Attorney Profiles

Peter J. Black's interest in aviation law, which comprises a significant portion of his practice at Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, stems from something a bit more visceral than law books. Upon his graduation from Lehigh University in 1969, Black entered the U. S. Navy and spent five years as a naval aviator, completing 150 combat missions in Vietnam.

Subsequently, he attended law school and, upon graduation, took a job with United States Aviation Underwriters in New York where his knowledge of aviation was augmented by day to day experience in the insurance industry. He later moved to Massachusetts and worked at one of Boston's largest litigation firms, until he left with his Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow colleagues to form their new firm. Today, Black makes the most of this background by litigating not only aviation related cases but also insurance disputes and complex product liability cases, such as automotive design cases.

Black is greatly respected at Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow for his exceptional ability to grasp complicated, technical matters. Many of Black's cases involve engineering or other scientific issues. "The trick," says Black, "is not just to understand these issues yourself but to be able to make them understandable to a judge and jury." Black also gets high marks from his colleagues for his aggressive and meticulous factual investigations, as well as for his courtroom skills.

Often Black's cases are in federal court. He has a keen understanding of the nuances of practicing in different venues. He is a past president of the Massachusetts chapter of the Federal Bar Association, as well as a former vice chairman of the American Bar Association's Aviation and Space Law Committee and a past president of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association.

Black's experiences as a pilot have provided more than just memories. There's a connection, Black claims, between the skills of a good pilot and those of a good lawyer.

"I learned as a navy pilot that tenacity and preparation are as important as adrenaline in getting the job done," he says. "I love the process of building a case from the ground up and then presenting it at trial. It can be a great challenge, and I enjoy every minute of it."