Eric MacLeish.

For more than 30 years Eric has been a nationally acclaimed pioneer in the field of child sexual abuse law, fighting for clients and championing the rights of all survivors.

Eric is a known authority in the field of sexual abuse law. In the early 1990s he won a seven-figure settlement a child sex abuse survivor case which turned into representing over 100 survivors in the famous Fall River James Porter priest trial – the largest case at the 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 $85 million settlement.

Eric also files class action litigation on behalf of the severely mentally ill. In 2023, he fought and won cases for individuals unjustly incarcerated at Bridgewater State Hospital.

Eric was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the Top Ten Winning Trial Lawyers in the country. In 2023 he was awarded New Hampshire's Pro Bono Lawyer of the year.

Eric has taught at Boston University School of Law and Plymouth State College, and served as the legal analyst for WCVB-TV (ABC) Boston and as legal editor for New England Cable News-TV (NECN).

It's about ensuring that these institutions can't hide from what they've done, that they can't just sweep it under the rug and move on. These survivors deserve justice, and that's what we're fighting for.

Awards + Honors

  • “Who’s Who in American Law,” 1998-present
  • Featured in Academy Award Best Picture Film "Spotlight," played by Billy Crudup
  • "Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year," presented at NH Bar midyear meeting, 2023
  • "Lawyer of the Year," Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2016
  • Frank Carrington Annual “Champion of Civil Justice Award,” National Crime Victims Bar Association, 2008
  • Super Lawyer, Boston Magazine, 2004-present
  • “Top Ten Winning Trial Lawyers,” National Law Journal, 2003
  • "Distinguished Service Award," Doctor Franklin Perkins School, 2002
  • “Civil Rights Award,” Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates (COFAR), 1997
  • “Honors for Advocacy – A Voice in the City Proclaiming the Rights of the Neglected and Forgotten," Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Massachusetts, 1988

Panels + Publications

  • Keynote Speaker, Sexual Abuse in Private Schools, New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Annual Spring Lunch, April 2017
  • Presenter, Sexual Abuse at Private Schools, National Association of Independent Schools, October 2016
  • Keynote Speaker, The Story Behind Academy Award Winning film "Spotlight," National Crime Victim Bar Association Annual Conference (NCVBA), September 2016
  • Keynote Speaker, Fifteenth Anniversary of 9/11 commemoration services, House of Representatives Chamber, State House, Boston, September 11 2016
  • Keynote Speaker, Inside the Boston Clergy Abuse Scandal," Annual Conference of the Canadian Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children, May 2010
  • Annual Guest Lecturer, Self-Ethics: How to Survive the Current Challenges in the Practice of Law," Harvard Law School, 2003-2013
  • Panelist, Counseling, Litigation & the Church, Fordham University School of Law, February 2004
  • "Paterno Should Have Known Better," ESPN Magazine, 11/14/21

Eric believes in giving back outside of court. He created the 9/11 Fund raising money for family members who lost loved ones on September 11.

Community Service + Boards

  • Pro bono representation of victims of domestic violence through various NH non-profits, earning him Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year recognition at NH Bar midyear meeting, 2023
  • Member, President's Advisory Committee, Vassar College, 2003-2005
  • Founder, President and Chairman, Board of Directors, The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, Inc., January 2002-present
  • Served three terms as an elected representative on the Newton Board of Aldermen.
  • Board of Directors, Cotting School, Lexington MA, 1990-1996
  • Board of Directors, Greater Boston Legal Services, June 1988 to 1990
  • Advisory Committee, Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Massachusetts, Inc., May 1988-1990
  • Board of Directors and General Counsel, Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union Foundation, 1986-1989

Education + Bar Admissions

Boston University School of Law, JD, cum laude
Admitted to practice in federal and state courts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Eric’s deep personal understanding of trauma and its impacts, coupled with his vast professional experience, make him the perfect ally for any survivor finding their voice after suffering alone.

~ West Coast Boarding School Survivor

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