overview
Ellen Zucker is a trial lawyer who litigates cases in several jurisdictions in the United States, including California, Texas, Alaska, Tennessee, and her home state of Massachusetts. She is a partner with the law firm Burns & Levinson LLP and has secured landmark judgments and public settlements in closely watched public interest and civil rights litigation. She also has represented criminal defendants accused of money laundering, identity theft, and business fraud and assisted them in navigating the fraught waters of criminal prosecution.
Ellen’s clients include executives, physicians, art dealers, and public sector and construction workers. She is recognized nationally and locally for her tenacious representation of her clients.
education
J.D., Boston College Law School, 1994
M.S., Political Theory, London School of Economics and Political Science
B.A., Wesleyan University
admissions
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
First Circuit Court of Appeals for Massachusetts
honors & awards
Massachusetts Law Review Go-To Lawyer, Employment (2023)
Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List, Labor and Employment (2021-2023)
Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers (2021-2023)
Chambers USA – Labor & Employment Law, Notable Practitioner (2011-2022), Band 1 (2020-2023)
Plaintiff’s Lawyers Trailblazer – The National Law Journal (2020)
The Best Lawyers in America© Best Lawyer, Commercial Litigation (2013-2024)
Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2006, 2008-2023)
National Organization for Women, Massachusetts Chapter, Wonder Woman Award (2013)
Boston College Law School’s Women’s Law Center Woman of the Year (2013)
Cambridge NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award (2012)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Lawyer of the Year (2009)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Battle of the Lawyers (2009)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Power List (2009)
Boston Magazine’s Most Powerful People Extended List (2008)
memberships
Massachusetts Bar Association Journal
- Formerly on Board of Editors
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
- Formerly on Board of Editors
MassEquality.Org
- Former chair
Women’s Bar Association
- Formerly on Board of Directors
American Civil Liberties Union, Massachusetts Chapter
- Formerly on Legal committee
National Organization for Women (NOW)
- Former board member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- Former board member
Massachusetts Bar Association’s Law Review Editorial Board
articles
articles
“A broken bond, a shaken citadel of science”, mentioned, The Boston Globe, January 2023
“MGH settles for $13m with doctor who challenged double-booked surgeries,” mentioned, The Boston Globe, November 2019
“MGH settles lawsuit by former surgeon who said he was fired in retaliation,” mentioned, Boston Business Journal, November 2019
“Zucker ’94 Wins $13 Million Settlement for Doctor,” featured, Boston College Law School Magazine, November 2019
“Mass. Hospital To Pay Fired Whistleblower Surgeon $13M,” mentioned, Law 360, November 2019
“Rosenstein Rumors A Smoke Screen For Kavanaugh Woes?”, video interview, GBH News, September 2018
“For women, this new pipeline could lead to the boardrooms,” mentioned, The Boston Globe, April 2017
“Mass Evidence: A Courtroom Reference, Chapter 3, MCLE New England, 2016
“Federal Civil Litigation in the First Circuit,” Chapter 8, MCLE New England, 2014
Ms. Zucker has also written for several publications, including the The Boston Globe and the Boston Bar Journal.
quotes
“Jury Awards Massachusetts Police Detective $4M in Sex Discrimination Lawsuit”, Insurance Journal, November 2022
“Watertown attorney doubles down after jury awards detective $4M in gender discrimination lawsuit”, GBH, November 2022
“Former MA police detective wins $4 million sex discrimination lawsuit”, Fox News, November 2022
“Massachusetts police detective awarded more than $4 million in sex discrimination lawsuit”, LawOfficer.com, November 2022
“Former Watertown Police Office Wins Sexual Discrimination Suit, Awarded More than $4 Million”, Watertown News, November 2022
“Watertown’s first female detective wins over $4 million discrimination suit”, The Boston Globe, November 2022
“In Secret Meeting, NYU Defends Potential Hiring of Researcher Accused of Sexual Misconduct”, Vice, April 2022
“MIT professor accused of sexually harassing grad student resigns”, The Boston Globe, April 2022
“Why Lorgia García Peña Was Denied Tenure at Harvard,” The New Yorker, July 2021
“A top L Brands executive complained of harassment. Then she was locked out,” The New York Times, February 2020.
“Zucker ’94 Wins $13 Million Settlement for Doctor”, Boston College Law School Magazine, November 2019
“Lawyer held in contempt is guilty-of acting like a man,” The Boston Globe, September 2019
“Court Documents Shed New Light on Gender Discrimination at Fidelity Investments”, Jezebel.com, November 2017
“A Pakistani man’s unwelcome return to work,” The Boston Globe, May 2015
“Co. waived arbitration with ‘litigation conduct’,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, December 2014
“Right to access in balance in Supreme Court,” The Boston Globe, January 2014
“Special committee to tackle discrimination in Cambridge City Hall put on temporary hold,” Wicked Local Cambridge, November 2013
“Ever the Achiever,” BC Law Magazine, Spring/Summer 2013
“Female surgeons note gains, subtle gender bias,” The Boston Globe, February 2013
“Doctor gets $7m in gender bias suit,” The Boston Globe, February 2013
“In Person – Executive Profile: The Advocate – Zucker, recipient of NAACP award, is a ‘true believer’,” Boston Business Journal, December 2012
“Off course in Cambridge,” The Boston Globe, March 2012
“NAACP awards Zucker for her work in Monteiro case against Cambridge,” Wicked Local Cambridge, February 2012
speaking engagements
Sunday Law Brunch, Speaker, The Institute for Digital Archaeology, April 2023
“Having Their Say: Protections for At-Will Employees after Meehan,” Panelist, Women in the Courtroom Committee of the Women’s Bar Association, June 2021
“It’s a Mess Out There: An Update on Whistleblower Retaliation Law,” Panelist, Boston Bar Association, February 2021
Faculty and Opening Statements, as part of week-long boot camp for trial lawyers, MCLE Trial Advocacy Workshop, July 2017
Faculty and Keynote Demonstration of Opening Statements with Discussion, as part of week-long boot camp for trial lawyers, MCLE Trial Advocacy Workshop, 2016
“Entitlement to Attorneys’ Fees: How Best to Receive or Prevent Attorneys’ Fees in Discrimination Cases,” Faculty, MCLE 17th Annual Employment Law Conference, 2014
“Effective Attorneys’ Fee Petitions: Perspectives from the Bench and Bar,” Panelist, Boston Bar Association CLE Program, April 2013
“Litigating Damages in Discrimination and Retaliation Cases,” Faculty, Strafford Webinar, June 2012
“Drafting More Powerful Demand Letters in Employment Cases: MCLE Employment Law Briefing,” Speaker, MCLE Webinar, June 2012
“Developing Mastery in Negotiation and Leadership,” Speaker, Negotiation & Leadership Conference, April 2012
Ms. Zucker has spoken for many more groups, including the New England Legal Foundation and the Boston Bar Association.