E. Steven Coren

Partner

Steve Coren has more than 50 years of experience representing individuals and families in personal injury cases, including dental malpractice, slip and fall cases, snow and ice related injuries, and accidents involving cars, bikes, trains and motorcycles. He also has substantial experience in family disputes in the probate courts such as will contests and petitions to partition real estate. As a civil litigator, he has appeared in most courts in Massachusetts and the United States District Court in Massachusetts. He is an approved mediator for divorce disputes in the Middlesex and Norfolk Probate and Family Courts.

Representative Experience

Personal Injury

Winning what is thought to be the highest slip and fall jury verdict in the history of Norfolk Superior Court in the amount of 1.34 million dollars. The Judge in the case commended Attorney E. Steven Coren saying, “I’ve seen a lot of slip and fall, trip and fall cases, but I think that was about as well tried as I’ve seen, Mr. Coren. You did a very fine job for your client.” Read the transcript from the case.
Obtained a $950,000 settlement in a difficult personal injury case involving a client who was injured when the wheelchair she was in pitched her onto the sidewalk. The client, who was not using the wheelchair’s seatbelt, suffered serious and permanent injuries.
Winning a jury trial in a difficult invasion of privacy/emotional distress case involving a client whose psychiatric records were unlawfully accessed by her ex-husband and his sister-in-law and provided to a guardian ad litem (GAL) during a post-divorce contempt case to establish a new child visitation schedule. The GAL violated GAL standards by not first seeking written authorization from the client and further by not first informing the client that the GAL was obtaining this information and intended to disclose it in her report. The jury found the client suffered from the intentional infliction of emotional distress and awarded damages against all three defendants totaling $92,800 with interest. This case is significant as emotional distress damages typically awarded by juries are minimal. Young v. McDonough et al, Boston Municipal Court; No. 2015 01 CV 1523 (2019).

Dental Malpractice

Obtained a $375,000 settlement in a dental malpractice case involving a client whose dental implants were done improperly, resulting in bone loss; electrical shock sensation in the lips, chin and mouth; drooling and numbness.
Obtained a $99,500.00 settlement in a dental malpractice case involving iatrogenic damage, traumatic extraction of tooth #18 resulted in permanent loss of alveolar bone with a severe decrease in bone width, unplanned damage to tooth #19 resulting in loss of tooth #19 which required subsequent surgery to restore the site with a dental implant, failure to properly diagnose extraction complication via radiographs with prolonged pain and suffering.
Obtained a $240,000.00 settlement in a dental malpractice case involving creating prostheses on periodontally compromised teeth, placement of implants outside the bony housing, placement of implants too close to one another creating the likelihood of future bone loss, placement of implants in contact with each other resulting in damage to the body of the implant, placement of implants at divergent angles creating forces which could cause implant fracture and failure to assess implant stability.

Divorce/Family Law

Negotiated a property division settlement with marital assets valued over $5 million and resolved a complicated inheritance issue.
Negotiated a settlement of 70 percent of the marital home to our client due to the misconduct of her husband.
Negotiated a settlement involving a $4.6 million asset division with inheritance and alimony issues.
Succeeded in a divorce trial by having the Probate Court adopt client’s business valuation expert’s opinion of the value of the opposing party’s business as being worth over $300,000 where the opposing expert claimed zero value.
Succeeded in a post-divorce termination of alimony trial due to statutory retirement and proving no circumstances warranted continuation.
Successfully negotiated a settlement involving substantial income and over $4.5 million in assets and alimony where the client did not want to litigate and insisted on fairness to the spouse.
Successfully defended client in divorce case against attempt by opposing spouse to claim that client’s mother’s many real estate properties were actually the property of the client.
Steve also has served as an expert witness in attorney negligence cases involving divorce and family law matters. He has opined on the breach of the legal duty owed to a client in a family law case, negligent settlement conduct, breach of the obligation of zealous representation, improper charging of attorney fees, failure to argue correct asset division and proper division of real estate, negligent conduct in discovery matters, failure to discover relevant information, failure to pursue the right of support for a client, failure to have witnesses testify and failure to pursue legal theories.

Probate Litigation

Successfully prevailed in a highly contested estate case involving a $1.2 million trust, a 20-acre farm, and a restaurant and the land it occupied on behalf of a client who was sued by her two brothers after her parents passed away.

Business Litigation

Successfully defended appeal in the case of Williams v. Vanaria, 2000 Mass. App. Div. 162 (2000), which affirmed the legal principle that a successor corporation is not liable for the debts of a preceding corporation where there are separation of identities, no transfer of assets, and separate bank accounts.

Chairperson, Family Law Section, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys

Education

Steve graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University School of Law. He is licensed to practice before the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States District Court of Massachusetts, United States First Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court of Northern California and has appeared in the courts of New Hampshire.

Community Involvement

Steve has been a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys for many years and was a member of the Board of Governors from 2013 through 2025. He chairs the Mentoring Program section and is Chair of the Family Law Section.
Steve serves as a member of the Board of the Needham Golf Club Charities which raises moneys that are donated to the Town of Needham nonprofit organizations and for scholarships for Needham High School seniors.
Steve was appointed a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Committee on Civility and Professionalism, 2019 – 2020.
Steve was appointed to two terms as a Presiding Hearing Officer to sit as an administrative judge over hearings on complaints against attorneys for the Board of Bar Overseers between 2006 and 2012.
Steve was a Lecturer in thur field of family law litigation for MCLE Family Law Institute, from 2015-2018.
Steve was a Lecturer on the panel for Trial Practice and Procedure/Evidence, MCLE in 2014.
Steve has served as a mentor to young or inexperienced attorneys through programs administered by the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.
Steve has been a Lecturer for the annual Metrowest Legal Services Basic Divorce Program from 2012 to the present.

Awards Received

Steve has been the recipient of four prestigious President’s Awards from the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys in 2013, 2015, 2022 and 2025.
Steve was a recipient of the 2013 Triple Threat pro bono award from MetroWest Legal Services. The award was given for service and dedication, including Attorney Cohen’s representation of pro bono family law clients, providing attorney-of-the -day services at Middlesex probate and family Court in Marlboro, Massachusetts and serving as moderator and lecturer on the Metrowest Divorce Seminar programs.
Steve has volunteered for many years as a judge in the annual Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial Competition a statewide event where high school teams participate in a mock trial competition

Professional Recognition

At the conclusion of a slip and fall trial before Judge Robert Mulligan, a highly respected jurist and chief of the Superior Court at the time, stated that, “I would like to say that I’ve seen a lot of slip and fall cases, trip and fall cases, but I think that was about as well tried as I’ve seen, Mr. Coren. You did a very fine job for your client. I don’t throw compliments around. Just ask the group in this court.”
Steve was quoted in “Judge boots suit by pedestrian hit by postal truck” in the November 1, 2021 issue of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The article discusses a recent summary judgment ruling from a federal district court in Massachusetts.
Court Approved Conciliator, Middlesex Probate and Family Court
Court Approved Conciliator, Norfolk Probate and Family Court
Presiding Hearing Officer, Hearing Committee, Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, 2008 –2012

Practice Areas

Personal Injury
Family Law
Probate Litigation
Dental Malpractice

Presenter

2012-present: Moderator and Presenter; Metrowest Legal Services Divorce Basics; lecturer on divorce law, procedure and evidence.
2014-2017: Lecturer, Trial Procedure and Introducing Evidence, MCLE; Boston, Worcester and Andover.
2015-2018: Presenter and Panel member, MCLE Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute; Demonstration: Conducting Direct and Cross Examinations of Experts.
2017: Presenter, Divorce Issues, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
2022: Presenter, Practicing Professionalism, Massachusetts Bar Association
2024: Presenter; Metrowest Legal Services Divorce Basics; lecturer on aqlimony.divorce law, procedure and evidence.
2025: Presenter, Massachusetts Academy Trial Attorneys, Trial Practice and Procedure.
National Business Institute panel: Presenter: Handling Auto Collison PI Cases. National Broadcast, May 17, 2025.
Presenter, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys: How to Try Your First Jury Trial, March 30, 2026.

Publications

Financial Statements: The Importance of Being Earnest, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys Journal, March, 2021.
The Law and the Diving Professional, PADI, Santa Ana, CA; 1985 (over 55,000 units sold internationally through 2017).

Testimonials

“When faced with difficult legal issues, you need an attorney you can trust. I was faced with a family lawsuit and a very difficult road to travel. Throughout the process I found comfort that Steve Coren was on my side. The opposing counsel was a very disingenuous person, and Steve was able to navigate through rough waters. Although the process was lengthy in the end we had our court date. That's when Steve really shined and his preparation was evident! During the trial Steve remained professional and clearly was the more skilled attorney. We ended up with a judgement that was in our favor and was actually much better than what we tried to negotiate for! I highly recommend Steve Coren for your legal matters.”

— Family Law Client

“I highly recommend the services of this firm. Steven Coren, our attorney, is very knowledgeable and helped make stressful situations much easier. He truly cared about my daughter and our family situation, and he used his legal expertise to resolve my case successfully.”

— Family Law Client

More Testimonials

“Attorney Coren and his team handled my case with expertise, decorum, and kindness, all while achieving phenomenal results. In addition to patiently explaining the legal processes involved throughout a multi-year litigation, Attorney Coren always made himself accessible for my questions via phone call and emails. His responsiveness and expert advice eased my stress through a difficult period of physical pain and emotional toll. Despite the misfortune of my accident itself, I am truly lucky to have been represented by Attorney Coren in my personal injury lawsuit. An expert not only in law but in professional relationship building, I strongly recommend Attorney Coren’s personal injury practice to any who have been injured and seek tactful and effective legal redress.”

— Civil Litigation / Personal Injury Client

“We connected with Steve Coren when we unexpectedly found ourselves with a dental malpractice situation for our 11 year old son. As medical and scientific professionals ourselves, we tried to work with the dental practice but they were dismissive and opaque - and the dental error was seriously negligent. We had spoken with other lawyers who made us feel like our case was too small to interest them. When we first met Steve Coren, it was like a weight had lifted, bringing renewed clarity. He is so experienced and compassionate - and passionate to fight for what is right. He immediately understood the situation and took us on. He helped guide us through the whole painful process. Steve is refreshingly old fashioned - he was direct with both us and the dental-insurance representatives. He conferred with us throughout but guided us with solid judgment and vast experience. I really learned so much from him. We ended up with a settlement for future treatment of the damaged teeth - and hopefully some remediation for the dental practice. Most importantly, however, Steve gave us the opportunity to show our children how to advocate for them - and to support what is right in a diligent and proper way. For that, we could not recommend Steve enough.”

— Civil Litigation / Medical Malpractice Client

“Steve Coren has extensive experience and knowledge as a gifted divorce attorney. To me, he has a unique process to remain focused on where your case needs to go, while your perspective in the near term might be that he is not proceeding in a direction you deem necessary. How can that be? Simple. He is the lawyer and you are not. The biggest mistake you can make as a client is to prevent your lawyer from doing his job. With that said, he is uniquely qualified to successfully position the current and future needs of your family. Steve enabled an agreement that was flexible, workable and fair for both parties, so that our child was assured that both parents loved him dearly and that our child would remain as the primary focus in our post-divorce lives. Steve knew how to diffuse acrimony and move it toward acceptance, growth and maturity. Thank you, Steve, for a job well done.”

— Family Law Client

“Atty. Steve Coren represented me in an estate matter. He came highly recommended. During our initial consultation, he listened carefully and addressed my questions and concerns. Atty. Coren has an exemplary knowledge of law. He was very thorough and well prepared for my case. Atty. Coren kept me updated throughout my case. He is the ultimate professional. He was not intimidated by opposing counsel despite opposing counsel’s attempt at bullying. I felt very well protected by him. He handled himself with the utmost professionalism. I felt heard and respected. It was obvious that he was well respected by the judge. Atty Coren ultimately won my case and saved my home. I highly recommend him.”

— Probate Litigation Client

“Attorney Steven Coren represented me during critical modifications of my divorce decree after my initial attorney retired. Steven’s legal expertise resulted in favorable outcomes during the very acrimonious and challenging proceedings. His legal acumen supported by his practical approach and remarkable negotiating skills led to the just outcomes. At all times, Steven responded to my questions and concerns in a timely and respectful manner. I am grateful that Attorney Coren accepted me as a client during the modification process and provided professional and timely support.”

— Family Law Client

E. Steven Coren

Partner

(781) 997-1561 scoren@cl-lawgroup.com

Representative Experience

Personal Injury

Winning what is thought to be the highest slip and fall jury verdict in the history of Norfolk Superior Court in the amount of 1.34 million dollars. The Judge in the case commended Attorney E. Steven Coren saying, “I’ve seen a lot of slip and fall, trip and fall cases, but I think that was about as well tried as I’ve seen, Mr. Coren. You did a very fine job for your client.” Read the transcript from the case.
Obtained a $950,000 settlement in a difficult personal injury case involving a client who was injured when the wheelchair she was in pitched her onto the sidewalk. The client, who was not using the wheelchair’s seatbelt, suffered serious and permanent injuries.
Winning a jury trial in a difficult invasion of privacy/emotional distress case involving a client whose psychiatric records were unlawfully accessed by her ex-husband and his sister-in-law and provided to a guardian ad litem (GAL) during a post-divorce contempt case to establish a new child visitation schedule. The GAL violated GAL standards by not first seeking written authorization from the client and further by not first informing the client that the GAL was obtaining this information and intended to disclose it in her report. The jury found the client suffered from the intentional infliction of emotional distress and awarded damages against all three defendants totaling $92,800 with interest. This case is significant as emotional distress damages typically awarded by juries are minimal. Young v. McDonough et al, Boston Municipal Court; No. 2015 01 CV 1523 (2019).

Dental Malpractice

Obtained a $375,000 settlement in a dental malpractice case involving a client whose dental implants were done improperly, resulting in bone loss; electrical shock sensation in the lips, chin and mouth; drooling and numbness.
Obtained a $99,500.00 settlement in a dental malpractice case involving iatrogenic damage, traumatic extraction of tooth #18 resulted in permanent loss of alveolar bone with a severe decrease in bone width, unplanned damage to tooth #19 resulting in loss of tooth #19 which required subsequent surgery to restore the site with a dental implant, failure to properly diagnose extraction complication via radiographs with prolonged pain and suffering.
Obtained a $240,000.00 settlement in a dental malpractice case involving creating prostheses on periodontally compromised teeth, placement of implants outside the bony housing, placement of implants too close to one another creating the likelihood of future bone loss, placement of implants in contact with each other resulting in damage to the body of the implant, placement of implants at divergent angles creating forces which could cause implant fracture and failure to assess implant stability.

Divorce/Family Law

Negotiated a property division settlement with marital assets valued over $5 million and resolved a complicated inheritance issue.
Negotiated a settlement of 70 percent of the marital home to our client due to the misconduct of her husband.
Negotiated a settlement involving a $4.6 million asset division with inheritance and alimony issues.
Succeeded in a divorce trial by having the Probate Court adopt client’s business valuation expert’s opinion of the value of the opposing party’s business as being worth over $300,000 where the opposing expert claimed zero value.
Succeeded in a post-divorce termination of alimony trial due to statutory retirement and proving no circumstances warranted continuation.
Successfully negotiated a settlement involving substantial income and over $4.5 million in assets and alimony where the client did not want to litigate and insisted on fairness to the spouse.
Successfully defended client in divorce case against attempt by opposing spouse to claim that client’s mother’s many real estate properties were actually the property of the client.
Steve also has served as an expert witness in attorney negligence cases involving divorce and family law matters. He has opined on the breach of the legal duty owed to a client in a family law case, negligent settlement conduct, breach of the obligation of zealous representation, improper charging of attorney fees, failure to argue correct asset division and proper division of real estate, negligent conduct in discovery matters, failure to discover relevant information, failure to pursue the right of support for a client, failure to have witnesses testify and failure to pursue legal theories.

Probate Litigation

Successfully prevailed in a highly contested estate case involving a $1.2 million trust, a 20-acre farm, and a restaurant and the land it occupied on behalf of a client who was sued by her two brothers after her parents passed away.

Business Litigation

Successfully defended appeal in the case of Williams v. Vanaria, 2000 Mass. App. Div. 162 (2000), which affirmed the legal principle that a successor corporation is not liable for the debts of a preceding corporation where there are separation of identities, no transfer of assets, and separate bank accounts.

Chairperson, Family Law Section, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys

Education

Community Involvement

Steve has been a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys for many years and was a member of the Board of Governors from 2013 through 2025. He chairs the Mentoring Program section and is Chair of the Family Law Section.
Steve serves as a member of the Board of the Needham Golf Club Charities which raises moneys that are donated to the Town of Needham nonprofit organizations and for scholarships for Needham High School seniors.
Steve was appointed a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Committee on Civility and Professionalism, 2019 – 2020.
Steve was appointed to two terms as a Presiding Hearing Officer to sit as an administrative judge over hearings on complaints against attorneys for the Board of Bar Overseers between 2006 and 2012.
Steve was a Lecturer in thur field of family law litigation for MCLE Family Law Institute, from 2015-2018.
Steve was a Lecturer on the panel for Trial Practice and Procedure/Evidence, MCLE in 2014.
Steve has served as a mentor to young or inexperienced attorneys through programs administered by the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.
Steve has been a Lecturer for the annual Metrowest Legal Services Basic Divorce Program from 2012 to the present.

Awards Received

Steve has been the recipient of four prestigious President’s Awards from the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys in 2013, 2015, 2022 and 2025.
Steve was a recipient of the 2013 Triple Threat pro bono award from MetroWest Legal Services. The award was given for service and dedication, including Attorney Cohen’s representation of pro bono family law clients, providing attorney-of-the -day services at Middlesex probate and family Court in Marlboro, Massachusetts and serving as moderator and lecturer on the Metrowest Divorce Seminar programs.
Steve has volunteered for many years as a judge in the annual Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial Competition a statewide event where high school teams participate in a mock trial competition

Professional Recognition

At the conclusion of a slip and fall trial before Judge Robert Mulligan, a highly respected jurist and chief of the Superior Court at the time, stated that, “I would like to say that I’ve seen a lot of slip and fall cases, trip and fall cases, but I think that was about as well tried as I’ve seen, Mr. Coren. You did a very fine job for your client. I don’t throw compliments around. Just ask the group in this court.”
Steve was quoted in “Judge boots suit by pedestrian hit by postal truck” in the November 1, 2021 issue of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The article discusses a recent summary judgment ruling from a federal district court in Massachusetts.
Court Approved Conciliator, Middlesex Probate and Family Court
Court Approved Conciliator, Norfolk Probate and Family Court
Presiding Hearing Officer, Hearing Committee, Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, 2008 –2012

Practice Areas

Personal Injury
Family Law
Probate Litigation
Dental Malpractice

Presenter

2012-present: Moderator and Presenter; Metrowest Legal Services Divorce Basics; lecturer on divorce law, procedure and evidence.
2014-2017: Lecturer, Trial Procedure and Introducing Evidence, MCLE; Boston, Worcester and Andover.
2015-2018: Presenter and Panel member, MCLE Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute; Demonstration: Conducting Direct and Cross Examinations of Experts.
2017: Presenter, Divorce Issues, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
2022: Presenter, Practicing Professionalism, Massachusetts Bar Association
2024: Presenter; Metrowest Legal Services Divorce Basics; lecturer on aqlimony.divorce law, procedure and evidence.
2025: Presenter, Massachusetts Academy Trial Attorneys, Trial Practice and Procedure.
National Business Institute panel: Presenter: Handling Auto Collison PI Cases. National Broadcast, May 17, 2025.
Presenter, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys: How to Try Your First Jury Trial, March 30, 2026.

Publications

Financial Statements: The Importance of Being Earnest, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys Journal, March, 2021.
The Law and the Diving Professional, PADI, Santa Ana, CA; 1985 (over 55,000 units sold internationally through 2017).