Our Attorneys

As a trial lawyer, Mr. Diedrich concentrates his practice in the defense of clients engaged in litigation before state and federal trial courts. He is a 1986 graduate of Allegheny College and a 1989 graduate of Suffolk University Law School, where he served on the Editorial Board of the Suffolk University Law Review. Mr. Diedrich is one of the founding partners of the firm.

Mr. Diedrich is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Districts of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Diedrich focuses his practice on the defense of complex litigation including professional liability and malpractice, product liability, premises liability, liquor liability, legal malpractice and construction litigation, as well as investigations before the Board of Registration in Medicine, the Board of Registration in Nursing, and in administrative investigations before the Department of Public Health and the Department of Mental Health. Mr. Diedrich also represents defendants in employment disputes including wrongful termination and discrimination claims in Superior Court as well as before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Mr. Diedrich has been elected by his peers as a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, a highly selective honorary society of trial lawyers. He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer, voted as one of the top Massachusetts lawyers specializing in the defense of complex litigation as published in Boston Magazine. He is peer-review rated by Martindale-Hubbell for excellence in trial ability and ethical standards.

Mr. Diedrich has participated as a speaker, panelist and faculty member for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Grand Rounds at numerous institutions including Cambridge Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, New England Medical Center, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as at SAGES’s annual national conference. Mr. Diedrich has also served as a faculty member for the Trial Advocacy program at Harvard Law School.

Email:  cdiedrich@ddcounsel.com

James P. Donohue, Jr. is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in the defense of clients engaged in litigation before state and federal trial courts.  He is a 1986 graduate of the University of Massachusetts and a 1989 graduate of Suffolk University Law School.  Mr. Donohue is one of the founding partners of the firm.

As a trial lawyer, Mr. Donohue has been elected by his peers as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a highly selective honorary society of trial lawyers.  He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer, voted as one of the top Massachusetts lawyers specializing in the defense of complex litigation as published in Boston Magazine.  He is AV peer-review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for excellence in trial ability and ethical standards.  Mr. Donohue is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute.  Within the Defense Research Institute, Mr. Donohue is a member of a number of committees including the medical liability committee, product liability committee, and the lawyer’s professionalism and ethics committee. 

The focus of Mr. Donohue’s practice is the defense of insureds and insurers in a wide range of litigation matters including product liability, premises liability, liquor liability, professional liability and malpractice, construction litigation, nursing home and long term healthcare litigation, as well as investigations before various state and regulatory agencies. Mr. Donohue has been a trial instructor, advisor and mentor for the Trial Advocacy program at Harvard Law School and Suffolk University Law School.  He has participated as a speaker and panelist for many hospital organizations including Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and New England Medical Center.

Email: jdonohue@ddcounsel.com

Ms. Diedrich is a 1995 graduate of Suffolk University and a 2000 graduate of Suffolk University Law School (cum laude).  She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  Ms. Diedrich has also been selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer, voted as a Rising Star specializing in the defense of medical malpractice and other complex litigation as published in Boston Magazine.  She focuses her practice on representing health care providers in civil actions before state and federal courts, and in administrative proceedings before state regulatory boards.  Ms. Diedrich’s practice also involves general insurance defense litigation including product liability, premises liability, liquor liability, and nursing home long-term healthcare litigation.

Email: sdiedrich@ddcounsel.com

Ms. Schley is a 2001 graduate of Boston College and a 2004 graduate of Suffolk University Law School (cum laude). Ms. Schley is a member of The Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. Ms. Schley has also been selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer, voted as a Rising Star specializing in the defense of medical malpractice and other complex litigation as published in Boston Magazine. She focuses her practice on medical malpractice defense litigation as well as the defense of product manufacturers, property owners and construction firms, as well as general insurance defense litigation. Ms. Schley also focuses her practice on representing health care providers in civil proceedings and before state regulatory boards.

Email: bschley@ddcounsel.com

Mr. Braun is a 2009 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a 2011 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law (cum laude). He focuses his practice primarily on the defense of clinicians and institutions in medical malpractice actions, and frequently represents medical providers in regulatory proceedings involving administrative boards and agencies. Mr. Braun’s practice also includes representing parties in premises liability actions, motor vehicle injury cases, contract and consumer protection disputes, and other insurance defense litigation. Mr. Braun is admitted to practice before the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of New York, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Braun has also been honored to be selected by his peers as a Massachusetts Super Lawyers “Rising Star” as published in Boston Magazine.

Email: dbraun@ddcounsel.com

Ms. Corcoran is a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and a 2009 graduate of St. John’s University School of Law. Ms. Corcoran focuses her practice on complex litigation, including medical malpractice defense. Her practice also includes representing healthcare providers in investigations and administrative proceedings before state and federal regulatory agencies. Prior to joining Diedrich & Donohue, Ms. Corcoran gained extensive experience practicing in both state and federal courts in the areas of intellectual property litigation, securities litigation, employment litigation, and general insurance defense litigation. While in law school, Ms. Corcoran was an active member of the trial advocacy team. She received CALI awards for Torts and Legal Writing and was a student prosecutor at the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Ms. Corcoran is a member of the Boston Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Email: mcorcoran@ddcounsel.com

Mr. O’Connell completed both his undergraduate and legal studies at Suffolk University. He began his practice at Diedrich & Donohue, LLP, representing health care providers in medical malpractice actions. Prior to his legal career, Mr. O’Connell worked in banking, website development, and marketing while attending law school at night.

Email: hoconnell@ddcounsel.com

Ms. Van Zile completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida, and her legal studies at New England Law | Boston. She began her practice at Diedrich & Donohue, LLP, representing health care providers in medical malpractice actions. Prior to this, Ms. Van Zile worked as a student attorney at the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, as a patent legal intern at Bay State IP, and as a student ambassador for LexisNexis while attending law school full time.

Email: cvanzile@ddcounsel.com