Two Lawyers.
One Purpose.
Take a breath, we've got this.
We are Kristin Knuuttila and Eric MacLeish and what makes us special is we deliver not only bigger wins, but better wins. We find solutions that other child sexual abuse attorneys never think of. And because we understand legal nuances other lawyers don't, we take cases other attorneys won’t. Our wins include significant monetary awards and Equity Awards. We pioneered Equity Awards – custom-made resolutions that go beyond civil damages – to enhance our clients' wellbeing.
Wins.
Kristin and Eric have impressive wins both individually and as a team. When totaled together, they have won over $175 million for their clients. They have represented child sexual abuse survivors in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and California.
Focus.
Kristin and Eric have over 40 combined years advocating for child sexual abuse survivors and are laser-focused on each and every client. No chat bots, no admin, just them working their hardest for you and with you to get the win you deserve.
Wellbeing.
Kristin and Eric know the tenacity it takes to reclaim your story. That's why their approach is kind, compassionate, and guided by your wellbeing. They pride themselves in fostering a safe and supportive space during a challenging time.
A Cut Above.
We raise the bar when it comes to representing child sexual abuse survivors, holding accountable not only perpetrators but the institutions that employ them. Clients turn to us not only because we are leading authorities in the field, but because of our warmth, empathy, and respect – so you're in the right place.
Pioneers in Sexual Abuse Law
We believe every client deserves a special resolution to their case, something that helps make them whole. Through our Equity Award process, we'll custom-make a resolution with you that contributes to your long-term wellbeing. We press institutions to set up treatment funds, destroy monuments of child predators, and launch internal investigations aimed at uncovering systemic failures.
Kristin Knuuttila achieved the highest jury verdict in a child sexual abuse case in Massachusetts history as of 2014—an unprecedented $10 million on behalf of two sisters. It was a career-defining moment. After serving for decades as a general litigator, in 2017, Kristin left a successful practice and opened Knuuttila Law, committed to fighting for child sexual abuse survivors. Kristin prides herself in developing a close, trusting rapport with her clients. She gets immense satisfaction stripping adult predators of the power they once held over children and holding accountable the negligent institutions that employ them. Since her initial record-breaking win, Kristin has secured other multi-million verdicts/settlements for survivors. Equally important, she has pushed institutions for nonmonetary forms of justice including funding scholarships and hosting educational panels regarding child sexual abuse.
Eric MacLeish has championed the rights of child sexual abuse survivors for over 30 years. Eric first represented six individuals sexually abused as children by priest James Porter. He ended up representing over 100 Porter survivors – the largest case of its time against the Roman Catholic Church. He went on to become lead counsel in the Boston priest abuse cases, representing more than 200 survivors and obtaining an $85 million settlement which ultimately became over $120 million. More recently, Eric has focused on abuses in private schools, securing multi-million-dollar settlements on behalf of alumni who were harmed as children. A lifelong envelope-pusher, Eric has pioneered less obvious, but more restorative resolutions such as therapy funds for his clients. Eric is a passionate advocate of survivors of child sexual abuse and his legal work has shaped child sexual abuse litigation nationwide.
Kristin and Eric got me through one of the most difficult chapters in my life. They were thoughtful, patient, and communicative at every step. Lawyers aren’t therapists but there were times Eric and Kristin felt like both.
~ West Coast Boarding School Survivor
Our Mission.
The purpose of both of our law firms - Knuuttila Law and MacLeish Law - is clear: To modernize the legal process by empowering each client to share their voice in their case and win. Together with our clients we create innovative solutions that go beyond traditional outcomes, providing profound personal triumph and redefining justice for all survivors of sexual assault.
Our Collaboration.
Compassionate and hard-driving, rigorous and creative, serious and playful, Kristin and Eric are two different attorneys at their own firms with different approaches to the law. Together they cover all the bases. They have over 40 years of combined experience representing survivors across New England and California. All tolled they have obtained over $175 million for survivors.
News + Insights.
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First in a series of three posts. You have taken a big step. You have decided to speak out against a predator and/or the institution that failed to properly supervise […]
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