Holly is an established partner in the firm’s General Liability Litigation Practice Group. She serves as lead counsel for clients in the defense and trial of complex product liability, pharmaceutical, medical device, toxic tort, asbestos, general liability and commercial law matters. She advises major national and multinational companies, representing product manufacturers, sellers and other businesses following catastrophic losses. She is noted for her counsel to automobile, truck and recreational vehicle manufacturers in connection with product liability matters.
Known for her deep experience and ability to resolve all kinds of liability allegations, Holly’s capabilities encompass multiple industries and types of litigation. She represents designers, distributors, retailers and the companies that service products. Her clients hire her to handle complex cases involving cars and trucks, tires, car seats, bicycles, farm and heavy equipment, industrial, food and manufacturing processing equipment, material handling equipment, hand and power tools, lawn and garden products, safety equipment, ladders, step stools, HVAC systems, tools, appliances and other consumer products.
Holly’s experience includes a broad background in fire cause and origin, accident reconstruction, biomechanics, epidemiology, industrial hygiene, chemicals, electrical systems, mechanical systems, manufacturing processes, materials science and medicine as well as the experts who work in these fields. Her diverse practice also includes other business and general liability disputes.
Holly’s unmistakable skill and visibility in her field leads to frequent invitations to speak on issues related to her civil litigation practice. She is also an author, writing for numerous publications on a range of topics. Holly is an active participant and leader outside of the firm, as well. She has taken on multiple leadership roles within national and state legal organizations, including serving as president, vice-president, chair and co-chair for sections and committees of the American Bar Association, DRI, the Federal Bar Association, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association.
A lawyer with the highest ranking by Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating®, Holly was named Lawyer of the Year in Product Liability Litigation─Defendants by Best Lawyers in America, Massachusetts Defense Lawyer of the Year by the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, and a Top Women in Law Honoree by Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly.
Representative Matters
Obtained a defense verdict in favor of a major automotive manufacturer in a Connecticut Superior Court product liability action seeking damages for wrongful death.
Obtained preliminary injunction on behalf of medical device manufacturer against former employee involving the enforcement of a non-solicitation clause in contract; affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Obtained voluntary dismissal of case seeking damages for alleged design defect in riding toy.
Obtained defense verdict in unwanted acceleration case tried in New Hampshire Superior Court, where plaintiff was seeking significant damages for traumatic brain injury.
Procured summary judgment for child restraint manufacturer in product liability case.
Obtained directed verdict for automobile manufacturer for claim of defective air bag.
Obtained dismissal during trial in $2 million breach of warranty claim.
Secured affirmation from Second Circuit of dismissal of claims against medical device manufacturer.
Obtained favorable settlement for automobile manufacturer during trial for claims that automotive friction products were the cause of plaintiff’s mesothelioma.
Procured summary judgment for manufacturer of loader/backhoe on the grounds that expert testimony was insufficient to prove causation.
Obtained defense verdicts for power tool manufacturer in cases where plaintiff faulted circular saw because it did not contain an electric brake.
Obtained defense verdict for manufacturer of vending machine which plaintiff claimed was unstable and toppled over on his leg.
Secured affirmation on a summary judgment from Massachusetts Appeals Court for automotive manufacturer in crashworthiness case.
Prevailed in contested motion for summary judgment for automobile manufacturer in asbestos case.
Presentations
In addition to being a speaker and moderator for multiple presentations, Holly also has served as the co-coordinator/co-chair for the American Bar Association’s TIPS Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Section Conference for more than a decade.
Trial Masters: Trial Preparation from Our TIPS Chairs Emeritus, ABA TIPS Section Conference, Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025.
Trial Masters - Use of Storytelling at Trial and Expecting the Unexpected, American Bar Association TIPS Section Conference, Hollywood, California, May 2024.
U.S. Litigation School: Social Inflation & Nuclear Verdicts, Webinar, January 2024.
Rising to the Top, Webinar, Massachusetts Bar Leadership Academy, January 2024.
Short Circuit – 1st Circuit Update, Trial Attorneys of America Annual Meeting, June 9, 2022.
Using Biomechanical Experts: Getting the Most Out of Your Expert, Trial Attorneys of America Annual Meeting, June 9, 2022.
Moderator, Inside View: Legal and Ethical Considerations for In-House Counsel, ABA TIPS Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Section Conference, April 8, 2022.
Panelist, Trial Masters – Knowledge We Wish We Had Years Ago, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Conference, May 1, 2019.
Moderator, Inside View: Legal and Ethical Considerations for In-House Counsel, ABA TIPS Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Section Conference, April 5, 2019.
Biomechanics, It’s Not Just for Car Crash Cases Anymore, Biomechanics and Injury Causation SLG Session, DRI Product Liability Conference, February 8, 2019.
Moderator, Inside View: Legal and Ethical Considerations for In-House Counsel, ABA TIPS Life Sciences Legal Summit, September 26, 2018.
Spoliation, Evidence Preservation/Spoliation, Controlling Discovery Costs and Avoiding Sanctions, ACI’s Defending & Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation Section Conference, June 9–10, 2016.
Publications
Product Liability: Creating Useful Exhibits at Depositions, Primerus Network Newsletter, October 2020.
The “Goldilocks Zone” for Biomechanical Opinions, Defense Research Institute, November 2019 (with Matthew E. Bown).
Brief Update on the First Circuit, Trial Attorneys of America Annual Meeting, June 12-14, 2019 (with Matthew Renna).
Foot Soldiers for a Free and Independent Judiciary, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, The Brief, Winter 2018.
An Honorable Profession, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, The Brief, Summer 2018.
The Millennial Future Is Here, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, The Brief, Spring 2018.
Our Push for Equality Continues, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, The Brief, Fall 2017.
Send, Serve or Both, Best Lawyers, August 2017 (with Matthew E. Bown).
Legislative Update: Massachusetts Attorney Conducted Voir Dire and Monetary Amount Claimed, TortSource, Spring 2015 (with Michelle Byers).
Nuisance in Handling Business Tort Cases, Thomson Reuters, 2015 (with Molly E. Meacham).