Catherine A. Cappelli
Principal

Protecting Families

Cappelli Law LLC in Cambridge, MA is a Family Formation Law firm. Catherine Cappelli is a trained mediator and collaborative law attorney who established the practice to work with couples at every stage of a relationship:

• partnering or marrying
• planning their legacy together
• having or adopting children
• fertility issues dependent on assisted reproductive technology (A.R.T.)
• gestational carrier and donor agreements
• respectful dissolution the relationship

Recognizing that family transitions are highly personal and emotional, the firm provides the legal tools best suited to each unique case to ensure intentional, respectful and enduring solutions. The firm also specializes in complex family transitions for the LGBTQ community.

As a former domestic violence and child abuse prosecutor, Catherine understands both the strength of family bonds and the emotional trauma endured by families in crisis. Catherine provides professional and compassionate legal advice to ensure that all of her clients are prepared to face critical family decisions with confidence.

In the Courtroom

Catherine is a skilled trial attorney with over twenty years litigation experience. Catherine is highly skilled at responding to crises, anticipating and solving problems, and negotiating and motivating resolutions.

For seventeen years, Catherine served as an Assistant District Attorney in Norfolk County prosecuting scores of complex criminal investigations and major felonies involving families and violence. She also supervised and trained prosecutors, tried cases in the District and Superior Courts, and argued cases before the appellate courts in Massachusetts. Should your case require litigation, Catherine will provide decisive representation, fighting for your rights every step of the way.

In the Community

In 2015, Catherine was honored by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of the Top Women of Law. The award highlights women who are innovators, educators, trailblazers and role models. For details, see:
http://masslawyersweekly.com/top-women-of-law/2015-honorees/.

Catherine is a frequent commentator on family law topics including Assisted Reproductive Technology (A.R.T.), LGBTQ families, rights and protections, Prenuptial and Marital Agreements and Collaborative Family Law. Catherine is also a trainer in the Commonwealth and nationally for police, corrections, clergy, judges, attorneys, community associations, business leaders, health care professionals, and students in elementary through the graduate school level.

Catherine is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association.

Catherine is committed to providing pro bono legal services. She serves as a volunteer attorney for the Rape Survivors’ Law Project at Boston’s Victim Rights Law Center, Volunteer Lawyer’s Project, Senior Partners for Justice, and the Women’s Bar Foundation.

Education

Suffolk University Law School, Boston, J.D., 1993
New York University, Manhattan and Madrid, B.A., International Politics and Spanish, 1987

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.