Justice Law Collaborative Recognized as Best Women-Led Law Firm 2024

Justice Law Collaborative has been honored by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a 2024 Best Women-Led Law Firm. This recognition celebrates firms owned, operated, led or helmed by women who have made significant contributions to the legal industry, their clients, staff, and community, and who help women thrive across Massachusetts’ legal profession.

Justice Law Collaborative was co-founded by Paula Bliss and Kim Dougherty in 2021 to fill a void in trauma-informed litigation and social justice. In just three short years of operation, the firm has grown to a team of 15, gained greater visibility for its legal victories against high-profile physical and sexual abusers, and has brought swift and lasting changes across state and nationwide legislatures.

“Being named to the inaugural list proves that strong female leadership is a clear differentiator, “ said Kim Dougherty, co-founder and partner of Justice Law Collaborative. “The partners at JLC all hail from large firms, many of which were helmed by a majority of men. We recognized an opportunity to enhance the practice of law not only with exceptional litigation tactics but with a focus on collaboration, compassion, and community.”

Justice Law Collaborative is recognized for its involvement in high-profile cases, representing survivors of sexual assault and abuse, the “troubled teen industry,” and individuals harmed by corporate greed or medical malpractice. The firm is currently dedicating resources to reproductive rights, recently filing a series of national class action suits that demand accountability while shedding valuable light on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) practices that target and take advantage of those amid treatment, desperate to start a family, when at their most vulnerable. Attorneys at Justice Law Collaborative have also asserted the rights for high-achieving student athletes, raising awareness around mental health (Katie’s Save) and helping to correct mistakes made by local governing bodies such as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

Being named to the JLC partnership with both an honor and a privilege,” shared Kelly Guagenty. “The firm is comprised of talented women across different disciplines including social work, human psychology, executive coaching, communications, and law. Together, we’ve created something incredibly special – providing a path to healing, remedy, and justice – while leveraging our core strengths to balance one another professionally and personally. It’s magical.”

JLC was founded by women who strongly believed that women deserve and have consistently earned leadership positions in a historically male-dominated industry. JLC attorneys not only leverage legal prowess, but innately female strengths including collaboration, civility, cooperative promotion, and mentorship. Using these skills, the firm is redefining the perception and definition of successful law practices by regularly engaging in community events and activities and leading legal industry associations and groups. The JLC team has invested heavily in meaningful opportunities to interact with its client’s causes. As advocates and volunteers, they speak at events, conduct interviews with the media, support awareness efforts, and most importantly, collaborate with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on legislative reform, spearheading efforts to modify statutes of limitations and to enact new laws to protect the innocent and to provide proper financial and judicial remedy to survivors. The firm’s three partners currently hold or have held officer positions in the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association, the National Women Trial Lawyers, and the American Association for Justice. The results of the firm’s work have net dozens of awards and honors, and its partners are consistently named to annual Best Lawyers® and Super Lawyers® lists.

JLC partner and co-founder Paula Bliss shared, “Selected honorees are driving their careers and practices forward and setting new standards of excellence in the field of law. We feel a responsibility to unearth new approaches to advancing women in law. We’re stronger together, therefore our unique collaborative approach ensures greater success for our clients and women in the profession.”

To be named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s inaugural Best Women-Led Law Firm list, a firm must be led by a female attorney in Massachusetts and demonstrate success in the local legal community through growth in revenue or employees, recognition as a best workplace because of employee support programs, show a high level of employee morale, demonstrates strong and consistent community engagement, and has a record of helping women in across the legal industry to thrive. JLC was also awarded with 2024 Empowering Women honors from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for its ongoing efforts to encourage, support and uplift women across the legal profession.

Excerpt from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly:

Founded three years ago by Paula S. Bliss and Kimberly A. Dougherty, the Justice Law Collaborative focuses on helping victims of medical malpractice, sexual assault and abuse, and injuries from medical devices and pharmaceutical products.

Among notable matters the firm has handled include representation of athletes abused by the former U.S. gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar, and teenagers who were subjected to abuse at uncertified schools posing as therapeutic programs for teens.

The Justice Law Collaborative is also spearheading efforts to modify statutes of limitation and to provide sexual assault and human trafficking survivors with judicial and financial remedies.

“JLC leverages not only the legal prowess of its team, but also innately female strengths, including collaboration, cooperative promotion and mentorship,” Bliss says.

The spirit of collaboration includes one of JLC’s guiding principles, empowering not only its own female team members, but all female lawyers, including would-be competitors.

The firm has even established an investment arm for female-founded start-up law firms that need capital for operations, case management support, and staff.

“Anyone can compete, but few can successfully collaborate,” Bliss says.

The firm’s female leaders are mindful of their imperative to lead by example. A past president of the Women’s Bar Association, Dougherty frequently provides testimony at the State House on laws to protect women and children, and she has spoken at more than 40 legal and advocacy conferences since 2009. Bliss has coached high school mock trial and volunteers to assist students with college essays.

A leader in holding tobacco companies accountable for marketing to minors, Bliss recently secured an eight-figure settlement for the widow of a man who died from a smoking habit that began when he was handed a pack of cigarettes at age 12.

JLC looks to build long-term continuity by promoting from within, including administrative staffers and interns. Several former interns are currently enrolled in law school and one recently joined the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

“Mentorship doesn’t occur in a silo,” Bliss adds. “It is a broad reaching operational strategy that permeates the firm’s DNA.”

Source: Justice Law Collaborative | Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly