MILTON, MA, November 20, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- John S. Leonard has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Leonard has established a distinguished legal career spanning five decades, marked by his expertise in civil eminent domain cases and his longstanding commitment to the legal profession in Massachusetts. For more than 20 years, he has served as senior partner at the Law Offices of John S. Leonard, LLC, where he has focused exclusively on trying civil eminent domain cases. His reputation for excellence is underscored by his consistent ranking at the highest level of legal ability, AV Preeminent®, by the Martindale–Hubbell Law Directory® since 1985.

Before founding his current firm, Mr. Leonard spent 25 years at a prominent Boston general practice firm. There, he was mentored by a senior partner specializing in eminent domain law, which shaped the trajectory of his career. After six to eight years of intensive learning in this field, he developed his own eminent domain practice within the firm. Eventually, he established a two-person law office with his daughter, Laurie, who handles labor and employment cases.

Throughout his career, Mr. Leonard has been recognized with several prestigious honors. He was named Lawyer of the Year in The Best Lawyers' 27th Edition and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America from 2007 to 2026. Additionally, he was selected as a Massachusetts SuperLawyer from 2004 to 2026. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Leonard's most notable public service achievement is his 25-year tenure as Chairman of the Milton Board of Appeals in Massachusetts. In this capacity, he heard hundreds of zoning code appeals and participated in related litigation. He worked closely with the Town Counsel and the Board of Selectpersons on municipal matters during a period when Milton transformed from a rural community into a fully developed town affected by highway and transit expansion. His leadership allowed him to contribute meaningfully to addressing the evolving challenges faced by the community.

His academic background laid a strong foundation for his legal accomplishments. Mr. Leonard earned a Bachelor of Science in economics with honors from Boston College in 1965 and graduated cum laude from its Honors Program. He received a Bachelor of Laws from Boston College Law School in 1968. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 1969 and 1970, respectively.

Mr. Leonard attributes much of his success to the unwavering support of his family, particularly his wife of 52 years, Denise, and their children, Laurie and John. Their encouragement enabled him to balance demanding professional responsibilities with family life during years that required long hours and late nights dedicated to both legal work and civic service.

Born in South Boston, Mr. Leonard enjoys traveling with Denise, who retired after four decades as a fourth-grade teacher at a school in Quincy, Massachusetts. Their son, John, graduated from Boston University with a degree in communications and has built an accomplished career working with major broadcast networks, producing Olympic coverage from Greece, and earning an Emmy award. He resides in Massachusetts with his wife and their daughter. John and Denise's daughter Laurie, attended Milton Academy from kindergarten through high school before graduating with honors from both Dartmouth College and Cornell Law School; she practiced labor and employment law in New York for several years before balancing her legal work with raising her son, Thomas, while her husband, Stephen McCarthy, manages a private criminal law practice in New York City.

Looking ahead, Mr. Leonard aims to continue expanding his practice by representing individuals whose land has been taken through eminent domain and ensuring they receive just compensation. He also represents municipalities to help them treat property owners respectfully, pay fair market value for takings and avoid unnecessary litigation caused by undervaluing properties.

Mr. Leonard's career reflects an enduring dedication to justice, community service and professional excellence within the field of eminent domain law.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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