About Colleen
education
Northeastern University School of Law, J.D.
University of Vermont
University of Massachusetts, Certification, Women in Politics & Government Program
Bar Admissions
Massachusetts
United States District Court, District of Massachusetts
First Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court
Accolades & more
Honored by Women’s Business Boston Journal as one of the top 10 lawyers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island for her “top notch legal services and advice”
Appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General to defend the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Department of Public Health in cases filed concerning registration of dispensaries under the Medical Marijuana law and successfully defeated several preliminary injunction motions
Past Board Member, Massachusetts Children’s Trust
Past Board Member, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association
Former Conservation Commissioner, City of Lawrence
Volunteer Judge, Yale University National Moot Court Competition
Biography
Colleen is a seasoned litigator and experienced trial counsel, focusing her practice on civil litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of matters. Colleen advises clients in:
- Real Estate and Leasing Disputes
- Business Torts and Contractual Matters
- Employment Issues
- Construction Cases
- Tort Matters
Colleen has experience in every level of state and federal courts in Massachusetts and has been admitted in many jurisdictions across the country pro hac vice. Above all, Colleen is a trusted advisor to her clients with a no-nonsense approach who aims for the most practical way to resolve a conflict and reach her client’s goals with maximum efficiency.Colleen’s philosophy: she blends diplomacy with her competitive spirit which makes her perfectly poised to tackle any litigation matter— routine or cutting-edge. She has tried several cases successfully for her clients and navigated complex business entanglements to avoid litigation as well. Colleen also handles arbitrations, mediation and administrative law appeals to the Superior Court and Housing Appeals Committee.Colleen proudly served as a law clerk to the Massachusetts Superior Court to kick off her career.
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Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Administrative Law Appeals
Representative Experience
- Represented distributor in a two-week jury trial resulting in a $6.4 million verdict for breach of distribution agreement and fraud by the manufacturer which included an award of punitive damages and attorneys’ fees
- Prevailed in multi-phased trial lasting two months stemming from conversion of escrow funds and recovery of over $20 million to her clients
- Won arbitration in New York City resulting in $12.9 million award
- Obtained dismissal for Fortune 500 company from lawsuit alleging denial of life insurance benefits and claims under ERISA
- Had summary judgment affirmed by First Circuit in employer’s favor in case alleging violations of Fair Labor Standards Act, Massachusetts Overtime Act, Massachusetts Wage Act, and Rhode Island Payment of Wages Statute (which decision was spotlighted in the National Law Journal and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly)
- Enforced offer to purchase agreement against seller who tried to sell commercial property to another buyer for higher price
- Won preliminary injunction to keep recycling competitor out of territory
- Defeated preliminary injunction and lis pendens motions brought by seller against buyers in “seller’s remorse” case
- Defeated preliminary injunction motion filed by competitor for trademark infringement
- Defeated preliminary injunction and lis pendens motions brought by seller against buyers in “seller’s remorse” case
- Won consecutive summary judgment motions in case alleging disability and national origin discrimination and retaliation by terminated employee and narrowed case to one claim that settled before trial
- Prevailed in dismissing claims under Older Workers Benefit Protection Act and Wage Act brought by shareholder-physician against medical practice client
- Conducted internal investigation of sexual harassment allegations lodged against two high level executives and rendered findings and recommendations
- Won motion to dismiss breach of contract claim brought by former independent contractor against international staffing company on third-party beneficiary theory
- Obtained preliminary injunction against former employee in case alleging violation of non-competition provision in employment agreement
- Leveraged settlement in employer’s favor against former employee for breach of non-competition and non-solicitation obligations with virtually no discovery
- Successfully negotiated takeover of $12 million line of business for regional staffing company and avoided litigation involving non-solicitation provision
