Firm News

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the leading  Massachusetts personal injury law firms representing victims of asbestos exposure and sexual abuse, received top-tier designation in the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2026 edition. For the fourth consecutive year, the firm was ranked “Tier 1” in personal injury litigation. The firm was also highly rated in mass tort litigation and class actions. Below are the firm’s complete rankings.

• Metropolitan Tier 1 (Boston)
  • Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Metropolitan Tier 2 (Boston)
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
• National Tier 3
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs

Law firms included in the “Best Law Firms” rankings are recognized for professional excellence and consistently strong ratings from clients and peers. The Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are determined by an exhaustive evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area and metro region, a law firm must have at least one lawyer included in Best Lawyers in that particular practice area and metro. 

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the leading Massachusetts personal injury law firms representing victims of asbestos exposure and sexual abuse, announces that Co-Managing Partner Erika O’Donnell was named a 2025 “Go To Lawyer” for Commercial / Consumer Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

“Go To Lawyers” are nominated by their peers and chosen by a panel from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Honorees are selected for demonstrating in-depth knowledge in their field and deep experience with a record of success, according to the publication.

O’Donnell is a nationally respected litigator and personal injury law expert with nearly two decades of experience representing victims of toxic exposure and institutional sex abuse. She is widely recognized for her fierce advocacy, legal acumen, and deep compassion for clients suffering from mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestos-related diseases, smoking-related cancers, and other life-altering injuries stemming from corporate negligence. Erika has achieved numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts in these cases.

As an active member of the Boston legal community, O’Donnell is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Worcester Bar Association, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and the American Association for Justice. O’Donnell is a founding member of a prestigious national group of female toxic-tort litigators and serves as the first female Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel in the Massachusetts Asbestos Litigation (MAL) docket.

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the top asbestos personal injury law firms in Massachusetts, representing victims of asbestos exposure and sexual abuse, announces that five of its attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2025 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers, with three included on the Super Lawyers list and two on the Rising Stars list.

Founder Michael Shepard was recognized in the Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, and Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff, and Transportation/Maritime practice areas, and included in the Top 100: Massachusetts Super Lawyers Top List. 

Co-Managing Partner Erika O’Donnell and Partner Michael McCann were recognized in the Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff practice area. O’Donnell was also included in the Top 50: Women Massachusetts Super Lawyers Top List.

Associate Giuliana D’Esopo was recognized as a Massachusetts Rising Star in the Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff practice area, and Associate Kelsey McCandless was recognized in the Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff practice area. The Rising Star designation recognizes lawyers under the age of 40 years old or those in practice for less than ten years. 

Super Lawyers is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service for lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The mission of Super Lawyers is to bring visibility to attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice. The selection process, as detailed on the Super Lawyers website, is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations that identify a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the top personal injury law firms in Massachusetts, representing victims of asbestos exposure and sexual abuse, has been recognized as a “Best Women-Led Law Firm” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for the second year in a row. The list celebrates the incredible contributions of female-led firms across Massachusetts and how these firms are helping women attorneys thrive professionally. 

Shepard O’Donnell represents victims of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure, tobacco, and sexual abuse. The firm’s success is a direct result of the many women at Shepard O’Donnell who strive for greatness, including Co-Managing Partner Erika O’Donnell. 

“We’re honored to be recognized alongside the many other women-led firms in Massachusetts,” said O’Donnell. “This recognition demonstrates our commitment to fostering a culture that empowers women attorneys and staff to thrive.”

To be selected as a Best Women-Led Law Firm, a firm must be led by a female attorney in Massachusetts and demonstrate success across a broad spectrum of criteria, including success in the local legal community through growth in revenue or employees; being recognized as a best workplace because of employee support programs; showing a high level of employee morale; demonstrating a strong and consistent community engagement; and having a record of promoting DE&I efforts designed to help women attorneys thrive professionally. The full list of honorees can be found here. 

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the top asbestos personal injury law firms in Massachusetts for over 25 years, announces that three of its attorneys were selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 edition. Published by Woodward/White, Inc. since 1982, Best Lawyers is considered by many to be the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession.

Founder and Co-Managing Partner Michael Shepard was recognized in the Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs practice area. Co-Managing Partner Erika O’Donnell was recognized in the Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs practice areas. 

Partner Michael McCann was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in the Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation – all in Plaintiffs practice areas. The “Ones to Watch” designation recognizes lawyers for outstanding professional excellence who are earlier in their careers. 

Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America is based on an extensive peer-review process designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical and legal practice area. Best Lawyers highlights the top 5% of practicing attorneys in each practice area. Its 2026 selections are featured in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the top asbestos personal injury law firms in Massachusetts for 26 years, received top-tier designation in the Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2025 edition. For the third year in a row, the firm was ranked “Tier 1” in personal injury litigation and was highly rated in mass tort litigation and class actions. Law firms included in the “Best Law Firms” rankings are recognized for professional excellence and consistently strong ratings from clients and peers. Below are the firm’s complete rankings.

Metropolitan Tier 1 (Boston) 

• Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

Metropolitan Tier 3 (Boston) 

• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions  – Plaintiffs

The Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are determined by an exhaustive evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area and metro region, a law firm must have at least one lawyer included in Best Lawyers in that particular practice area and metro. 

Shepard O’Donnell, one of the top asbestos personal injury law firms in Massachusetts for 26 years, has been recognized as a “Best Women-Led Law Firm” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The inaugural list celebrates the incredible contributions of female-led firms across Massachusetts and how these firms are helping women attorneys thrive professionally.

Shepard O’Donnell represents victims of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure, tobacco, and physician sexual abuse. The firm’s success is a direct result of the many women at Shepard O’Donnell who strive for greatness, including Co-Managing Partner Erika O’Donnell. “It’s an honor to be listed among the many other well-deserving women-led firms in Massachusetts,” said O’Donnell. “This recognition illustrates our commitment to creating an inclusive work environment that empowers our women attorneys and staff to excel in their work. Together, we share a common mission to help people who are likely experiencing the most difficult situation they’ve faced in their lives.”

To be selected as a Best Women-Led Law Firm, a firm must be led by a female attorney in Massachusetts and demonstrate success across a broad spectrum of criteria, including success in the local legal community through growth in revenue or employees; being recognized as a best workplace because of employee support programs; showing a high level of employee morale; demonstrating a strong and consistent community engagement; and having a record of promoting DE&I efforts designed to help women attorneys thrive professionally. The full list of honorees can be found here.