Some of the most complex and emotionally charged legal challenges involve families, closely held businesses, and legacies—Susan has built her career helping clients navigate them all with care, clarity, and resolve.
With more than 30 years of legal experience, Susan brings a rare blend of business acumen and deep knowledge of trust, estate, and family law to her domestic relations practice. Her path to becoming a trusted family law attorney began during her decades as a business litigator, when corporate clients increasingly turned to her for guidance on succession planning, estate strategy, and divorce issues involving business assets. She quickly saw how valuable her business background could be in helping individuals address change—whether through marriage, divorce, the sale of a company, or death—without compromising what they had built or straining the relationships that mattered most.
Susan focuses her practice on resolving domestic relations matters that intersect with complex business and financial concerns. She frequently counsels clients with interests in family businesses, professional practices, and trusts, helping them structure fair, efficient solutions in high-stakes marital matters. Her work includes negotiating and litigating premarital, postmarital, and divorce agreements involving closely held businesses, as well as advising on the tax-efficient transfer of business and trust interests during periods of transition.
Protecting a Family Legacy Through Strategic Trust Exclusions
Represented a client in a divorce matter involving complex trust structures and generational wealth. The case settled favorably when the client’s interest in a family trust, created by the client’s father, was excluded from the marital estate. Additionally, assets previously transferred by the couple into an irrevocable trust for their children’s benefit were also deemed outside the marital estate.
Upholding a Premarital Agreement to Shield Against Child Support Claims
Represented a party in an arbitrated divorce where the opposing spouse’s demand for child support was denied. The outcome turned on the enforceability of the couple’s premarital agreement, which included a mutual waiver of alimony, and on the fact that each parent’s separate property was sufficient to support the children while in their care.
Securing Asset Clarity in a Dispute Involving Trust Funds and Business Valuation
Represented a party in an arbitration involving the classification of entrusted funds and the valuation of a high-stakes business asset. The arbitrator excluded funds held by the client for the benefit of the client’s siblings and child from the marital estate, and accepted the client’s expert valuation of the opposing party’s interest in a closely held high-tech company.
Exposing Prenuptial Flaws to Reach a Favorable Settlement
Represented a client in a divorce that settled after serious concerns were raised about the validity of the couple’s prenuptial agreement. The enforceability of the agreement was undermined when it was revealed that counsel for the opposing party had made key revisions that were not reviewed or approved by the client’s attorney prior to execution.
Securing a Structured Settlement to Protect a Disabled Client’s Home and Future
Represented a severely disabled client in a divorce matter where the opposing spouse sought to force the sale of the marital home. The case was resolved through a structured buy-out that allowed the client to retain the residence by leveraging retirement assets, which held greater post-tax value to the client due to the client’s disability. The settlement preserved both housing stability and long-term financial security.
Holding an Abusive Spouse Accountable in a Complex Long-Term Divorce
Represented a client in a divorce following a long-term marriage marked by prolonged separation, financial abuse, and coercive control. The spouse, facing potential consequences for the misappropriation of funds intended for the parties’ children, ultimately agreed to mediation. The matter settled on terms that transferred substantial wealth to the client and avoided further litigation, achieving accountability and closure.
Education
- JD, University of Virginia School of Law
- BA, magna cum laude, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- US District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Experience recognized
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2026
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers, 2025-2026
- Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyer List, 2021-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers, 2025
- Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyer List, 2021-2024
Experience in practice
Navigating Divorce During COVID-19
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- USA 500 Clubs, FD3
A Lifelong Love of the Written Word
From classic literature and modern poetry to philosophy and science, Susan has been an avid reader since childhood. Her recent explorations have expanded to include religious texts and commentary, reflecting her enduring curiosity and deepening search for meaning. For her, reading is not just a pastime—it’s a practice in reflection, learning, and growth.
Finding Wonder in the Wild
Whether trekking through forests, marveling at unfamiliar flora, or simply soaking in the rhythm of nature, Susan finds peace and inspiration outdoors. Her adventures into the natural world offer a restorative counterbalance to her professional life and fuel her appreciation for life’s ecosystems, untouched by human hands.
Staying in Motion, Body and Mind
To counterbalance the demands of a desk-bound profession, Susan embraces physical activity with enthusiasm. From long walks and swimming to the occasional round of golf, she values movement as a celebration of human potential. She’s also a spirited supporter of athletes—drawn to the shared energy of sports and the harmony between mind and body.
A Life of Thoughtful Generosity
Whether she’s cooking for family, organizing community events, or volunteering at a local blood drive, Susan brings intention and warmth to every act of service. She believes that joy multiplies when shared—and she finds purpose in lifting others through small acts of kindness and meaningful connection.