Partner and Litigation Department Vice Chair Felicia Ellsworth co-authored a recent Law360 expert analysis on how the Massachusetts Business Litigation Session, “has become a recognized forum within the legal and business communities in Massachusetts for resolving complex commercial disputes.”
Excerpt: "Originally spearheaded by retired Judge Allan van Gestel and launched under the leadership of former Chief Justice Suzanne DelVecchio, the BLS was established to provide a single forum led by a single judge who actively managed commercial litigation matters. This approach contrasts with the other Superior Court sessions in Massachusetts, where cases are assigned to a particular courtroom, through which judges rotate every three months.
"As the BLS' structure evolved, so too did the scope of its docket and procedural sophistication: The BLS now handles shareholder disputes, intellectual property claims, business torts, professional liability cases, class actions and suits brought by government entities against business organizations, among other cases. The expanded scope has contributed to the BLS becoming a preferred venue for complex business litigation in Massachusetts."