title, prepares Commitments for title insurance policies, negotiates insurance coverages with counsel for purchasers and lenders and acts as settlement agent. He is an agent for the major title insurers including Chicago Title Insurance Company, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, First American Title Insurance Company and Stewart Title Guaranty Company. Mr. Ontell also provides title services for the title insurance companies including arranging for title examinations, title review and recording services. He provides advice regarding real estate matters to the underwriters as well as to members of the real estate bar. Mr. Ontell is a Land Court title examiner and has prepared and filed Land Court registration and confirmation abstracts and numerous reports on property matters referred to him by the Land Court. He has also appeared as an expert witness in several litigation cases. Mr. Ontell represents the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States National Park Service and several nonprofit conservation organizations in land acquisitions as both title counsel and closing counsel. Mr. Ontell received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University in 1971 and his juris doctorate from New England Law in 1976. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s property section and a member of the Real Estate Bar for Massachusetts (REBA).