Thirty Years of Award-Winning Advocacy
Parker Scheer LLP Celebrates Three Decades of Legal Excellence
In the summer of 1996, two Boston trial lawyers made a decision that would change the course of their careers and the lives of thousands of clients. Eric J. Parker and Barry Scheer, both partners at the respected firm of Sarrouf, Tarricone & Flemming, walked away from the security of an established practice, the comfort of a regular paycheck, and the prestige of a prominent address to build something of their own: Parker Scheer LLP.
“When you leave your parents’ house, it is not because you no longer have respect or affection for them, but simply because it is the right time for you to go out on your own,” Parker reflected at the time, in a feature published by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly in July 1996. “It is not instigated by a bad experience, but a sense of great independence and a little bit of control.”
That pivotal decision, made with courage and conviction at a moment when both men were at crossroads in their lives, laid the foundation for what Parker Scheer LLP has become. Thirty years later, the firm has grown into one of the most respected and trusted boutique law firms in Massachusetts, combining personal injury litigation, employment law and litigation, and business litigation.
From High Street to the Hall of Fame
In May of 1996, Parker Scheer opened its doors on the 16th floor of 125 High Street in Boston with a straightforward mission: to provide the highest quality legal representation possible, driven by genuine care for clients and relentless advocacy in the courtroom. A lot has changed over the years, but that mission has remained steadfast.
Barry Scheer, now Of Counsel to the firm, built a long and distinguished career as one of Massachusetts’ leading business litigators and trusted legal advisors, earning statewide recognition for his success in complex litigation, appellate advocacy, and business counseling. Eric Parker is currently the firm’s Senior Partner and remains widely regarded as one of Massachusetts’ premier trial attorneys. Over the course of a legal career spanning four decades, Eric has handled some of the region’s most complex personal injury and product liability matters. His induction into the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly “Hall of Fame” in 2025 marked a milestone in a career defined by extraordinary professional achievement.
What started as a two-man practice has evolved into a powerhouse firm. Along the way, Parker Scheer has earned some of the highest honors in the legal profession, including repeated recognition by Best Lawyers in America, Massachusetts Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and numerous other peer-reviewed organizations.
As they say: “Every Bar Has a Top Shelf™”
A Firm That Has Grown with Purpose
Parker Scheer’s success has always been about more than its founding partners. The firm has steadily expanded both its bench and geographic footprint, to include New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, with highly accomplished attorneys who share its founders’ commitment to excellence.
Under the current leadership of Managing Partner Susan Bourque, Parker Scheer continues to strengthen its reputation as a firm that combines sophisticated litigation skill with compassionate representation. Highly regarded throughout the Massachusetts legal community, Sue has earned numerous professional honors recognizing both her trial advocacy and leadership within the profession. In addition to serving as Past President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), she has been consistently recognized by Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America, earning a “Lawyer of the Year” distinction in health care litigation for her work representing victims of medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death.
Partner Heather Boutet embodies the firm’s client-centric approach while maintaining an impressive track record of success in complex personal injury matters. In 2024, the addition of experienced employment attorney and business litigator Lawrence “Lonnie” Murray (formerly an equity partner at Burns & Levinson) expanded the firm’s offerings to include employment law and has reinforced the firm’s business litigation practice. Amanda Frederick joined the firm in 2023, strengthening Parker Scheer’s presence in Northern New England, through the firm’s Portsmouth, NH office.
Fierce advocacy has been a hallmark of Parker Scheer since its inception. Whether in negotiation or at trial, Parker Scheer attorneys are known for relentlessly pursuing the best possible outcome for their clients. As a result, Parker Scheer has built an impressive record of results in some of the most sophisticated and high-stakes injury and litigation matters in Massachusetts and beyond, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for victims and families.
Some Things Never Change
While Parker Scheer has grown and evolved considerably over the past 30 years, the firm’s defining values have remained constant. In an era where many law firms feel impersonal, relying more on aggressive marketing than results, Parker Scheer has maintained the relationship-driven approach that inspired its founding in 1996 and that has become a defining characteristic of the firm.
That’s not just lip service. Over the years, clients have repeatedly praised Parker Scheer attorneys for their compassion, responsiveness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Throughout the firm’s client reviews, one theme appears again and again: clients feel genuinely cared for and heard. Many describe feeling supported not only legally, but personally; guided through stressful and emotional situations by attorneys who take the time to communicate clearly, answer questions, and remain accessible throughout the case.
Looking Ahead
As Parker Scheer celebrates its 30th anniversary, the firm’s story is still being written — by the attorneys who continue to fight for clients every day, by the colleagues and referral partners who place their trust in the firm, and by the countless individuals and families whose lives have been impacted through its work.
“It’s a rare opportunity to be able to join a firm of such skilled and passionate lawyers with a proven track record of success who share your vision of client service,” Lonnie Murray said upon joining. While he may have been speaking for himself, he could easily have been speaking for everyone who has built their career at Parker Scheer over the past three decades.
From a bold leap of faith in 1996 to one of the region’s most respected litigation firms today, Parker Scheer’s journey is a remarkable example of how far vision, talent, dedication, and mutual respect can take you.
Here’s to us, and to the next 30 years!
