Zucker ’83 is a Top Massachusetts Lawyer for 2009

Ellen J. Zucker ’83, a partner at the Boston-based firm of Burns & Levinson LLP, was honored as one of the 10 “Top Lawyers of the Year” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, the statewide lawyers’ newspaper.

David Yas, publisher and editor-in-chief of the publication, pronounced Zucker a “fabulous litigator,” noting in particular two of her recent successes at the trial court and appellate levels. He touted Zucker’s representation of Malvina Monteiro, a former employee of the City of Cambridge, who claimed that she had faced retaliation after filing a complaint of race discrimination. The jury agreed and awarded Monteiro more than $4.5 million in damages.

In another case, Zucker helped establish a new standard for determining whether employers can compel employees to arbitrate workplace discrimination claims. Before Massachusetts’ highest court, Zucker successfully argued that her client, Dr. Carol Warfield, the former chair of anesthesiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, could not be forced to arbitrate (instead of litigate in court) her claims of gender discrimination and retaliation against the hospital and others.

Zucker practices in the areas of employment law, business litigation, and white collar criminal defense.  Zucker is an active voice in politics in Massachusetts.  A College of Letters graduate, Zucker earned her master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science and her J.D. from Boston College Law School. Prior to becoming an attorney, she taught high school English and philosophy.

For more information see: http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1336922087/Lawyer-who-won-4-5M-settlement-against-Cambridge-honored