Three Northeastern Law Grads Inducted into Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2025 Hall of Fame
08.07.25 — Northeastern University School of Law is proud to announce that Nancy Kelly ’84, Leonard Kesten ’83 and Ralph Martin ’78 will be inducted into Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2025 Hall of Fame.
The honorees were selected based on their career accomplishments, contributions to the development of Massachusetts law, contributions to the bar and efforts to improve the quality of justice in the state.
Nancy Kelly serves as an attorney and assistant director of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS). She previously worked as a Harvard Law School Human Rights Program fellow and also as an adjunct professor of immigration and asylum law at Northeastern University School of Law. At the Human Rights Program, Kelly initiated the nationally and internationally prominent Women Refugees Project, a centerpiece of the Clinic’s work. Among other honors, Kelly received the 2000 John G. Brooks Award of the Boston Bar Association for her work with refugee women and children, and for her teaching at the clinic.
Leonard Kesten is a founding partner at Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten (BHPK Law). Over his 35-year career, Kesten has tried over 150 jury trials in both state and federal courts, and is widely considered by many to be one of the most successful trial attorneys in the Commonwealth. Kesten is not only sought-after for his tireless and effective advocacy, but also for his avuncular nature, and candid and approachable style to litigation. During his career, Lenny has twice been named Lawyer of the Year and has been recognized as one of the Commonwealth’s most influential attorneys by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Ralph C. Martin II serves as a partner at Prince Lobel Tye, where he advises clients in business litigation, white-collar defense and internal investigations. A prominent trial lawyer, treasured public servant and principled advocate for justice, Martin served on Northeastern University's eight-member senior leadership team for 11 years prior to joining Prince Lobel Tye in 2022. His distinguished career also includes serving as managing partner of the Boston office of Bingham McCutchen and as managing principal of Bingham Consulting, where he advised companies facing multi-state attorney general investigations.
Launched in 2023, membership in the Hall of Fame is reserved for Massachusetts lawyers age 60 and older or who have been practicing for 30 years or more. Kelly, Kesten and Martin will be celebrated alongside their fellow honorees at an awards program on September 16 at Venezia Boston.
Northeastern Law Community Past Inductees into Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame
2024
Lawrence Cetrulo ’75
Founding Partner, Cetrulo
Elaine Epstein ’76
Partner, Todd & Weld
Pauline Quirion ’81
2023
Margaret Burnham
University Distinguished Professor of Law; Director of Reparations and Restorative Justice Initiatives; Director, Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project; Faculty Co-Director, Center for Law, Equity and Race (CLEAR), Northeastern University School of Law
Mary Bonauto ’87
Senior Director of Civil Rights and Legal Strategies, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Joyce Kauffman ’92
Founding Partner, Kauffman Law & Mediation
The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,100 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.
For more information, contact [email protected].