Catherine A. Cappelli
Principal
Protecting Families
Cappelli Law LLC in Boston, MA is a Family Formation Law firm. Attorney Catherine Cappelli is a certified family law mediator and collaborative law practitioner dedicated to protecting individuals and families at every life stage:
- respectful relationship formation (partnership, premarital and marital agreements)
- planning for a legacy together
- fertility issues dependent on assisted reproductive technology (A.R.T.)
- gestational carrier and donor agreements
- adopting children and securing parentage
- name and identification document changes
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.
In the Community
Catherine is a frequent presenter for legal and academic audiences, including Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education New England, Inc. (MCLE), the Boston Bar Association and local law schools on family law topics including Assisted Reproductive Technology (A.R.T.), LGBTQ families, rights and protections, Gender Affirmation, Prenuptial and Marital Agreements and Collaborative Family Law.
Catherine played a key role in the unanimous passage of the Massachusetts Parentage Act (2024), testified before the Massachusetts Judiciary Committee, and contributed to 2025 safety and confidentiality updates to the state’s Name Change law.
In 2015, Catherine was honored by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a 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 an active member of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association and USA 500 Clubs LLC.
Catherine is committed to providing pro bono legal services. She serves as a volunteer attorney for the Victim Rights Law Center, Volunteer Lawyer’s Project, Senior Partners for Justice, and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD Law).
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.
