Justice Law Collaborative Co-Founder Kim Dougherty Named to The Best Lawyers in America® (2026)
Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) proudly announces that co-founder and partner Kimberly (Kim) Dougherty was selected for inclusion in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, which honors attorneys whose dedication and skill set the standards for excellence in the legal profession.
Attorney Dougherty was recognized for her work in:
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Doughtery was also this year awarded the prestigious Lelia J. Robinson Award. Bestowed by the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, the Lelia J. Robinson Award recognizes women who are pioneers in the legal profession and those who have achieved professional excellence, have positively influenced the advancement of women pursuing legal careers, and who have made a difference in their community. Past recipients include Massachusetts’ 73rd Governor Maura Healey and the 38th Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, Kimberly Budd, among many notable others.
Dougherty’s ongoing legal advocacy to hold sexual abusers accountable and to expose the harmful practices associated with the “troubled teen industry” has catapulted her career and supported numerous industry accolades. She is also a vocal champion for legislative reform, and has testified in both state and federal legislatures, to enact new or enhance existing legislation to add greater legal protections for all. In the last year, her efforts have helped to pass the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (national), Katie Meyer’s Law (state; CA), and the Preventing Abduction in Youth Transport Act (state; MD).
2026 trends shaping the legal profession include more women lawyers
Approximately five percent of all practicing U.S. attorneys earn a Best Lawyer distinction, which underscores the award’s exclusivity. This year’s list celebrates individual achievements and also reveals relevant trends shaping the practice of law across the United States.
Interestingly, results of this year’s polling reflect near gender parity or a majority of women in several specialties. These patterns are consistent with a steady rise in gender balance across the field of law. According to Best Lawyer results, the Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs category climbed to 5,893 female practitioners included in this year’s list, a 33% year-over-year gain.
This aspect rings particularly true for Justice Law Collaborative as 80 percent of its staff is female. In the first six months of the year, the firm also completed two mergers with female-led law practices, becoming the largest, 100% female-founded and led plaintiffs’ firm in the country.
Best Lawyers is exclusively based on an exhaustive peer-review survey through which attorneys cast votes on the legal abilities of peer professionals within their practice areas.
Visit this link for the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
August 21, 2025
