2026 Chapter Officers
John P. Graceffa
John P. Graceffa has more than thirty-nine years of appellate practice, trial practice and civil litigation experience. He represents insurance companies, insureds and self-insureds. John has represented clients in a broad range of subject matters including construction defect claims, construction accidents, bad faith litigation, coverage issues, fraud issues and mass torts. John also has many noteworthy accomplishments, honors and awards including having argued in excess of fifty appeals in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court, Rhode Island Supreme Court and Connecticut Supreme Court, First Circuit Court of Appeals. John was also selected by his peers to The Best Lawyers in America© in Insurance Law and Construction Litigation guides (2018-2025) as well as the Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine list in Insurance Coverage (2009–2019).
Christopher A. Kenney
Chris Kenney, a co-founder of Kenney & Sams, is a nationally recognized trial advocate and business advisor. He has extensive trial and appellate advocacy experience and is frequently retained to serve as a mediator to resolve civil disputes. Chris has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America (as a Lawyer of the Year), Mass. Lawyers Weekly Newspaper (as a Lawyer of the Year), and as a Top 100 New England Super Lawyer.
Chris is a leader of the state and national bar having been elected to serve as president of the Mass Bar Association, president of the Federal Bar Association (MA Chapter), president of the Boston Inn of Court, president of the Mass Defense Lawyers Association, and on the board of directors for the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC).
Michael J. Racette
Michael is a member of the law firm of Hamel, Marcin, Dunn, Reardon & Shea. He has over thirty-five years of civil litigation practice, primarily representing health care professionals in defense of medical malpractice claims and defending product manufacturers and distributors in defense of product liability claims, often involving catastrophic injury or death. He has extensive litigation, trial, and appellate experience in state and federal courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, winning numerous jury trial victories, as well as countless dismissals or other favorable resolutions in a wide variety of commercial litigation and complex tort litigation.
Michael is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell as has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for his expertise in Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. Michael has lectured at continuing medical education presentations to healthcare providers. Michael provided the legal review for “Risk Management in Social Work: Preventing Professional Malpractice, Liability, and Disciplinary Action” (Columbia University Press 2015), by well-known social work ethicist, author and scholar, Frederick G. Reamer, Ph.D.
Michael is a graduate of Siena College (magna cum laude) and Boston College Law School, where he served as an Articles Editor on the Boston College International & Comparative Law Review.
Dana A. Zakarian (National Representative)
Dana A. Zakarian is a partner at Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub, LLP where his practice includes business litigation, employment law, trade secrets, unfair and deceptive trade practices, construction, antitrust and personal injury. Dana has obtained significant victories for clients both prosecuting and defending these claims. Dana takes pride in providing his clients with the highest level of service while helping them achieve their objectives in a targeted and cost-efficient manner.
Dana has mentored many aspiring trial attorneys throughout his practice and has contributed to continuing legal education courses in the area of trial practice. He also enjoys judging Mock Trial competitions at his alma mater.
Dana has been recognized by peers and voted a Massachusetts Super Lawyer - Rising Star from 2007-2012, in addition to achieving Martindale Hubbell’s AV preeminent rating. Before joining Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub, LLP in 2021, Dana practiced at Nystrom, Beckman & Paris, LLP and Goodwin. Dana earned a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and his J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1998.