Our History
Sugarman is one of the oldest and most well-respected civil litigation firms in Boston. The firm traces its beginnings to the law practice of Nathan Fink who began practicing law in 1920. Paul, after serving as an attorney in the U. S. Army JAG, joined Mr. Fink in 1958. Paul’s brother, Neil, joined the practice in 1967. Since then, the firm has concentrated in representing injured persons and the families of those killed through the wrongful conduct of others. The firm also continues to represent clients involved in a broad spectrum of civil litigation. Sugarman has grown both in reputation and size and has come to be recognized as one of the preeminent plaintiff’s trial firms in New England.
The noteworthy accomplishments of the firm’s attorneys include representing the Chief Justice of the Superior Court in proceedings before the Supreme Judicial Court in 1978, investigating allegations of misconduct in the Boston Municipal Court at the request of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1990-1991, and establishing important legal precedents such as a spouse’s right to claim injury to the marital relationship, admissibility of product design changes made after a defective product’s manufacture, and application of the consumer protection statute to those injured by defective products. The firm’s commitment to excellence has led to outstanding trial results for clients in both State and Federal Courts in Massachusetts.
Attorneys at Sugarman have served in numerous leadership positions in local, state and national bar associations. The attorneys frequently lecture to bar groups as part of continuing legal education and to non-legal groups to educate the public about the legal system. The firm, as a part of its commitment to represent injured persons, advocates legislatively for injured consumers both at the national and state level. The attorneys at Sugarman share a common goal to continue this tradition of excellence in representing clients, especially individuals injured by the wrongful conduct of others.
The firm’s current principals are Paul Sugarman, Neil Sugarman, W. Thomas Smith, Robert Casby, Jodi Petrucelli, Marianne LeBlanc, Stephen Sugarman and Benjamin Zimmermann. Tom Smith joined the firm in 1977 with Bob Casby joining in 1982. Paul Sugarman was invited to become Dean of Suffolk University School of Law in 1990 and returned to the firm after five years in that position. Jodi Petrucelli in 1992; Marianne LeBlanc in 1993; Stephen Sugarman in 1999; and Benjamin Zimmermann in 2000. Since its inception, Sugarman has been located in the heart of downtown Boston. The firm has been at its present offices at One Beacon Street, adjoining the Suffolk County Courthouse, since 1992.
