VerifiedLawFirms editorial: Individual representation across several legal fields — The Boston office handles criminal cases, workplace disputes, campus proceedings, civil rights claims, and civil litigation.
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About Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein
Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP is a law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its office is at 2 Oliver Street in the city's Financial District.
The firm represents individuals, rather than institutions, in criminal, employment, and civil rights matters in Massachusetts and across the country. Its practice covers criminal defense in state and federal court, at trial and on appeal, including drug crimes, DUI and OUI, gun crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, white-collar crimes and fraud, extradition, and record sealing.
On the employment side, the firm handles discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, FMLA, wage and hour claims, whistleblower matters, and the negotiation of employment contracts and severance. It also represents students and faculty in college and university disciplinary cases, including Title IX complaints for both complainants and respondents, and takes on complex civil litigation along with criminal and civil appeals.
The firm was founded by Norman Zalkind as an outgrowth of his civil rights work in the 1960s and 1970s, and it states that it has represented individuals for over 50 years. Its legal team includes seven partners, five associates, and one of counsel attorney.
Editor's Review
VerifiedLawFirms editorial
Individual representation across several legal fields
The Boston office handles criminal cases, workplace disputes, campus proceedings, civil rights claims, and civil litigation. Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP represents individuals, rather than institutions, in Massachusetts and across the country. This client focus connects practice areas that often involve personal rights, professional standing, or exposure to legal penalties.
The firm's stated areas include criminal defense, employment law, student rights and Title IX, civil litigation, and appeals. Its attorneys work in state and federal courts, as well as college and university disciplinary systems. In my opinion, the overlap among these fields is one of the clearest features of the firm.
Criminal defense at trial and on appeal
The firm handles criminal matters in both state and federal court. Its work includes trials, criminal appeals, clerk-magistrate hearings, extradition matters, and requests to seal or expunge records. The listed offense categories cover misdemeanors and serious felony allegations.
Specific areas include drug crimes, computer and internet crimes, DUI and OUI, gun crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, and white-collar crimes and fraud. The firm also handles restraining orders. This is a detailed criminal docket that includes courtroom defense and proceedings that can affect a person's record.
Appeals form a separate part of the firm's published practice. Several named attorneys work on appellate matters alongside criminal or employment cases. That structure gives the firm attorneys whose work can continue after a trial court ruling.
Employment and campus proceedings
The employment docket covers disputes involving discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, FMLA rights, wages and hours, and whistleblower claims. The firm also works on employment agreements and severance negotiations. These services include active disputes and contract matters tied to the end or terms of employment.
In education matters, the firm represents students, teachers, professors, and other faculty members. Its attorneys handle college and university disciplinary proceedings involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, academic misconduct, and discrimination. The firm works with both complainants and respondents in Title IX matters nationwide.
The campus work is closely linked to the firm's employment and civil rights experience. Faculty discipline can involve workplace rights, while student cases can involve discrimination claims and institutional procedures. Naomi R. Shatz focuses on students' rights and university discipline, including cases involving teachers and professors.
Civil litigation and a civil rights origin
Norman Zalkind founded the firm as an outgrowth of his civil rights work during the 1960s and 1970s. He led it for five decades, and the firm states that it has represented individuals for over 50 years. The team page includes him in memoriam.
The current civil litigation practice includes constitutional challenges, civil rights claims, RICO cases, and contract and tort disputes. These matters can place the firm's attorneys in disputes involving government action, individual rights, business conduct, or private agreements. The firm also handles civil appeals.
This history helps explain why criminal defense, employment law, education disputes, and civil rights litigation sit within the same firm. Each area can involve a person challenging an accusation, a decision, or the conduct of an institution. The stated work remains centered on individual clients.
How the legal team is built
The team roster lists seven partners, five associates, and one of counsel attorney. It also names founder Norman Zalkind in memoriam. The partner group includes attorneys whose work spans criminal, employment, education, civil, and appellate matters.
Partners with court and workplace practices
Inga Bernstein earned her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1984 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1994. She clerked for Judge Douglas P. Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts during 1994 and 1995. Her practice covers criminal defense, employment matters, and education law.
Rachel Stroup earned her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and her B.A. from Wesleyan University. She litigates employment and criminal cases, including felony and misdemeanor matters in state and federal courts. Her practice also includes education law.
Emma Quinn-Judge joined the firm in 2007 and became a partner in 2016. She earned her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2005 and her B.A. from Middlebury College in 1998. Her litigation work covers appeals, criminal defense, and employment law in state and federal courts.
Partners working across rights-based disputes
Monica R. Shah earned her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000 and her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2005. She previously worked as a fellow and associate at Neufeld Scheck & Brustin LLP during 2006 through 2009. Her practice includes state and federal criminal defense and employment matters.
Naomi R. Shatz earned her B.A. from Barnard College and her J.D. from Yale Law School. She represents students, teachers, and professors in discrimination cases and disciplinary proceedings. Her work includes allegations involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, and academic misconduct.
David A. Russcol earned his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. At Harvard, he worked as Submissions Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and as an editor of the Harvard Journal on Legislation. The firm lists him among its seven partners.
Partner and associate coverage
Ana Isabel Muñoz earned her B.A. and J.D. from Yale University and Yale Law School. Before joining the firm, she was a John J. Gibbons Fellow in Public Interest and Constitutional Law at Gibbons P.C. Her practice includes employment, criminal, and civil matters.
Niamh Gibbons earned her B.A. from University College Dublin and her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 2022. She works on criminal, employment, and education matters. The associate roster also includes Jackson Estrin, whom the firm identifies as an associate.
Jacob Bezner and Noah Gillen attended Boston University School of Law. Bezner works on appeals, criminal cases, and employment matters, while Gillen also handles education matters. Tess Halpern attended Boston College Law School, and her practice covers criminal, education, and employment matters.
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Ana Isabel MuñozPartner
Ana Isabel Muñoz is an attorney at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, where she represents clients in employment, criminal, and civil matters. She earned a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Before joining the firm, she was a John J. Gibbons Fellow in Public Interest and Constitutional Law at Gibbons P.C. and served as a law clerk for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
DADavid A. RusscolPartner
David A. Russcol is a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was Submissions Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and an editor of the Harvard Journal on Legislation. He served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and for Justice Scott L. Kafker of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and was a Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. His practice covers litigation including university sexual assault and discipline matters, appellate advocacy, employment and other civil actions, civil rights, and criminal defense.
DDDavid DuncanOf Counsel
Emma Quinn-JudgePartner
Emma Quinn-Judge is a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, where she has practiced since 2007 and became a partner in 2016. She earned a J.D. from Yale Law School in 2005 and a B.A. from Middlebury College in 1998. Her litigation practice covers appeals, criminal defense, and employment law, including criminal cases in state and federal courts and the representation of employees in matters such as discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge. Before joining the firm, she clerked for Judge Rosemary S. Pooler of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Michael A. Ponsor of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Inga BernsteinPartner
Inga Bernstein is a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1984 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1994. She clerked for the Honorable Douglas P. Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1994 to 1995. Her practice covers criminal defense, employment, and education law matters.
Jackson EstrinAssociate
Jacob BeznerAssociate
Jacob Bezner is a lawyer at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston University School of Law. His practice covers appeals, criminal, and employment matters.
Monica R. ShahPartner
Monica R. Shah is a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000 and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2005, and previously worked as a fellow and associate at Neufeld Scheck & Brustin, LLP from 2006 to 2009. Her practice includes criminal defense in state and federal courts, employment matters such as discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims, along with civil rights cases and representation of students in university disciplinary and Title IX proceedings.
Naomi R. ShatzPartner
Naomi R. Shatz is a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, and she earned a B.A. from Barnard College and a J.D. from Yale Law School. Her practice focuses on students' rights and university discipline, and she represents students, teachers, and professors in discrimination cases and disciplinary proceedings involving sexual assault, sexual harassment, and academic misconduct. She also advises and represents individuals in employment and criminal matters. Prior to joining the firm, she was a Skadden Fellow and a staff attorney with the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Niamh GibbonsAssociate
Niamh Gibbons is an Associate at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a B.A. from University College Dublin and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 2022. Her practice covers criminal law, employment law, and education law.
Noah GillenAssociate
Noah Gillen is an attorney at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston University School of Law. His practice covers appeals, criminal, education, and employment matters.
NZNorman ZalkindFounder (In Memoriam)
He founded the firm as an outgrowth of his civil rights work in the 1960s and 1970s, and led it for five decades.
RSRachel StroupPartner
Rachel Stroup is a partner at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts, where she focuses her litigation practice on employment law and criminal defense. She earned a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. Her practice covers employment law, education law, and criminal matters, both felony and misdemeanor, in state and federal courts. She has also represented clients in civil matters including corporate litigation, divorce, personal injury, and campus misconduct.
Tess HalpernAssociate
Tess Halpern is a lawyer at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Boston College Law School. Her practice covers criminal, education, and employment matters.
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