Norman Zalkind

Norman Zalkind, the founding partner of the firm, dedicated his life and legal career to the defense of liberty and justice. Throughout decades of practice, he was a tireless advocate for individuals facing some of the most serious allegations imaginable, often standing beside clients during the most difficult moments of their lives. His work reflected an unwavering belief in the Constitution, the right to a fair trial, and the power of a determined defense.

Norman began his career as a lawyer traveling to Louisiana and Mississippi where he represented hundreds of people who were arrested protesting for civil rights. When he returned to Boston, he continued his criminal defense work on behalf of those arrested in mass protests for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. In 1969 he represented over 180 students arrested in the takeover of Harvard’s University Hall protesting the war. When he won acquittals on the first twenty cases he took to trial, the judge dismissed the rest of the charges.

Norman built a national reputation as a formidable criminal defense lawyer. His practice encompassed the full range of criminal matters, including murder and death penalty cases, white-collar crime, terrorism, drug offenses, sex crimes, tax evasion, racketeering, fraud, and other serious felony and misdemeanor charges. He appeared regularly in both state and federal courts and handled complex matters such as federal extradition.

Over the course of his career, he achieved extraordinary results. Many of his clients were acquitted outright or received substantially reduced sentences. He secured not guilty verdicts in high-profile and high-stakes cases, including first-degree murder prosecutions, major federal racketeering and tax cases, and complex fraud trials. He was also known for his success in appeals, particularly in murder cases, and for preserving critical trial issues that protected clients’ rights long after verdicts were rendered.

 Renowned for his willingness to “go to the edge” for those he represented, Norman tried more than 130 cases before juries in state and federal courts across the United States. His career was defined by courage, meticulous preparation, and an unshakable commitment to his clients.

Norman also maintained a civil litigation practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving discrimination, libel, divorce, securities, and complex business disputes. Among his many accomplishments were a favorable settlement in a challenging commercial arbitration and a $7.6 million jury verdict in a discrimination and retaliation case against the MBTA.

Beyond the courtroom, Norman was deeply committed to legal education and professional service. He served as an adjunct professor of criminal trial practice at Northeastern University School of Law for more than a decade and lectured at Harvard Law School, Boston University School of Law, and Yale Law School. He was a mentor to countless lawyers, shaping generations of advocates through teaching, example, and generosity of time.

Throughout his career, Norman received widespread recognition for excellence in the law, including receiving the Balliro Award from the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Champion of Liberty Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Norman will be remembered as a fearless advocate, a gifted trial lawyer, a devoted teacher, and a defender of individual rights. His impact on his clients, colleagues, students, and the legal profession will endure for generations. His legacy lives on in the lives he changed, the freedoms he preserved, and the values he championed every day.