Title: Senior Partner
Company: Law Offices of John S. Leonard, LLC
Location: Milton, Massachusetts, United States
John S. Leonard, Esq., Senior Partner at Law Offices of John S. Leonard, LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements and leadership in Civil Eminent Domain Law.
Mr. Leonard is lauded for a notable legal career spanning more than five decades, marked by his long-standing commitment to the legal profession and his expertise in civil eminent domain cases. Since 2000, he has served as a senior partner at the Law Offices of John S. Leonard, LLC, where he has focused exclusively on trying civil eminent domain cases.
Before founding his prominent law firm, Mr. Leonard spent 25 years at a prominent general practice firm in Boston, Massachusetts, which employed over 25 attorneys. He began his legal journey there after being hired during bar exam preparation by a senior partner who specialized in eminent domain law. Under this mentorship, Mr. Leonard spent over five years mastering the complexities of eminent domain before developing his own practice within the firm. His dedication to this field led him to establish a two-person law office with his daughter, Lori, a graduate of Dartmouth College and Cornell University, who handles labor and employment cases.
Mr. Leonard’s academic foundation included earning a Bachelor of Science in economics, cum laude, from Boston College in 1965. He subsequently received a Bachelor of Laws from Boston College in 1968. Mr. Leonard’s legal credentials include admission to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Throughout his career, Mr. Leonard has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association. These affiliations have provided him with opportunities to collaborate with peers and remain at the forefront of developments in trial advocacy and eminent domain law.
A significant milestone in Mr. Leonard’s career was his 25-year tenure as the town of Milton, Massachusetts, board of appeals chair. In this capacity, he heard hundreds of eminent domain appeals and participated in related litigation, working closely with the town council and the board of selectpersons on municipal matters. Mr. Leonard’s leadership coincided with Milton’s transformation from a rural community into a fully developed town shaped by highway and transit expansion. His contributions were instrumental in addressing the municipality’s evolving challenges.
Mr. Leonard’s professional achievements have been recognized through numerous honors, including being named Lawyer of the Year in the 27th edition of Best Lawyers in America, inclusion in Best Lawyers in America every year from 2007 to 2021, and selection as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer every year between 2004 and 2021. Mr. Leonard’s reputation for excellence is further underscored by his AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction he has maintained since 1985.
Attributing much of his success to the unwavering support of his family, Mr. Leonard’s wife, in particular, provided much-needed encouragement that enabled him to balance demanding workdays with evening commitments to municipal service and late-night casework after spending time with their children.
Looking ahead, Mr. Leonard aims to continue expanding his practice by representing individuals whose land has been taken through eminent domain and ensuring they receive fair compensation. He also intends to continue representing municipalities to promote equitable treatment for property owners and uphold standards that prevent undervaluation and unnecessary litigation.
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