Jennifer Lamanna

Appeals

Attorney Lamanna regularly appears before the Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court on complex appeals addressing First Amendment violations, new definitions of legal parentage, access to impounded records, and errors of law and sufficiency of the evidence in a wide range of criminal and civil matters. See the firm’s appellate litigation practice for reported decisions and intake guidance. Partanen v. Gallagher, 475 Mass. 632 (2016); Shak v. Shak, 484 Mass. 658 (2020); Department of Children & Families v. Mother et al., SJC-13601 (argued January 6, 2025; decided April 23, 2025); S.P. v. S.A.R., 2023-P-1455; and Alameddine v. Karolow, 67 Mass. App. Ct. 1101.

She also handles administrative appeals from adverse DCF Fair Hearing decisions in the Superior Courts and brings her almost three decades of experience to breaking down DCF records and exposing procedural flaws in the DCF process.

Criminal defense

Attorney Lamanna will launch an aggressive defense for you from the beginning of your case. At your first consultation she personally conducts a detailed interview to get your side of the story, then takes the prosecutor’s case apart piece by piece—exploring available defenses, identifying police procedural errors, and developing a strategy tailored to the facts. Many cases are resolved without trial through aggressive pre-trial practice.

Business litigation

Attorney Lamanna represents consumers and businesses in all types of litigation, including Chapter 93A, breach of contract, and closely held business disputes. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in district, superior, and federal court.

Family law

Attorney Lamanna has more than 25 years of experience handling divorce, high-conflict visitation, guardianships, and paternity cases. Since divorce is an unplanned and costly process, she works with you to create a litigation strategy designed to achieve your maximum benefit and meet your family’s needs.

DCF defense

A DCF proceeding requires you to go on the offensive at the earliest stage. Attorney Lamanna knows that once DCF gets custody of your children the deck is stacked against you. She will assert your right to a hearing within 72 hours of removal and force DCF to prove their case—or develop a custody plan that keeps your children in your home. She has won hundreds of emergency hearings preventing lasting trauma to children, and will work with you to appeal findings of abuse and neglect and get them removed from your record.

Personal injury

Attorney Lamanna represents clients with serious personal injuries and develops customized settlements for long-term care and support. She has more than 25 years of experience fighting for victims in cases of negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and catastrophic workplace injuries.

Member — AACFL

American Association of Certified Financial Litigators — attorney member dedicated to divorce financial education.

Massachusetts BBO registration

Board of Bar Overseers #: 637434

Bar admissions & courts

• Massachusetts
• U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Superior Court (statewide)
• Massachusetts Appeals Court
• Supreme Judicial Court

Selected publications & reported decisions

• Care and Protection of Prince, 25-P-1124 (2026)
• Partanen v. Gallagher, 475 Mass. 632 (2016)
• Shak v. Shak, 484 Mass. 658 (2020)
• Department of Children & Families v. Mother et al., SJC-13601 (2025)
• S.P. v. S.A.R., 23-P-1455 (2025)
• Alameddine v. Karolow, 67 Mass. App. Ct. 1101 (2006)

Professional affiliations

Massachusetts Bar Association American Association of Certified Financial Litigators

Additional credentials

• Member, Probate Law Journal (Boston University School of Law)