KENNETH M. WRIGHT
Partner
Direct dial: 617 228-4448
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Ken Wright is a civil trial attorney who has practiced continuously since 1985. Mr. Wright has successful jury trial, bench trial, administrative trial, and appellate experience. His background includes extensive Federal Court litigation in Boston, New Hampshire, and New York, extensive Superior Court experience throughout Massachusetts, and extensive Probate & Family Court experience throughout the Eastern half of Massachusetts including the Probate Courts and Family Courts in Middlesex County (Cambridge, Concord and Marlborough Courts), Suffolk County (Boston Court) , Essex (Salem and Lawrence Courts), Plymouth County (Brockton Court and Plymouth Courts), Worcester (Worcester and Fitchburg Courts), and Barnstable County (Barnstable Court on Cape Cod).
Attorney Wright has two offices where he meets with clients. These offices are located in Lincoln (near Route 128 and Hanscom Air Force Base) and in downtown Boston (easily accessible to the T, and near Faneuil Hall), Massachusetts.
Ken Wright, who was born in Cleveland Ohio, graduated from Colgate University in 1980. Mr. Wright attended Suffolk University Law School in Boston, where he was a member of the Suffolk University Law Review, graduating cum laude in 1985. He was admitted to the Bar in 1985.
From almost the very beginning of his practice in 1985, Ken Wright has represented the paint and coating industry and represented individuals in family law matters and estate litigation. Several years after starting his practice, Mr. Wright also developed concentrations in the areas of employment law and complex business, commercial and civil litigation.
Among his accomplishments in family law, Ken Wright founded the Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn Of Court in 1996. This Inn of Court, which is chartered by the American Inns Of Court Foundation, is described more fully below.
Mr. Wright became a partner of the law firm Morrison, Mahoney & Miller, LLP (now named Morrison Mahoney LLP) in 2000. Ken Wright then helped form and was a partner of McRoberts, Roberts & Rainer, L.L.P. from 2004 to March 2008. Ken Wright joined Smith Dugganas a partner in April 2008.
Ken Wright concentrates his practice in these areas:
Paint And Coatings Litigation
Ken Wright has over 20 years experience representing the paint and coatings manufacturing industry and retailers in litigation. The cases have spanned the entire range of claims that arise from the manufacture, marketing, and retailing of coatings and paint. Attorney Wright’s experience is probably unique in this respect.
A major portion of this litigation has been defense of coatings and paint related products liability claims. Ken Wright has defended many products liability lawsuits in Massachusetts state and federal courts concerning coatings in commercial and consumer contexts. These cases have included numerous types of industrial and architectural coatings, multiple coating systems, many different types of substrates (including concrete, metal, wood, plaster and many others), and paint related equipment. The lawsuits have alleged economic damages and personal injuries. The cases have ranged from large construction projects and industrial settings to single family homes.
In these defense matters Mr. Wright has successful jury trial experience, successful bench trial experience, and successful summary judgment motion experience, in addition to the many cases which have settled.
Ken Wright has also brought many lawsuits on behalf of the paint and coatings manufacturing and retail industry. These cases have included: contract related actions, state construction project surety proceedings, Miller Act bond proceedings, lien litigation, and commercial collection actions.
Attorney Wright is a member of the Society Of Protective Coatings (www.sspc.org) and the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association.
Products Liability Litigation
Ken Wright’s products liability litigation experience is wide ranging, and includes both insurance defense and self-insured defense. The disciplines have included chemical engineering, product design, and building engineering and design. The cases have involved both commercial products and consumer products. The damages alleged in the cases have ranged from economic damages to catastrophic personal injuries.
Business and Commercial Litigation
Ken Wright has approximately two decades experience representing businesses in litigation. He has defended numerous claims and lawsuits brought against businesses and brought many lawsuits on behalf of companies. Here is a partial list of the types of cases in which Attorney Wright has represented companies: products liability defense, defense of claims brought by commercial clients and consumer clients, contract litigation, employment litigation (including defense of discrimination claims), family business litigation, construction litigation, dealership litigation, shareholder derivative suits, minority shareholder “freezeout” litigation, civil RICO, manufacturer representative litigation, and defense of 93A claims. Mr. Wright’s clients have ranged from the largest corporate interests in the Unites States to small family run businesses.
From his business litigation experience in the Federal Courts and the Superior Court, Mr. Wright was named to the Board of Directors of the Frank J. Murray American Inn of Court, which is a trial practice organization of civil trial attorneys, Federal Court judges, Superior Court judges and judges from other courts. Working with this Inn, Ken Wright has been a member of continuing education panels with attorneys and judges on topics including: preliminary injunction practice, appellate oral arguments, and single justice appeals. The Inn Of Court organization focuses on trial excellence, ethics, and civility.
Also at the Murray Inn, Ken Wright was appointed to the Awards Committee, which consists of three Superior Court judges and three attorneys. Based on nominations, this committee decides who will receive the Lawyer of the Year and Judge of the Year awards. Mr. Wright chaired this committee for five years.
Divorce, Child Custody, Family Law Matters, Trust And Estate Litigation
Mr. Wright has extensive experience representing men and women professionals, executives, business owners, employees, and non-working spouses in divorces, modifications, and child custody disputes throughout the eastern half of Massachusetts including the Probate and Family Courts in Middlesex County (the Cambridge, Concord and Marlborough Courts), Suffolk County (the Boston Court) , Essex (the Salem and Lawrence Courts), Plymouth County (the Brockton Court and Plymouth Courts), Worcester (the Worcester and Fitchburg Courts), and Barnstable County (the Barnstable Court on Cape Cod).
Mr. Wright also has extensive probate litigation (will contests and estate account disputes) and trust litigation experience.
In addition to representing individuals, Attorney Wright is qualified as a guardian ad litem and has been appointed by Probate Court judges to investigate and report to the Courts on child custody and other matters.
Mr. Wright meets with his clients in his office in Lincoln, Massachusetts (near Route 128 and Hancomb Air Force Base) and our office in downtown Boston (easily accessible to the T, and near Faneuil Hall). With our up to date technology including e-mail, scanning of documents, fax, and the telephone, only a few meetings, after the first meeting, need to be conducted in person. Please call our office to schedule an appointment for either our Lincoln or Boston locations.
Mr. Wright’s renown in the divorce, child custody, probate and trust fields of law was recognized by his being voted President of the Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn of Court, an organization of top family and probate law practitioners and members of the Probate Court judiciary. Mr. Wright is recognized as the founder of this organization. Approximately one-half of the Probate Court Judges joined the Inn in its first year of existence. As President of this Inn, Mr. Wright was further recognized by his being invited twice to the leadership dinner at the U.S. Supreme Court and sponsored by the United States Supreme Court and the American Inns of Court Foundation.
For further information about Ken Wright’s Family Law, and Trust and Estate Litigation practice visit the Trust Litigation/Domestic Matters section of our site.
Employment Litigation and Contract Drafting
Mr. Wright has considerable experience representing companies and employees concerning employment issues. Ken Wright has practiced in this field before the MCAD, the EEOC, Superior Court, and U.S. District Court. These cases have included the following issues: race discrimination, sex discrimination, handicap discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, confidentiality agreements, non-competition agreements and employment contracts. Mr. Wright drafts and negotiates employment contracts, and severance agreements.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Wright is a member of multiple charitable civic organizations and is a trustee of his church.