team-member

Brian Heneghan

Boston, MA

Licensed for 22 years

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Child custody

Language

English

About

Mr. Heneghan specializes in Family Law, including divorce, complicated custody issues, child support, and modification of judgments. He has extensive Court experience and training with respect to custody cases that include Court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem investigations and/or the Department of Children and Families (formerly the Department of Social Services). He also has far-reaching experience in family law litigation involving removal of children from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; complex jurisdictional issues; de facto parents; and paternity cases. He has been a guest lecturer at Harvard Law School. Mr. Heneghan brings in-depth knowledge and practice to issues involving the division of marital assets, child support, alimony, and other complex financial matters.Mr. Heneghan has worked closely with founding partners Robert J. Kates and Peter M. Barlow since 2002, first, as an associate at Epstein Becker & Green, PC, Boston, and later, as Special Counsel with Foley & Lardner LLP, Boston, where he was a member of the Family Law Practice group of the Litigation Department.

Practices Areas

Child custody

Child support

Divorce and separation

Family

Language

English

Contact

Kates & Barlow, PC21 Custom House StreetBoston, MA, 02110

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

anonymous
March 6, 2017

Brian is an exceptional attorney. He is thoughtful, considerate and is eager to find common ground. While many attorney's are eager to pick a fight, he works hard to help settle issues by highlighting what's important. That said he is both firm and forceful when necessary. My divorce was particularly difficult and drawn out. It had a high degree of complexity involving a GAL and other child related issues. Brian was able to lay out a plan of attack and get to core issues quickly. He kept me well informed throughout the process and understood nuances of the legal system that other attorney's were not only unaware of but had no idea of how to use to their advantage. On a personal note, he was phenomenal to work with. In the end we won and my children are thankful for it. I regularly recommend him to friends of mine that are in need of a good attorney and are going through divorce and especially those with complex child custody related issues.

anonymous
January 19, 2017

Brian has been an excellent partner in helping me work through some very difficult issues. Brian has represented me in a case involving custody, removal, valuation of private business assets, and support. He is responsive and he is diligent and thoughtful in his approach. His experience negotiating and litigating in both Probate and the Appeals Courts has been very helpful to my case.

Nick
January 19, 2017

Brian was/is my divorce attorney. I hired him on the advice of a friend who went through a messy divorce (mine was too), and it was the best thing I did during my divorce. He's helped with a couple of follow up issues in the years since. The main thing I liked about Brian is that he was calm and measured. My ex would do something horrible, or make some outrageous legal claim, and I would start to respond with some of the same, and Brian would calmly explain why my I should not do so, and why her approach was probably going to be counter productive to her. This measured approach dialed down the intensity of the fight even though her attorney was a barracuda, which led to a fair divorce settlement out of court with less stress for everyone, and the kids in particular. The other thing Brian did was write an incredibly thorough legal separation document - so long that the judge remarked on its length, but it has been a god send. My ex is constantly trying to come up with some new interpretation of our agreement, some new way in which she does less, or pays less, and has more, but she cannot because all the terms are in the separation agreement. If you are looking for a lawyer out of a court-room drama, Brian is not for you. He's not going to come up with convoluted legal arguments and claim that you will get everything you want (which is not going to happen anyway). If you are looking for an adult, a serious lawyer who is going to gently but firmly guide you to a more successful outcome for you (and your kids), then I think you'll be happy if you hire him.

Sylvain
January 17, 2017

Atty Heneghan has been my attorney for nearly 8 years on a relentless post-divorce litigation that included trials, hearings, GALs. Motions and Complaints. Atty Heneghan is thorough, detail oriented, ethical and always offers good advice. He is effective and strategic and I have only good things to say. I would recommend him without hesitation. S.K.

Sarah
January 15, 2017

When I was divorcing, one thing that very quickly became clear was that no matter how many divorced people I knew, no one was going to recommend an attorney. Let me break that chain. I chose Brian Heneghan to represent me because I trusted him to help keep me and the case focused on our child's best interest. Divorce can be a nasty business, and my ex-husband made ours inevitably so, filing for sole custody, hiding assets, and just generally being a jackass. Brian did not let things devolve into chaos. He is man of integrity and intelligence above all else. His wisdom, compassion, discipline, and good humor guided me through an extremely difficult time. I'm a believer that there are no "winners" in divorce, especially one with children, but, yes, I ended up with full legal and physical custody which was best in our specific situation. Given the disparity in my and my ex's income, the asset distribution and child support ended up quite fair. When divorcing, I think many people think they want a shark. My ex retained one. It made the process slower, more painful, and more costly--and ultimately he lost. I'm glad I chose Brian. I can recommend Brian Heneghan without any reservation. He is an excellent attorney and such a very fine man.

anonymous
January 13, 2017

I owe a depth of gratitude to Mr. Heneghan for how he has positively changed our life. He fought an uphill battle through family probate court, the appellate court and the supreme court and succeeded against odds. He has a keen sense of the law, is humble enough to consult with his colleagues, and truly looks out for the interest of his clients while upholding a high standard of ethical practice. He works efficiently and effectively.

anonymous
March 6, 2017

Brian is an exceptional attorney. He is thoughtful, considerate and is eager to find common ground. While many attorney's are eager to pick a fight, he works hard to help settle issues by highlighting what's important. That said he is both firm and forceful when necessary. My divorce was particularly difficult and drawn out. It had a high degree of complexity involving a GAL and other child related issues. Brian was able to lay out a plan of attack and get to core issues quickly. He kept me well informed throughout the process and understood nuances of the legal system that other attorney's were not only unaware of but had no idea of how to use to their advantage. On a personal note, he was phenomenal to work with. In the end we won and my children are thankful for it. I regularly recommend him to friends of mine that are in need of a good attorney and are going through divorce and especially those with complex child custody related issues.

anonymous
January 19, 2017

Brian has been an excellent partner in helping me work through some very difficult issues. Brian has represented me in a case involving custody, removal, valuation of private business assets, and support. He is responsive and he is diligent and thoughtful in his approach. His experience negotiating and litigating in both Probate and the Appeals Courts has been very helpful to my case.

Nick
January 19, 2017

Brian was/is my divorce attorney. I hired him on the advice of a friend who went through a messy divorce (mine was too), and it was the best thing I did during my divorce. He's helped with a couple of follow up issues in the years since. The main thing I liked about Brian is that he was calm and measured. My ex would do something horrible, or make some outrageous legal claim, and I would start to respond with some of the same, and Brian would calmly explain why my I should not do so, and why her approach was probably going to be counter productive to her. This measured approach dialed down the intensity of the fight even though her attorney was a barracuda, which led to a fair divorce settlement out of court with less stress for everyone, and the kids in particular. The other thing Brian did was write an incredibly thorough legal separation document - so long that the judge remarked on its length, but it has been a god send. My ex is constantly trying to come up with some new interpretation of our agreement, some new way in which she does less, or pays less, and has more, but she cannot because all the terms are in the separation agreement. If you are looking for a lawyer out of a court-room drama, Brian is not for you. He's not going to come up with convoluted legal arguments and claim that you will get everything you want (which is not going to happen anyway). If you are looking for an adult, a serious lawyer who is going to gently but firmly guide you to a more successful outcome for you (and your kids), then I think you'll be happy if you hire him.

Sylvain
January 17, 2017

Atty Heneghan has been my attorney for nearly 8 years on a relentless post-divorce litigation that included trials, hearings, GALs. Motions and Complaints. Atty Heneghan is thorough, detail oriented, ethical and always offers good advice. He is effective and strategic and I have only good things to say. I would recommend him without hesitation. S.K.

Sarah
January 15, 2017

When I was divorcing, one thing that very quickly became clear was that no matter how many divorced people I knew, no one was going to recommend an attorney. Let me break that chain. I chose Brian Heneghan to represent me because I trusted him to help keep me and the case focused on our child's best interest. Divorce can be a nasty business, and my ex-husband made ours inevitably so, filing for sole custody, hiding assets, and just generally being a jackass. Brian did not let things devolve into chaos. He is man of integrity and intelligence above all else. His wisdom, compassion, discipline, and good humor guided me through an extremely difficult time. I'm a believer that there are no "winners" in divorce, especially one with children, but, yes, I ended up with full legal and physical custody which was best in our specific situation. Given the disparity in my and my ex's income, the asset distribution and child support ended up quite fair. When divorcing, I think many people think they want a shark. My ex retained one. It made the process slower, more painful, and more costly--and ultimately he lost. I'm glad I chose Brian. I can recommend Brian Heneghan without any reservation. He is an excellent attorney and such a very fine man.

anonymous
January 13, 2017

I owe a depth of gratitude to Mr. Heneghan for how he has positively changed our life. He fought an uphill battle through family probate court, the appellate court and the supreme court and succeeded against odds. He has a keen sense of the law, is humble enough to consult with his colleagues, and truly looks out for the interest of his clients while upholding a high standard of ethical practice. He works efficiently and effectively.

anonymous
March 6, 2017

Brian is an exceptional attorney. He is thoughtful, considerate and is eager to find common ground. While many attorney's are eager to pick a fight, he works hard to help settle issues by highlighting what's important. That said he is both firm and forceful when necessary. My divorce was particularly difficult and drawn out. It had a high degree of complexity involving a GAL and other child related issues. Brian was able to lay out a plan of attack and get to core issues quickly. He kept me well informed throughout the process and understood nuances of the legal system that other attorney's were not only unaware of but had no idea of how to use to their advantage. On a personal note, he was phenomenal to work with. In the end we won and my children are thankful for it. I regularly recommend him to friends of mine that are in need of a good attorney and are going through divorce and especially those with complex child custody related issues.

anonymous
January 19, 2017

Brian has been an excellent partner in helping me work through some very difficult issues. Brian has represented me in a case involving custody, removal, valuation of private business assets, and support. He is responsive and he is diligent and thoughtful in his approach. His experience negotiating and litigating in both Probate and the Appeals Courts has been very helpful to my case.

Nick
January 19, 2017

Brian was/is my divorce attorney. I hired him on the advice of a friend who went through a messy divorce (mine was too), and it was the best thing I did during my divorce. He's helped with a couple of follow up issues in the years since. The main thing I liked about Brian is that he was calm and measured. My ex would do something horrible, or make some outrageous legal claim, and I would start to respond with some of the same, and Brian would calmly explain why my I should not do so, and why her approach was probably going to be counter productive to her. This measured approach dialed down the intensity of the fight even though her attorney was a barracuda, which led to a fair divorce settlement out of court with less stress for everyone, and the kids in particular. The other thing Brian did was write an incredibly thorough legal separation document - so long that the judge remarked on its length, but it has been a god send. My ex is constantly trying to come up with some new interpretation of our agreement, some new way in which she does less, or pays less, and has more, but she cannot because all the terms are in the separation agreement. If you are looking for a lawyer out of a court-room drama, Brian is not for you. He's not going to come up with convoluted legal arguments and claim that you will get everything you want (which is not going to happen anyway). If you are looking for an adult, a serious lawyer who is going to gently but firmly guide you to a more successful outcome for you (and your kids), then I think you'll be happy if you hire him.

Sylvain
January 17, 2017

Atty Heneghan has been my attorney for nearly 8 years on a relentless post-divorce litigation that included trials, hearings, GALs. Motions and Complaints. Atty Heneghan is thorough, detail oriented, ethical and always offers good advice. He is effective and strategic and I have only good things to say. I would recommend him without hesitation. S.K.

Sarah
January 15, 2017

When I was divorcing, one thing that very quickly became clear was that no matter how many divorced people I knew, no one was going to recommend an attorney. Let me break that chain. I chose Brian Heneghan to represent me because I trusted him to help keep me and the case focused on our child's best interest. Divorce can be a nasty business, and my ex-husband made ours inevitably so, filing for sole custody, hiding assets, and just generally being a jackass. Brian did not let things devolve into chaos. He is man of integrity and intelligence above all else. His wisdom, compassion, discipline, and good humor guided me through an extremely difficult time. I'm a believer that there are no "winners" in divorce, especially one with children, but, yes, I ended up with full legal and physical custody which was best in our specific situation. Given the disparity in my and my ex's income, the asset distribution and child support ended up quite fair. When divorcing, I think many people think they want a shark. My ex retained one. It made the process slower, more painful, and more costly--and ultimately he lost. I'm glad I chose Brian. I can recommend Brian Heneghan without any reservation. He is an excellent attorney and such a very fine man.

anonymous
January 13, 2017

I owe a depth of gratitude to Mr. Heneghan for how he has positively changed our life. He fought an uphill battle through family probate court, the appellate court and the supreme court and succeeded against odds. He has a keen sense of the law, is humble enough to consult with his colleagues, and truly looks out for the interest of his clients while upholding a high standard of ethical practice. He works efficiently and effectively.