Boston is a city rich with history and culture. It is also the site of many educational "firsts"- the first school in America, first institution for higher learning and first medical school for women. Today the city houses more than 60 institutions of higher education, as well as world-class museums and historic sites.
People from all over the world have been drawn to this intellectual haven, and many have chosen to remain because of its mix of urban culture and suburban charm. Boston has continually welcomed new businesses, and as a result has become the commercial hub of New England.
Wilson Elser opened an office in Boston in 2000 to offer our increasing number of New England clients more personalized service. Our practice has grown to include aviation litigation, commercial litigation and employment practices liability. Our team of experienced attorneys represents plans, employers, insurers, fiduciaries, and third-party administrators in claims brought under Life, Health, Disability and ERISA. The Boston office also handles matters of general liability , professional liability, toxic torts and product liability.
Boston attorneys handle cases involving major commercial airline crashes, midair collisions, and takeoff and landing accidents. Our aviation cases include fixed wing, rotorcraft and transport aircraft and encompass all aspects of personal injury and property damage arising out of aircraft accidents. We represent major airlines, aircraft owners and renters, aerial pesticide sprayers, airports, airport commissions, flying schools, pilots and aircraft maintenance facilities.
In the area of product liability, we represent manufacturers, distributors and vendors throughout the New England states. Cases concern medical devices, industrial equipment, automobiles, boats, aircraft and many other consumer and industrial products. Some of these cases involve burns, spinal cord injury and death. We also handle fire and property damage cases, some valued in the vicinity of $500 million.
Professional liability is another area in which our attorneys have wide experience. We defend attorneys, accountants, physicians, insurance agents, and real estate agents and brokers. We have handled almost 2,000 legal malpractice cases.
In the area of employment, our attorneys represent clients in both state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Our attorneys routinely handle claims of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliatory discharge.
Our insurance attorneys render coverage opinions for insurers on a number of different types of policies, including first-party property, all risk, commercial general liability, fidelity, cyberspace and Internet liability, employment, environmental, aviation, directors and officers, and various specialty policies. The attorneys frequently represent insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation in state and federal courts. We also assist insurers in drafting policies and endorsements.
In the area of construction litigation, our attorneys represent design professionals, contractors and subcontractors in a wide variety of cases, including construction design defects, construction site accidents and negligent workmanship. We also handle complex indemnification issues.
Our attorneys are skilled in environmental litigation, including representing clients involved in cleanup of oil and hazardous materials contamination, asbestos claims, mold cases involving both property damage and bodily injury, and catastrophic loss from lead exposure.