Board of Trustees

Mr. Vrabel is Vice President and General Counsel to Capital Risk Management, Inc. He is the current President of the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Inc. Board of Overseers (MCLE). He is the Immediate Past-President of MCLE and is the Past-President of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA). He was a Senior Partner for 22 years at the law firm of Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, where he founded their Framingham office of approximately 25 attorneys.

His expertise has been primarily in corporate governance, commercial finance and commercial real estate. He also has extensive experience in all varieties of commercial bank loans, bond financings, health care financings, private placements, workout situations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and all types of business transactions. His other areas of practice have included general corporate representation, particularly situations including investment strategies, and business planning.

In addition to the MBF, he serves on numerous not for profit boards of directors, including Longfellow's Wayside Inn and Framingham State College. He was a Founding Trustee of Crossroads Community Foundation. He is the current Massachusetts State Chair of the American Bar Foundation, serves on the American Bar Association's House of Delegates and serves on its Standing Committee for Continuing Legal Education. He is also a member of the ABA's International Law Section's Non-Governmental Organizations committee.

Prior to joining Burns & Levinson LLP in January 2006, Mr. Cohen was a partner with the firm Perkins Smith & Cohen LLP.

He has more than 40 years experience as a lawyer dealing with patent, copyright, trademark, unfair competition, licensing/franchising, visual arts, software, databases and publication law, formation and operation of business enterprises and not-for-profit organizations, international trade, litigation/ADR, legal ethics and the administration of justice. He handles acquisition, licensing and litigation of intellectual property rights. He has also served as an expert witness, arbitrator and mediator in intellectual property matters.

Dean Robert V. Ward Jr. has been a law school teacher since September 1978. Mr. Ward was appointed Dean of the Southern New England School of Law in July 1999. In 1982 he joined the faculty at New England School of Law where he taught Evidence, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Prisoner's Rights, and seminars on Race and the Law and Anatomy of a Homicide. Anatomy of a Homicide Dean Ward co-taught with Dr. Ann Marie Mires - a forensic anthropologist. Professor Ward also served as the Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Enrichment program, an academic achievement program designed to increase the number of minority persons practicing law. He was a visiting professor at Northeastern University College of Law and at the University of Idaho College of Law and an adjunct faculty member at Suffolk University School of Law. Dean Ward received his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University School of Law. He received a B.S., in Political Science from Northeastern University.

Presently, Dean Ward co-chairs the Massachusetts' Trial Courts, Access and Fairness Advisory Board. In the past he has served on the Executive Committee of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Academic Support Programs and is a member of the faculty of the American Academy for Judicial Education. He formerly served on the Judicial Nominating Council, which assists in the selection of judges, and served as Chairperson of the Massachusetts Victim and Witness Assistance Board and as Chief of the Victim Compensation and Assistance Division of the Attorney General's Office. He was an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County from 1979 - 1982 and a special Assistant District Attorney from 1987 -1988.

Dean Ward is a frequent contributor to the editorial pages of the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.

Antoinette E.M. Leoney is an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, United States Department of Justice. She is presently assigned to the Criminal Division, Major Crimes Unit, where she is responsible for prosecuting an assortment of complex violent crime and white-collar felony cases, as well as handling appellate and post conviction matters. Ms. Leoney's varied assignments have also included time spent in the Anti-Terrorism Unit, where she was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of anti-terrorism and domestic/international terrorism matters, and the coordination and implementation of various parts of the U.S. Attorney's anti-terrorism strategic plan for the District of Massachusetts. Ms. Leoney also served as Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, where she was responsible for managing and coordinating civil and criminal forfeiture prosecutions in the District of Massachusetts.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1994, Ms. Leoney was in private practice for three years, serving as a senior litigation associate with the Law Firm of McKenzie & Edwards, P.C. In this capacity, she handled employment discrimination & sexual harassment cases, commercial & debt collection cases, and lead paint & personal injury cases. From 1990-1991, Ms. Leoney served as Director of the Office of Government Regulation & Compliance at Brandeis University. Between 1987-1990, she served as Assistant Legal Counsel and later as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to former MA Governor Michael S. Dukakis, advising the Governor on a myriad of legislative/judicial matters, budget, and public policy issues. From 1986-1987, she served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Public Protection Bureau, Consumer Protection Division. Between 1984-1986, she served as an Assistant Divisional Counsel with the Massachusetts Department of Social Services.

Ms. Leoney served on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's Commission to Study Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts and has conducted numerous seminars for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as lectured on various legal topics at the U.S. Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center, the University of Massachusetts, Lesley College, and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE).

Ms. Leoney served as President of the Women's Bar Association for 1999-2000 and President of the Women's Bar Foundation for 2002-2003. She also served as an At-Large Delegate on the MBA's House of Delegates from 1998-2001, and as a member of the Massachusetts Trial Court's Gender Equality Advisory Board from 1999-2002.

In addition to serving as an MBF Trustee, Ms. Leoney is also currently a Trustee of MCLE and an elected board member of the New England School of Law Alumni Association. She is also an active member of the National Black Prosecutors Association, the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys Association, the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, and is a former Trustee of Lesley College.

Ms. Leoney has received several awards and recognition for her commitment to community service and the legal profession, including awards from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, New England School of Law, and Lesley College.

Ms. Leoney received her B.A. from Lesley College and her J.D. from New England School of Law. She was admitted to the Massachusetts state and federal bars in 1985.

Laurence M. Johnson, a life fellow since 1998, was elected to serve on the MBF Board of Trustees in March 2005.

Attorney Johnson is an attorney at Davis Malm & D'Agostine, PC in Boston and currently concentrates his practice in the trial and appeal of complex business litigation including securities, antitrust, and mergers and acquisitions. He has had lead counsel responsibility for over 30 years, and has successfully represented numerous large and medium sized business corporations, including over fifteen Fortune Five Hundred companies.

Attorney Johnson is a member and the director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association, as well as a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the American Bar Association, an elected member and life member of the American Law Institute, and an elected Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers. Over the past twenty-five years, Attorney Johnson has also taught trial and appellate advocacy courses in numerous law school and trial advocacy programs.

Attorney Ambrogi was elected to the MBF Board of Trustees in 2008 to assume a seat vacated by a retiring Trustee.  He has been a Fellow of the Foundation since 1992.  

Attorney Ambrogi focuses his law practice on media and new media law, arbitration and mediation.  A longtime journalist, he is the only person ever to hold the top editorial positions at both national U.S. legal newspapers, the National Law Journal and Lawyers USA. He is also internationally known for his writing about the Internet and technology.

Attorney Ambrogi represents a range of businesses and individuals in issues relating to print media, electronic media and technology. In addition, he counsels businesses and individuals in employment matters.  An established professional in alternative dispute resolution, Attorney Ambrogi has been an arbitrator since 1994, focusing on labor and employment and securities disputes, as well as a mediator in a range of civil disputes. Ambrogi is also CEO of Ambrogi Legal Media, a media consulting firm serving the legal industry.

Janet Aserkoff is the managing partner of Rappaport, Aserkoff & Gelles, having joined its predecessor law firm in 1969.  She has consistently concentrated her practice in commercial real estate matters.  Ms. Aserkoff served as counsel to the original developers of Charles River Park, a mixed-use community in Boston, Massachusetts, and has served as general counsel to New Boston Fund since its founding in 1993.  In that capacity Ms. Aserkoff and her law firm are responsible for all acquisitions, financing, leasing, joint venture negotiations, sales, and development for New Boston Fund which sponsors a series of closed end real estate investment funds.  Since its inception, New Boston Fund has raised approximately $920 million and has acquired 17 million square feet of office and flex space, 1,375 residential units, and 250 acres for development.

Ms. Aserkoff is a trustee of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, a charitable organization whose membership is by election and is limited to 5 percent of Massachusetts attorneys.  She is on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Rashi School in Newton, Massachusetts, and is a founding member of the Boston Jewish Community Women's Fund.

Ms. Aserkoff received an A.B. in economics magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke in 1965 and a J.D. degree from Emory University in 1968.  An active volunteer on behalf of Mount Holyoke, she chaired the Alumnae Fund's first million dollar annual campaign in 1976, has served on the Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association, and is the recipient of its Medal of Honor.  

Richard P. Campbell is the founder and a shareholder of Campbell Campbell Edwards & Conroy. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, Mr. Campbell earned his law degree, cum laude, from Boston College Law School. In 1995, Boston College Law School presented him with its highest award, the Founder’s Medal, for his achievements and dedication to the law. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Overseers for Boston College Law School. 

Mr. Campbell is admitted to practice in all courts of Massachusetts, Maine, NewHampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Florida, the federal courts of Connecticut, Vermont, the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Court of Appeals for the First and District of Columbia Circuits and the United States SupremeCourt. 

Mr. Campbell represents numerous national and international corporations in complex cases, including multi-district litigation, class actions, aviation, toxic tort, products liability, and commercial disputes. A leader of state, national, and international bar associations, he is a past Chair of the 30,000 member Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (“TIPS”) of the American Bar Association and Director of its National Trial Academy.

An MBF Fellow since 2001, Judge Thomas Connors was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees in January 2004.

A graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School, he was appointed to the District Court bench in 1995. He was serving as the Acting Presiding Justice of the Dedham District Court when he was appointed to serve as a Justice of the Superior Court in 2004. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Connors had conducted a general law practice in Dorchester with emphasis on criminal litigation.

Judge Connors was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association (Delivery of Legal Services Section Council, 1985-1987), as well as a member of the Boston Bar Association (Chair, Suffolk County Bar Advocate Program, 1992-1994; Ethics Committee, 1994-95). In 1993, Judge Connors received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Boston Bar Association.

Judge Connors has also been involved with MCLE as both a lecturer and a member of the Criminal Law Curriculum Committee. His published works include "Trial of the Delinquency Case," Juvenile Law Basics, MCLE (1991) and "Criminal Practice in the District Courts," Mass. District Court Defense Manual, MCLE (1996).

Hon. Anne M. Geoffrion was appointed as an Associate Justice (Circuit) of the Probate and Family Court Department in September, 1988. Her appointment as a circuit judge has given her the opportunity to regularly sit in Hampden and Berkshire Counties. In November 2007, Judge Geoffrion was appointed to the Hampden Division of the Probate and Family Court.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, she specialized in civil litigation, with her practice concentrating in family law. While in private practice, she served as an assistant city solicitor for the Town of Agawam, as a member of the hearing committee for the Board of Bar Overseers, and as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. She continues to participate in continuing legal education programs for lawyers and judges alike. Presently Judge Geoffrion is a member of several committees of the Probate and Family Court including its Education Committee. In addition, she is a member of the MBA Family Law Section Council. She has served as an MBF Fellow since 1995.

Judge Geoffrion obtained her J.D. from Western New England College School of Law and her B.A. from Le Moyne College.

A longtime MBF Fellow, Judge Wendie Gershengorn was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees in January 2009.

A graduate of Ohio University and Columbia University Law School, Judge Gershengorn was appointed to the Massachusetts District Court bench in 1983 and appointed to serve as a Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1989. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Gershengorn served in a legal capacity at the Mass. Defenders Committee, the Mass. Parole Board, was Deputy Chief Counsel of the Ethics Commission, and served as a Federal Defender.

Daniel J. Gleason is co-chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation group at Nutter McClennen & Fish, and a member of the firm’s Life Sciences practice group.  A Fellow in the invitation-only American College of Trial Lawyers, Dan's trial practice focuses on complex, technical commercial and intellectual property litigation, including particularly patent, trade secrets and non-competition cases.  Dan has served as a long time member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, and, currently serves on its Pro Bono Committee.

Mr. Gleason often serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and as a private mediator. He speaks and writes frequently on topics pertaining to litigation technique and intellectual property matters.

Mr. Gleason is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar Associations. He chairs the ABA’s Business Torts Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Litigation, dealing with trial practice, trade secrets, and the Lanham Act as they relate to trial issues.

With a longstanding interest in pro bono representation, Dan has long been active in the Boston Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and serves on the Executive Committee. He is also past counsel and a member of the Board of Directors for Wide Horizons for Children, Inc., an international adoption agency.

Mr. McIntyre is currently a solo practitioner in Clinton, concentrating in civil litigation in state and federal courts, with an emphasis on spinal cord & brain injury. His appellate experience includes the U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, Supreme Judicial Court, and the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Prior to his solo practice, he was a partner at Schneiders & McIntyre, in Canton; and prior to that at McGrail, McQuoid, McIntyre & Gibbons, in Clinton.

Mr. McIntyre has held many roles and served on many committees within the MBA, including President, 2008-2009, House of Delegates, 1998-2004; Executive Management Board 2002-2004; President's Task Force on Judicial Evaluation 2003-2004; Judicial Administration Section Council, chair, 2003-2004, vice-chair, 2002-2003; member 2000-2004; MBA's ABA Nominating Committee 2003, 2004; Mock Trial 1998-2004; Conversations 2004.  He is a Brandeis Life Fellow of the MBF and has served on Grant Advisory Committees for many years.

In addition to his active role within the MBA, Mr. McIntyre has served on the following committees, associations and boards:  Supreme Judicial Court's Clients' Security Board, chair 2003-04, vice-chair 2003, member 1999-2004; Supreme Judicial Court's Pro Bono Standing Committee, 1999-2004; member, Hearing Committee, Board of Bar Overseers, 1999-2005; president, Worcester County Bar Association 1998-99; director, Worcester Bar Foundation, 1998-2004; Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1982-1998; Board of Governors, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1992-1997; Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1982-1999; panel member, Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments 1997-1998; member, Worcester Courthouse Site-Selection Advisory Committee, 1998-1999.

Mr. McIntyre attended New England School of Law, Saint Bonaventure University, and Assumption College.

Elizabeth Munnell ("Betsy") is President and CEO of Elizabeth Munell & Associates providing innovative career development training and personal coaching to law firm associates and law students preparing for law firm practice.  Prior to founding her business, Betsy was a partner for almost 25 years at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP.  One of the pioneers in Edwards & Angell's Boston office, Betsy joined the firm as a partner in 1985, only six years out of law school, with a substantial book of business of her own.  She was among the core group of "rainmakers" responsible for the growth of the firm's nationally recognized media and communications finance practice and has decades of experience representing lending institutions, private equity funds and businesses in structuring sophisticated debt and equity financing.  

In addition to building a national practice, Betsy was one of the chief architects of her firm's diversity program, chairing the Boston office's first diversity committee and broadly promoting the firm's commitment to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women and minority lawyers.  She served on EAPD's firm-wide diversity committee, identifying and deepening its investments in professional and other organizations serving women and lawyers of color.  Betsy also chaired EAPD's Women's Initiative, through which she co-founded its first peer mentoring program, organized and chaired annual retreats for the firm's women lawyers and conceived and implemented a business development curriculum offering practical skills training to its women attorneys. 

Betsy is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.  In addition to serving on the MBF Board of Trustees, she is also a member of the Boston Bar Foundation's Society of Fellows. 

For 15 years Mr. Weiner has been the Chairman of the Litigation Department at Peabody & Arnold LLP, where he has practiced civil litigation for almost 40 years. He now concentrates his practice in the defense of lawyers, of credit unions, and of insurers in complex insurance coverage litigation around the country. He is named in Best Lawyers in America for both insurance law and legal malpractice defense.

Mr. Weiner is the present Co-President of the Boston Inn of Court and past President of the Massachusetts Association of Town Counsel and City Solicitors, having served as Millis Town Counsel for over a decade. He is a Life Fellow of both the American Bar Foundation and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, where he has been an IOLTA grants reviewer. He is a member of the American Law Institute, where he has served on the Members Consultative Group for three different Restatements. He has been an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He has written and spoken on various law topics around the country for almost 30 years and has been a trial advisor for the Harvard Law School Advocacy course for 25 years.

Mr. Weiner earned a B.A. (cum laude) from Harvard College, a J.D. from Columbia Law School, and an L.L.M. from the London School of Economics. He served as a U.S. Army Captain in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star (m). He is a U.S. Department of Veterans Accredited Attorney and is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans claims. He is a frequent participant in the MBA's Veterans' Dial-a-Lawyer program. He has held or now holds numerous leadership positions in several charitable, religious, veterans' and community organizations.