Donna A. Mizrahi concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate, probate, business, and appellate litigation. Donna regularly litigates boundary, easement, partition, and zoning disputes; will, trust, and estate disputes; guardianships and conservatorships; breach of contract and tort matters; and state and federal appeals.

Before joining Hemenway & Barnes, Donna spent four years working at a large, international law firm in Boston, MA, handling complex business litigation disputes in state and federal courts across the country. Donna also has substantial experience handling pre-litigation, mediation, and arbitration commercial disputes.

In addition, Donna worked as a staff attorney at Volunteer Lawyers Project in Boston, MA, representing low-income clients in a range of family law and guardianship matters.

• Obtained summary judgment for residential property owners in Land Court on the ground that a protective covenant agreement affecting all owners in a subdivision did not create an affirmative view easement burdening the clients’ property.
• Represent residential property owner in pending Superior Court litigation defending against an adverse possession claim.
• Participated in mediation of intra-family dispute to successfully settle partition claim of a single-family home.
• Deposed witnesses in connection with G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 17 appeals to the Land Court of a zoning board’s decisions to deny a request for zoning enforcement and to modify a special permit.
• Represented a client in Probate Court regarding allegations of undue influence and lack of capacity in connection with changes made to a family member’s estate plan.
• Obtained complete dismissal on statute of limitations grounds of financial claims asserted in Probate Court against an estate.
• Successfully sought adult child’s appointment as mother’s conservator in Probate Court and received financial reimbursement from a department store pursuant to G.L. Chapter 93A on mother’s behalf.
• Obtained favorable result for publicly-traded company in breach-of-contract arbitration dispute with national bank.
• Successfully appealed to the Massachusetts Appeals Court a Superior Court decision affirming a conservation commission’s denial of a property owner’s notice of intent to construct a beach-access walkway within a resource area protected by the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.
• Represent pro bono clients in immigration and guardianship matters.

• Presenter, Introduction to Guardianship of Minors, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Boston, MA (Quarterly, 2011, 2013-2014)
• Presenter, Guardianship of Minors & Adults, Ropes & Gray, Boston, MA (2011-2014)
• Former Articles Editor, Columbia Journal of Law & Social Problems
• Donna Ackermann, “A Matter of Interpretation: How the Language Barrier and the Trend of Criminalizing Illegal Immigration Caused a Deprivation of Due Process Following the Agriprocessors, Inc. Raids,” Columbia Journal of Law & Social Problems (Spring 2010).

• Volunteer Attorney, Volunteer Lawyers Project
• Johns Hopkins University Alumni Admissions Interviewer

“By definition, I become involved in a matter when a problem of some kind has arisen. I work with my clients to think creatively and explore all their options about how best to achieve their goals. I aim to resolve their problems in a cost effective manner, balancing risk and reward.”