Tess Ambrose Foley
Senior Associate
Tess Ambrose Foley represents individuals and companies in high-stakes complex civil litigation matters in both state and federal court, with an emphasis on general commercial litigation and trademark actions.
In the past year, Ms. Foley has represented: a major financial institution in a number of state false claims act litigations around the country; a Martha’s Vineyard landowner in a bench trial in Massachusetts state court involving a prescriptive easement claim to a beach; a fashion designer and entrepreneur in a federal trademark litigation; a venture capital company in a California state court action asserting multiple business torts; and an artist affiliated with civil rights icon James Meredith in a trademark action in both the TTAB and Mississippi state court.
Ms. Foley has taken multiple depositions and assisted in taking and defending numerous other depositions. She has prepared fact and expert witnesses for both deposition and trial testimony. She has authored dispositive motions, appellate briefs, and amicus briefs in both federal and state courts.
Ms. Foley also maintains a robust pro bono practice, with a focus on issues involving immigration, reproductive rights, and the representation of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She was a key member of the trial team that was honored as Litigation Team of the Year by the Human Trafficking Legal Center for their representation of a survivor of human trafficking in a precedential civil case against the motel at which she was trafficked. Ms. Foley recently argued and won an affirmative asylum claim for a transgender woman from Peru. She frequently represents survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Massachusetts state court to obtain protective orders. She is actively involved in much of the firm’s post-Dobbs litigation and consulting work.
Ms. Foley attended Northeastern University School of Law, where she was a student attorney in the school’s Domestic Violence and Immigrant Justice Clinics. She argued the Immigrant Justice Clinic’s first victory, obtaining bond for a detained client, and, through the Domestic Violence Clinic, represented many survivors of domestic violence to obtain 209A protective orders in state court. She also served as a teaching assistant for legal research and writing, criminal law, and evidence classes, and for the Domestic Violence Clinic.
Prior to attending law school, Ms. Foley earned a Master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco and worked in the sports industry for multiple sports media entities and the Oakland Raiders.
Recognition
- Named to Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers list in 2024 in the area of commercial litigation.
- Named a Massachusetts Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in the area of civil litigation: plaintiff in 2024.
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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JD, Northeastern University School of Law, 2018
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MA, Sport Management, University of San Francisco, 2011
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BA, Communications & History, Boston College, 2008
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Admissions
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Massachusetts
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Credentials
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Education
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JD, Northeastern University School of Law, 2018
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MA, Sport Management, University of San Francisco, 2011
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BA, Communications & History, Boston College, 2008
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Admissions
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Massachusetts
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