Email: swlang@lxblaw.com

Scott W. Lang, graduated from Marquette University and received his law degree from Georgetown University. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. In addition he is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

Attorney Lang served as Special Assistant District Attorney in the Bristol County District Attorneys office from 1978 to 1990. He taught Labor and Employment Law at UMass Dartmouth from 1991 to 2005, as well as participating as a faculty member in many continuing legal education seminars. He was as an Arbitrator with Commonwealth Mediation & Conciliation Inc. from 1999 to 2005. He served as the 37th Mayor of the City of New Bedford for three terms, from January 2, 2006 through January 2, 2012.

Legal Experience

Attorney Lang’s practice is a litigation-based general practice with the ability and experience` to provide legal services for plaintiffs and defendants in all courts, in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. He also focuses on workers’ compensation, state and federal labor and employment law cases, civil rights cases, breach of contract case, equity-based cases and complex litigation in the areas of business and health care law. His practice in employment law involves representing both employees and employers on statutory issues and investigations. The practice in labor law involves representing labor unions, both private and public sector units. Attorney Lang also has extensive experience in sports and entertainment law, including the representation of professional athletes, broadcasters, musicians and authors. The law practice represents institutions in the banking industry, auto sales and manufacturing. The attorneys also represent clients in the areas of wills and estates, real estate, business and health care law. Lang, Xifaras & Bullard has extensive experience in the areas of business and the health care industry strategic planning. During his legal career, Attorney Lang has practiced in the Massachusetts District Courts, Probate Court, Massachusetts Superior Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court, the United States District Court, the United States Appeals Court, the Department of Industrial Accidents, the Division of Employment and Training, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Protection Systems Board, Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration, Office of Federal Workers’ Compensation, Massachusetts Civil Service Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Massachusetts Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, and the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, among others. In sum, Attorney Lang has extensive trial experience in the Court Systems and has litigated hundreds of arbitrations in labor and employment law forums.

Public Service

With a strong history of civic engagement and public service, Mr. Lang saw an opportunity to become fully involved in his community by entering the race for Mayor of the City of New Bedford in August of 2005. On November 8, 2005, Mr. Lang was elected the 37th Mayor of the City of New Bedford. Upon his election, Mayor Lang wasted no time in rallying the community and addressing the quality-of-life issues most important to city residents. In his first term, he led a full-scale, comprehensive effort to reduce crime, including re-opening police district stations and strengthening the police presence community wide; initiated an aggressive program to address abandoned and tax delinquent properties; created jobs by supporting small businesses; resolved collective bargaining agreements with city employee unions; balanced a projected FY ’06 budget deficit of $1.5 million dollars; initiated city financial management system improvements; and sparked a statewide discussion about the need to modify the State’s MCAS graduation requirement. For his innovative leadership on a myriad of issues impacting the New Bedford community, NBC 10 and The Standard-Times named him the “2006 SouthCoast Man of the Year”.

In 2007, Mayor Lang was re-elected for a second term with 87% of the votes and his priorities continued to include enhancing public safety, competing to create more and better jobs, managing city government efficiently, preparing New Bedford children to meet the challenges of their future, developing strong, vibrant neighborhoods and strengthening community pride. For his distinguished leadership regarding education issues, Mayor Lang received awards in 2007 from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and the Citizens for Public Schools.

In 2008, Mayor Lang was nominated and elected to serve on the Massachusetts Local Government Advisory Council; a group of Mayors, Select Persons and School Committee members who advise the Governor on key issues facing cities and towns. Mayor Lang has also initiated and raised the funds to support an annual summer youth program for New Bedford teenagers, structured on community service, classroom learning and professional development and enrichment activities.

In the Fall of 2009, he was elected for a third term receiving 78% of the vote. Prior to running for a third term, he had announced that he would not seek a fourth term in office. In 2011, he served as the President of the Massachusetts Mayor’s Association and was appointed a member of Governor Patrick’s Economic Development Policy and Planning Council.

Mayor Lang certified over $20 million dollars in “free cash” during his three terms, finishing with a budget surplus 6 consecutive fiscal years. He also guided the City to its first Moody’s bond rating upgrade in 5 decades. Despite the worst recession in our Country’s history, the City of New Bedford saw dramatic growth during Mayor Lang’s terms in office.

Mayor Lang received numerous awards while serving in office. The following is a partial listing:

• New Bedford School Committee, Chairman 2006-2011 (gavel presentation)
• Peter Kirwin Distinguished Service Award, Local Officials Human Services Council, Massachusetts Municipal Association, December 7, 2011
• Friend of the Fishing Industry, Port of New Bedford, September 25, 2011
• Downtown New Bedford Person of the Year 2011
• Mayor’s Climate Protection Award, Honorable Mention, Small City, 2011
• Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. – High Performing Workforce Board, June 2011
• Marine Corps League, Certificate of Appreciation, May 30, 2011
• Task Force for Foster Care Support, May 25, 2011
• Department of the Army, Commander’s Award for Public Service, January 2007-April 2011
• National Trust for Historic Preservation, New Bedford named one of 2011’s dozen distinctive destinations in the United States
• New Bedford named the 7th Creative City in the United States, 2011
• USA Today, New Bedford named one of the most Authentic Cities in the United States, 2011
• Leadership of 1st Battalion 181st Infantry Regiment: to Scott W. Lang in appreciation of your support, 2011
• WalMart Conference of U.S. Mayors, First Place Work Force Grant Award, 2010
• MASS PIRG 2009 Climate Champion Award
• Sydney Adams Award, Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford, 2009
• Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 499, New Bedford, 2007
• NBHTC-Outstanding Restoration Partner, 2007
• Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. – “In recognition of your support for children and public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” November 10, 2006
• Activist for Public Schools Award, Citizens for Public Schools, September 27, 2006
• Hispanic Recognition Award, Certificate of Appreciation, September 14, 2006
• National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution – Certificate of Appreciation, April 17, 2006
• Weekly Compass – First Annual Distinguished Community Service Award 2006
• NBC 10 and The Standard-Times “2006 SouthCoast Man of the Year”

He has written numerous articles and Op Ed pieces on urban affairs including those focusing on education, economic development, public safety and alternative energy and environment. Many of his articles can be found on www.scottwlang.com.

On January 3, 2012, Mr. Lang returned to his law practice.

Email: pcbullard@lxblaw.com

Peter C. Bullard, received his B.A. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Vermont Law School. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, the Bristol County Bar Association and the New Bedford Bar Association.

Email: sfweiner@lxblaw.com

Susan Forgue Weiner graduated from Providence College and received her law degree from Suffolk University Law School. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. She is a member of the New Bedford Bar Association.

Email: gdtierney@lxblaw.com

Gigi D. Tierney graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in Political Science. She received her law degree from Boston University. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. She is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association.

Admitted to practice in Massachusetts. Juris Doctor from University of Connecticut School of Law. Experienced in general civil practice, including personal injury, employment, corporate compliance, health care and internal investigations.

Andrew R. Lang graduated from the University of Southern Maine and received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law.
Andrew practices in the areas of Civil Litigation, Workers’ Compensation, Third Party Tort Liability, Entertainment Law, and Bankruptcy Law.  He has previously served as the Project Director of the New Bedford Drug Court for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and as an Assistant District Attorney for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office in Fall River. Prior to joining the District Attorney’s Office, Andrew served as Of Counsel for Giordano Law Offices PLLC in New York, NY.

Earlier in his legal career, he represented the Fordham Law Public Interest Fellowship as a Legal Fellow working with the non-profit organization, CIVITAS, and also held intern positions at the New York City Transit Authority and in the New York City Office of the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinator.

Outside of the legal realm, Andrew is the General Manager of the Wareham Gatemen for the Cape Cod Baseball League.  In January of 2023, Andrew was elected President of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Andrew is admitted to practice in New York and Massachusetts, before the Federal Court of the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, District of Massachusetts, and Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court.

Catherine B. Kramer is a graduate of Roger Williams University School of Law, Juris Doctor, the University of Rhode Island, Master in Marine Affairs, and the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Bachelor of Arts in Economics.  She is admitted in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, the United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.  She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Rhode Island Bar Association.

John M. Xifaras graduated from Babson College. He received his law degree from Suffolk University Law School. He practiced admiralty, labor and employment law from 1961 to 1983. He was an Associate Justice of the District court from 1983 to 1988. He was an Associate Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts from 1988 to August 2000. From September 2000 to the present, he serves as a mediator and arbitrator with JAMS. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Bristol County Bar Association, New Bedford Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Lloyd Macdonald is a retired Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court, where he sat in Bristol, Suffolk, Middlesex and Worcester Counties from 2004-2014..  Following his judicial retirement, he was appointed by Attorney General Maura Healey as a Commissioner on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, where he served from 2015-2018.  Prior to his judicial service, Judge Macdonald was a partner of the international law firm of K&L Gates.  Before entering private practice, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County.  He has been Of Counsel to Lang, Xifaras & Bullard since 2018.