Executive Director (he/him)

Matt has advocated for health care access for consumers since the early 1990’s. He joined HLA in 2005 as a Staff Attorney and has served as Executive Director since 2009. At HLA, Matt oversees Massachusetts' only non-profit, public interest law firm dedicated exclusively to health care access. During Matt’s tenure, HLA’s staff has more than doubled in size and the organization has launched several new strategic initiatives serving children with mental illness, immigrants, transgender people, and people with disabilities. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Matt began his professional career as the staff assistant for the Chief Counsel for Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s staff on the United States Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources (now known as the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions). In Senator Kennedy’s office, he participated in advancing national health care initiatives, including proposals to expand access to health insurance and strengthen public health programs. He left Senator Kennedy’s office to attend Suffolk University Law School where he graduated magna cum laude in 1997. Matt then worked in the Massachusetts State House as a legislative aide to State Representative Kay Khan, a champion for access to health care. In the State House, Matt drafted and helped enact various legislative and budgetary provisions including measures to improve mental health services and correctional health care.

Paralegal (she/her)

Emely joined HLA in February 2023 as a Paralegal with the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids. She is currently studying Psychology and Criminal Justice at the University of Massachusetts – Boston and expects to graduate in 2024. Emely is an experienced preschool teacher who taught for four years in two schools, a role in which she participated in monthly parent support groups. She earned her high school diploma in Early Childhood Education and received her teacher certification in 2020. In addition to her work and studies, Emely has volunteered at Head Start and Cradles to Crayons.

Staff Attorney (he/him)

Brian is a Staff Attorney in the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids covering the Cape & Islands, based out of the Hyannis Family Resource Center. Brian comes to HLA from the Committee for Public Counsel Services -- Public Defender Division. As a Trial Attorney with CPCS, Brian was appointed to represent indigent people charged with criminal offenses in both the Fall River District Court and the Bristol County Superior Court. In that role, Brian practiced litigation skills, client-centered zealous advocacy, and procurement of community-based mental health services. Brian dedicated himself to helping clients achieve their goals in life, health, and safety, as well as to advocate for their humanity in the Courts. Prior to his years as a Trial Attorney, Brian worked in the Prisoner’s Rights Clinic at the Northeastern University School of Law, where he studied parole as well as trauma-informed advocacy. Brian is also well-versed in oral advocacy; he competed in various “mock trial” tournaments throughout his education, resulting in regional and national recognition for his outstanding performances. Brian earned his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and earned his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Jennifer is a new staff attorney on our Access to Care and Coverage Team! Prior to HLA, Jennifer worked at the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Boston Court Service Center providing access to justice to self-represented litigants. In this capacity, Jennifer assisted marginalized and underserved litigants navigate the judicial system in various Probate and Family and Housing Court matters. Before joining the Boston Court Service Center, Jennifer worked as a Public Defender with CPCS in the Mental Health Litigation Division. At CPCS, she represented clients who were facing civil commitment in mental health institutions.  

Staff Attorney/MHAP for Kids Training Coordinator (she/her)

Elisabeth joins the MHAP for Kids team as the second Staff Attorney for Middlesex County, based out of the Lowell office. Prior to joining HLA, Elisabeth worked at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. At the District Attorney’s office, Elisabeth was part of the Mental Health Court in Lowell as well as the juvenile court ADA also in Lowell.  While in law school, Elisabeth was a part of the Juvenile Rights Advocacy Project as well as a LEND (Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Delay) Fellow in 2018. Elisabeth received her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2019 and her B.A. from Colby College in 2016.

Director of Finance & Operations (she/her)

Sarah joined HLA in August 2018, bringing more than a decade of experience in nonprofit finance and administration. Previous positions include nine years at Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, where she developed a passion for the disability inclusion movement. Sarah holds a BA from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

Paralegal (she/her)

Nell joined HLA in September of 2021 as a Paralegal for the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids. Prior to joining HLA, Nell participated in the School for International Training's International Honors Program, where she studied the public health care systems in Vietnam, South Africa, and Argentina. She previously was a family law litigation assistant and a research affiliate for Military Support Programs and Networks. Nell earned her B.A. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Law, Justice, and Social Change from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Director/Lead Attorney, Access to Care and Coverage Team (he/him)

Communications and Administrative Associate (she/her)

Abigail (or Abby) joined HLA in January 2022 as an Administrative Assistant, supporting the work of our general operations team, MHAP for Kids, and our Development team. Prior to working at HLA, she held various administrative roles while teaching English as a Second Language at a language school and translation agency based in Montréal, Québec. Abby earned her B.A. in Art History and Anthropology from McGill University.

Senior Supervising Attorney (she/her)

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Paralegal (she/her)

Bettyna joined HLA in February 2023 as a Paralegal with the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids. Prior to HLA, she worked for Salem State University as a Donor Relations and Events Aide and Resident Assistant. Bettyna is also a current student at Salem State University, where she expects to graduate in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Minor Concentrations in Peace Studies and French.  Outside of her course work Bettyna serves as the Vice President and Public Relations Representative of the Black Student Union.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Lucy joins the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids as a Staff Attorney. Prior to joining HLA, Lucy was a Staff Attorney at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, where she focused on education issues impacting youth in foster care and kinship caregiving. Lucy also has experience providing direct representation to children in Essex County in education and immigration cases. Prior to attending law school Lucy worked on housing and neighborhood issues at the Boston Foundation and spent a year working in a Boston based after school program. Lucy received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 2020 and her B.A. from Northeastern University in 2011.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Jessica is a staff attorney for the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids serving Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties out of the Pittsfield Family Resource Center. Prior to joining HLA in November 2022, Jessica worked as a public defender and bar advocate, representing indigent clients in both trial and appellate settings. In addition, she volunteers her time as a development coordinator and member of the executive aboard for Berkshire Pride, which she helped found, and led Berkshire County's campaign to promote a ballot question to protect transgender rights. Jessica holds a B.A. in American Studies from Williams College and earned her J.D. from the New York University School of Law, after which she clerked at the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Deputy Director (she/her)

Marisol Garcia has dedicated her 25-year legal career to advocating for youth at every stage of the cradle to prison pipeline.  Since 2016, Marisol has directed the work of the Commonwealth’s largest child advocacy program – the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP for Kids). As Deputy Director, Marisol continues as the leader of MHAP for Kids, acts as an HLA ambassador to cultivate partnerships with potential and existing financial and advocacy partners, develops, launches, and guides HLA advocacy efforts, advises existing HLA legal initiatives to help them grow, and works on administrative projects to advance HLA operations. Marisol achieved the mission of statewide expansion for MHAP for Kids, increasing capacity by over 500% and placing attorneys in Family Resource Centers (FRCs) across the state. Working with public interest groups, Marisol leads the legislative lobbying efforts – establishing a budget earmark and receiving over five million dollars in public funding. Within months of assuming her position as project director, Marisol collaborated with key stakeholders to redefine the strategic direction of the program to relocate this diversion program from the juvenile justice system to the FRCs based in the community. Marisol also coordinates ongoing data collection with the evaluation team from Boston University School of Public Health. Marisol oversees the work of the attorneys who advocate for children with unmet mental health needs to receive the care that they require to be successful at school, at home, and in the community. She has co-authored numerous articles for the American Bar Association’s Children’s Rights Committee and has presented on children’s mental health issues at statewide and national trainings. In 2022, Marisol was selected as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's Top Women of Law. Marisol joined HLA in 2015 as a mental health advocate. From 2012 to 2014, Marisol litigated before the SSA, representing disabled adults and children. From 1999 to 2011, she maintained her own law office where she specialized in juvenile justice, representing children in civil and delinquency proceedings. During that time, Marisol was also an adjunct professor at University of Massachusetts in Lowell and William James College. Marisol was a Bart J. Gordon fellow and staff attorney at the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts from 1997 to 1999. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law in 1997 and a BA magna cum laude from Providence College 1994.

Staff Attorney/Intern Coordinator (she/her)

Prior to joining HLA, Kathleen engaged in private practice representing parents and children in Care and Protection Petitions and Children Requiring Assistance cases for the Committee for Public Counsel Services/Children and Family Law Division.  In addition, she has experience as a Guardian Ad Litem and Court Investigator in the juvenile courts in Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk Counties. Kathleen also worked as an Education Advocate for the Home for Little Wanderers Parent Support Program as well as for families working with the Department of Mental Health. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Project Manager/Staff Attorney (she/her/they/them)

Kara comes to HLA by way of MLPB, where she supported health and human service providers in their efforts to detect, triage, and address patients’ health-related social needs through regular consultation.  Prior to that work, Kara was a Social Services Advocate for the Committee for Public Counsel Services.  In that multidisciplinary role, she advocated for clients navigating the criminal justice system who were seeking to access benefits and services.  She also provided consultation for staff attorneys on issues of disability and benefits law.  Kara holds both a law degree from Boston College Law School and a master’s degree in social work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work.

Manager of Donor Relations and Events (she/her)

Jennifer is the Manager of External Engagement at HLA, bringing nearly 10 years of nonprofit and volunteer management experience, and a deep passion for building champions for mission-driven organizations. Previous to HLA, she led the volunteer efforts at nonprofits such as Year Up Greater Boston, a national workforce development program for young adults, 826 Boston, a creative writing center for K-12 students, and Tenacity, a pathway program for middle schoolers that focuses on literacy and tennis. Jennifer holds a BA in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine. 

Justice Catalyst Fellow (she/her)

Kathryn is a Justice Catalyst Fellow on the Access to Care and Coverage Practice team. Prior to HLA, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Casa de Salud, a St. Louis-based health access organization. Kathryn has also worked in disability rights, language access initiatives, and care coordination for justice-involved and unhoused men. Kathryn received her law degree from Saint Louis University and master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Before joining the HLA team, Toni served as Assistant Regional Counsel for Boston’s Department of Children and Families where she worked closely with clinical staff on case consultations, management, and mediation. While earning her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, Toni clerked for First Justice Jay D. Blitzman at the Juvenile Court of Middlesex County and worked alongside healthcare professionals and education specialists at the Advocating Success for Kids program at Boston Children’s hospital. Toni continues to teach courses and workshops in Public Narrative, Community Organizing, and Legal and Ethical Issues in Child Advocacy. In addition to her law degree, Toni holds an M.Ed in Human Development and Psychology Child Advocacy from Harvard University, an M.A. in Sociology from Stanford University, and B.A. degrees in both Sociology and Human Biology from Stanford University.

Paralegal (she/her)

Shy-Anne joined HLA as a paralegal with MHAP for Kids in October 2022. Before HLA, Shy-Anne earned her BA in Applied Legal Studies at Suffolk University, where she was also an active member of the Legal Association, Student Government Association, and National Society of Leadership and Success. She previously worked in customer service and participated in an internship in Experimental Learning, where she focused on legal research and legal writing. Shy-Anne is a huge animal lover and volunteers her time at a local animal rescue, and is also a former cheerleader at Suffolk University.

Aly McKnight is the Staff Attorney/Medical-Legal Partnership for Immigrants Fellow on our Access to Care and Coverage team. Recently, Aly has interned with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson’s chambers, with AARP Foundation Litigation, and with Greater Boston Legal Services in the Welfare Unit.  While in law school, she was a part of Northeastern University School of Law's Poverty Law Clinic, and she served on the founding board of the National Disabled Law Students Association (NDLSA) as the social media director. Prior to law, Aly worked in community engagement. She was the Vice President of Community Engagement for New Futures, a nonprofit that advocates for health and wellness issues at the state level in New Hampshire. She also worked for the city of Nashua, New Hampshire in the public health division and in the office of Mayor Jim Donchess, and was a 2018 fellow for New Leaders Council NH. Aly holds a B.A. in Sociology and Public Policy Studies from William Smith College and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law with a concentration in poverty law and economic justice.

Paralegal (he/him)

Zachary joined the Access to Care and Coverage Team as a paralegal in September of 2021.  Prior to joining HLA, he interned at the African American Community Service Agency in its Policy and Advocacy department, conducting research on local policy issues affecting the Black/African-American/African Ancestry communities and developing a civic education program on local, state, and federal policymaking processes. He also interned at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, was a student member at the Bay Area JusticeCorps, worked as a part-time barista at Starbucks, and enjoyed leadership positions in student advocacy through student government organizations. Zachary recently earned B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Political Science from Santa Clara University.

Managing Attorney (she/her)

Lisa Morrow, Managing Attorney in HLA’s MHAP for Kids based at the Lynn Family Resource Center, advocates for children with unmet mental health needs throughout Essex County while supervising 3 other MHAP for Kids attorneys. Due to her experience and expertise, Lisa has co-authored 2 articles for the American Bar Association’s Children’s Rights Committee and has presented on special education to other attorneys at MCLE. Before she joined HLA in 2013 to work on children’s mental health issues, Lisa spent four and a half years as a staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts. At CLCM, Lisa represented children in education matters as the sole attorney for an education advocacy initiative in Lawrence, MA. Lisa holds a law degree from Boston University School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Visual Art and History from Brown University.

Head of Litigation (he/him)

Steph Neely joins HLA as the Head of Litigation. Prior to joining HLA, Steph was a litigator in the Boston office of the law firm WilmerHale for approximately 10 years. While there, he represented pharmaceutical and technology companies in litigations before federal courts and disputes before agencies. Steph also maintained a robust public interest practice while at WilmerHale, including representing pro bono clients before the Social Security Administration and Boston Housing Authority, co-authoring a legal manual for representing victims of human trafficking in Massachusetts, and drafting an amicus brief in support of expanded end-of-life medical care options. In addition, Steph served as a Special Assistant District Attorney in Malden District Court for six months in 2017, where he argued numerous motions and represented the Commonwealth in several trials. Steph holds a B.A. in Humanities from Yale University, an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on Religion, Ethics, and Politics, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Senior Paralegal (she/her)

Aashna is a Senior Paralegal in the Access to Care and Coverage Team. Prior to joining HLA in August 2021, Aashna worked at a multi-focus law firm as a Legal Assistant, aiding in criminal, real estate, and intellectual property cases. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with bachelors degrees in Public Health (policy and management) and Legal Studies in 2020.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Kendal joins the MHAP for Kids team as the staff attorney for both Bristol County and the Cape & Islands, based in the New Bedford Family Resource Center. Kendal comes to HLA from the Bristol County District Attorney's office. She spent five years supporting prosecutors in the Fall River District Court and in the Special Victims Unit, while attending law school at night and on the weekends. Kendal then transitioned to the role of Assistant District Attorney, spending four years as a prosecutor based in the Attleboro District Court. She became the lead prosecutor for the Attleboro high risk domestic violence team, overseeing complex prosecutions of repeat offenders and working with community partners to provide support to domestic violence victims. Kendal has tried dozens of cases and brings extensive litigation experience and trauma informed advocacy skills to this role. Kendal earned her B.A. from Saint Michael's College where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her J.D. from the University of Massachusetts School of Law.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Leah Porter is a Staff Attorney with the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids, serving the MOC Family Resource Center in Fitchburg. She recently served as the Medical-Legal Partnership Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Office of General Counsel, helping low-income families access legal assistance to address health-related social needs. Prior to that, she worked in civil legal aid, representing parents and youth with education law matters, and senior citizens in a variety of civil matters under an elder services grant. Leah received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law, and bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University.

Senior Supervising Attorney (she/her)

Eliza joined HLA from the Children’s Law Center in Washington, DC, where she spent three years representing children and their best interests in abuse and neglect proceedings.  She was a 2012 Skirnick Public Interest Fellow at the Education Law Center in Philadelphia, and as a law student, she participated in the Education Law Clinic and Child Advocacy Program at Harvard Law School.  Eliza holds a B.A. in Classics from Brown University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. 

Supervising Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership for Immigrants (MLPI) (she/her)

Before joining HLA, Katherine (Kate) was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in New York City, where she helped immigrant clients in low-income situations access health insurance and eliminate medical debt through advocacy, appeals, and client education. In law school, she worked at two legal services organizations serving immigrant populations and was a judicial extern at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a B.S. in Applied Psychology from New York University.

Staff Attorney (she/her)

Caitlin is a Staff Attorney for the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids out of the Family Resource Center in Holyoke. She provides services to families in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Prior to joining HLA, Caitlin had a private practice focused on representing kids and parents in care and protection proceedings in Juvenile Court, as well as mediating family law matters. She has extensive experience working with trauma survivors and helping people with mental health challenges navigate the legal system. Caitlin is also active with Gender Identity Validation Services, which provides free legal assistance to gender diverse people seeking name and gender marker changes. Caitlin earned her law degree and her master’s degree in public health in 2010 as part of a dual degree program with Northeastern University School of Law and Tufts University.  She also has B.A. degrees in both Biology and Religion from Mount Holyoke College.

Supervising Attorney (he/him)

David is a supervising attorney in the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids program, and is based out of the Quincy Family Resource Center. Before joining HLA, David was an attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services in the Children and Family Law Division, where he was court appointed to represent children and parents in Care and Protection cases and Children Requiring Assistance cases at the Juvenile Court. In that role, David provided client-directed litigation and advocacy in the court, administratively, and in the community. David was also an associate attorney at a law firm, where he represented school districts in special and general education matters. David earned his Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law. 

Pro Bono Paralegal (she/her)

Senior Paralegal (she/her)

Shannon joined HLA as the paralegal in February 2019 and conducts intakes for private and public insurance. Shannon graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2017 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts with concentrations in Immigration, Human Rights, and Latin American studies. During college, she interned in non-profit and school-based organizations focusing on providing immigration services, ESL, and services for families and children. In 2018 she served as an AmeriCorps caseworker with Jewish Vocational Services in the Refugee Department, primarily focusing on helping parents gain access to child care to promote job readiness.

Senior Supervising Attorney (he/him)

Wells works with HLA's commercial insurance and mental health parity teams, and advises and represents individual clients in Massachusetts with commercial insurance on their rights to access needed care. He has successfully appealed denials of expensive pharmaceuticals, ABA therapy for children with Autism, and he has helped consumers reverse unpaid claims, protecting them from medical debt. Previously, Wells worked with the consumer advocacy group Community Catalyst, indirectly advising consumers about their rights under the Affordable Care Act to enroll, to receive free preventive care, and to receive exemptions from tax penalties, among other issues. Wells has extensive experience in local grassroots organizing in Massachusetts, working on health care reform, peace issues, globalization, youth leadership development, and community organizing. He holds a B.A. in Biology from Boston University, and a law degree from New England School of Law.