Tom is the founder and managing partner of 100% plaintiff-side litigation practice in all courts of the Commonwealth, with a focus on maritime death and injury cases.  He has tried 20 – 25 cases; argued or briefed 20 – 25 cases before various Courts of Appeal, including the United States Supreme Court,  the Supreme Judicial Court, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Courts of Connecticut and New Hampshire. Tom has also obtained reversals before the U.S. Supreme Court, First Circuit, and Mass Appeals Court. Arbitrated and/or mediated well over 150 cases. He is a graduate of Northeastern University and Suffolk University Law School. Tom has served on the MATA BOG and Executive Committee and was a recipient of the MATA President's Award. During 2021-2022, he served as President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. He was also appointed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the largest funding source for civil legal aid in Massachusetts. Tom is also an Oliver Wendell Holmes Life Fellow of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.

Matthew J. Fogelman: President Elect

Matthew J. Fogelman is the founding partner of Fogelman Law LLC, in Newton, Mass.  Matt's litigation practice is focused on employment law and personal injury cases. He is an experienced trial lawyer, having won a number of significant cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including prevailing before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in a ground-breaking disability discrimination case involving an employee’s right to use medical marijuana off-site.  Matt has prevailed on an age discrimination case in Norfolk County, securing a $1.2 million verdict at trial for his client, and on a race and gender discrimination case in Middlesex County, securing a $2.46 million verdict.  Matt also recently settled a catastrophic personal injury case for $11.5 million, one of the largest settlements in Massachusetts in 2024, as well as a wrongful death/dram shop case for $2.2 million.  Matt is passionate and determined to help his clients hold defendants accountable and give his clients a voice.  Matt is graduate of Wesleyan University and Boston College Law School.  He is a long-time member of MATA and MELA (for employment lawyers) and has been a “Super Lawyer” and a “Top 100” lawyer for many consecutive years. 

Patricia Rezendes: Treasurer

Patricia Rezendes began her career with The Rezendes Law Group in 2009, where she had the luxury and privilege of working alongside her father, Michael R. Rezendes, founder of The Rezendes Law Group and dedicated member of MATA.  Upon the passing of Michael Rezendes in 2016, the firm was re-structured under the name of Rezendes Law Group, LLC.  In 2022, the firm restructured again to form Carney, Rezendes & Crowley, LLC.  Patricia’s practice is dedicated to Personal Injury Litigation, including construction and workplace accidents, wrongful death, automobile accidents, premises liability, products liability, and nursing home negligence. In her work, Patricia is committed to helping individuals and families who have been injured and suffered loss due to the negligence of others.  She is experienced in alternative dispute resolutions including arbitration and mediation. Patricia has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict. She is admitted to practice in the State courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as the Federal District Court of MA. She received her JD from Suffolk University Law School and B.S. in Mathematical Business from Wake Forest University.

Mala Rafik: Secretary

Mala is a partner at Rosenfeld & Rafik, P.C., a law firm in New England representing clients denied access to health care as well as individuals seeking short- and long-term disability, life and long-term care benefits from private insurance carriers.  Mala’s clients are typically individuals with debilitating chronic illnesses and disabilities for whom she has achieved several pivotal litigation victories in state and federal court.  She also has represented several nonprofit organizations whose mission is to foster or provide excellent health care for people in Massachusetts. Mala taught Disability Law at New England Law and is a graduate of Colby College and Northeastern University School of Law.

Marc Diller: Immediate Past President

Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys