
overview
Laura Studen has focused her four-decade career chiefly on employment disputes, including discrimination, wrongful discharge, workplace harassment, executive compensation, and contract negotiations. She also has concentrated on family law matters, such as litigation of child custody and removal and divorces of high net-worth individuals that necessitate valuations of businesses and assets. She represents both individuals and companies in complex disputes in litigation, mediation, and arbitration in multiple venues and jurisdictions locally and nationally.
Laura tries to find ways to settle disputes short of the courtroom if possible and offers strategies for conflict resolution based on her deep knowledge of alternatives. She has extensive experience throughout the spectrum of legal strategies – including challenges involving potential litigation, adversarial administrative proceedings, negotiations, and conflict resolution. She offers clients the ability to evaluate their needs from the perspective of potential cost, estimated time commitments, and probabilities of outcomes based on the merits of their claims and/or defenses.
education
J.D., magna cum laude, New England School of Law, 1982
M.A., Journalism, Boston University College of Communication, 1972
B.A., Ohio State University, 1970
admissions
Massachusetts
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
honors & awards
The Best Lawyers in America© “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law – Individuals (2023)
AV® Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
Chambers USA Mainly Plaintiffs Representation – Labor & Employment Law (2017)
The Best Lawyers in America© Best Lawyer, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2006-2024)
Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2004-2021)
American Institute of Legal Council 10 Best Attorneys in Massachusetts for Client Satisfaction – Employment & Labor Law (2016)
American Academy for Financial Litigators Certified Financial Litigator (2015)
Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Labor & Employment (2014)
America’s Most Honored Professionals (2011)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Women of Law (2013)
Top 50 Female Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2005-2007, 2009)

community involvement
Bullough’s Pond Association
- President
memberships
ACLU Massachusetts
- Former Board Member
Litigation Council of America
- Former Senior Fellow
Massachusetts Bar Foundation
- Former Fellow
New England School of Acupuncture
- Former Chair of the Board
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
- Past Board of Governors Member
Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers
- Past President