meet our team

leah barrault

Founding partner

Born and raised in a working-class family in New Hampshire, Leah is a full-blooded New Englander.

Leah received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Hampshire. It was during that time she made a commitment to a career path involving public service. She went on to work at and eventually direct programs servicing survivors of violence, incarcerated youth, and children suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

Leah has always loved helping people and in the interest of deepening her public service commitment, and broadening the scope of those she could help, she attended Northeastern University School of Law. She graduated with her Juris Doctor degree in 2004.

Through multiple co-ops and internships, it was at NEUSL that she gained a passion for both private and public sector labor-focused work. Leah saw the connection between working-class employees participating in workplace governance, achieving fair wages and benefits, and improving the lives of employees’ families and the larger communities in which they live and work.

After graduating from law school, Leah joined the ranks of a well-known Boston-based labor firm that represents private and public sector employees. For nearly two decades, she won numerous landmark decisions on behalf of her clients. In 2021, Leah decided that it was time for her to branch out and she established her own firm to continue to fight for the rights of public safety unions, organized labor, and individual employees as the founding partner of Barrault and Associates, LLC.

Leah is General Counsel to the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and The Professional Firefighters of Vermont and is Special Counsel to The State Police Association of Massachusetts Troopers. In addition, she represents over one hundred fire and police locals in the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Leah also is the Parliamentarian for the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and recently served as a key member of International Association of Firefighters President Edward A. Kelly’s Transition Team.

  • Kathleen was born and raised in the Jamacia Plain and West Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston. She credits her family for instilling upon her the value of public service. While working as a paralegal at a local state agency, Kathleen earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and paralegal studies from Suffolk University. Soon after graduation, she accepted what she thought would be a temporary position at one of the Commonwealth’s public retirement boards. The decision to accept that position and attend Suffolk University Law School, during the evenings, determined the trajectory of her career.

    Kathleen’s legal practice is exclusively focused on Massachusetts’ public sector retirement law. She served as the General Counsel and Executive Director at the largest city public employee retirement system and quickly realized the need to share her expertise. Kathleen’s commitment to serve those that serve has a broad impact. She leads one of the counties retirement boards, serves as a Board Trustee for a local retirement system, is the President of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement System, and is the founder of KKB Law Group.

    Not surprisingly, Kathleen’s career path intersected with Leah Barrault’s. Their organic collaboration stemmed from shared values and their work representing public employees. Kathleen partnered, as Of Counsel, with Barrault and Associates to offer her expertise in public retirement law to organized labor and public safety employees.

  • Hailey, originally from Orange County California, is a newcomer to Boston as of Summer 2022. She attended University of Texas - Austin for her undergraduate degree and earned her Juris Doctor at American University in our Nation's Capital.

    Hailey began her career volunteering in multiple legal aid clinics during law school, focusing on workers’ rights, public benefits and immigration. It was during this time she found her passion in labor law, fighting for the rights of migrant farmers.

    Hailey immediately enrolled in labor employment class and shifted her focus on what would become her career today. Hailey graduated with a new-found devotion to advocate and protect the rights of the working class and organized labor which ultimately led her to join the team at Barrault and Associates.

  • Ashley was born and raised in Revere, Massachusetts, in a proud working-class family, a background that continues to fuel her passion for advocating on behalf of working people. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Justice Studies with a focus on Forensic Science from the University of New Hampshire. She later pursued dual graduate degrees, a Master’s in Crime and Justice Studies and a Master of Business Administration, before earning her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.


    Ashley brings a deep commitment to justice and a strong sense of client advocacy to her legal practice. Before entering law school, she worked closely with victims of violent crime across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, gaining firsthand experience supporting individuals through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. While at Suffolk, she served as a student attorney with the Innocence Clinic, where she worked on cases involving individuals who may have been wrongfully incarcerated.


    Rooted in her upbringing and driven by a desire to protect the rights and dignity of working people, Ashley brings a thoughtful, strategic, and client-centered approach to labor and employment law. Her blend of experience in criminal justice, business, and law equips her to advocate effectively for those navigating the challenges of today’s workplace.

  • Annika was born and raised in Weston, Connecticut. After attending Bates College for her Bachelor’s Degree with a degree in Environmental Studies. After graduating from college, Annika began her Juris Doctorate at Northeastern University School of Law, where she is currently in her third and final year. She completed an internship at Barrault Law in the Summer of 2025 where she found a passion for Labor and Employment law. She will be starting as a full time associate in January 2026.

  • Laurel was born and raised in the South Shore of Massachusetts. After attending Bridgewater State University for her undergraduate degree, Laurel started working at a worker’s compensation firm and developed a passion for helping and fighting for worker’s rights.

    Laurel earned her Juris Doctor at UMass School of Law, graduating Cum Laude in 2021. Throughout law school she worked at small general practice firms learning expertise in multiple areas of law, such as employment law, estate planning, probate, and small business management.

    Laurel continued this general practice path after obtaining her law license before shifting her focus back to helping and fighting for every day working people, which led her to joining our firm. Additionally, Laurel is a member of the Boston Bar Association and Bar Association of Norfolk County. Laurel is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts.

  • Rose was born and raised in Massachusetts, residing with her family in Duxbury. She attended University of Massachusetts Boston for her undergraduate degree in English. 

    During her undergraduate career, Rose was hired by a prominent public sector labor union and worked in their communications department and on their negotiating team, where she developed a passion for the labor movement and workers’ rights. 

    This passion pushed Rose to attend Suffolk University Law School and earn her Juris Doctor. Throughout law school, Rose served the union as a senior communications specialist and legal extern, working closely with their lead negotiator and office of the general counsel. 

    With almost a decade of union experience under her belt, Rose is committed to serving the American workforce and fighting for their rights and benefits. She is currently awaiting admission to the Massachusetts Bar Association.

  • Harper, born and raised throughout southern Vermont, has been in Massachusetts since attending Wheelock College for her undergraduate degree.

    After graduating, Harper worked at GBH, Boston’s local PBS station. While at GBH, Harper was an active member and steward with CWA Local 1400. As a steward, she was able to see first-hand how hard the union fought for her and the other worker’s rights and protections each day. The Union meetings became her favorite part of the day and the experience of advocating alongside and for her peers led her to law school with a hunger to work in employment and labor law.

    Harper earned her Juris Doctor at New England Law | Boston, graduating in May of 2025. Throughout law school she gained experience in workers’ compensation, employment discrimination and veteran services. Her passion for these experiences defending workers and workers’ rights and the ultimately led her to join the team at Barrault and Associates.

  • Gianna Marino earned her degree in Communication with a minor in Business from the University of New Hampshire. She has been with Barrault and Associates LLC for over a year, where she manages social media, develops marketing strategies, and coordinates events to support the firm’s clients and initiatives. Gianna also brings valuable experience from her previous work with the State Police Association of Massachusetts , where she honed her skills in communications and public engagement.

  • Colleen Howard was born and raised in the suburbs of Boston. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and was a varsity athlete at Duke University.

    Since then, Colleen has built her own design and apparel business, called Camden Hydes, as well as leading social media and marketing efforts across a variety of industries for Boston area businesses and non-profit organizations. Colleen has worked extensively to network and help other women-owned small businesses, which is something she and Founding Partner, Leah Barrault, have in common.

    Colleen grew up looking up to her father, a police officer, who emphasized the importance helping others and dedicated his life to helping others on duty and off. Her desire to help others, particularly civil servants, combined with her extensive experience working in design, social media and marketing brought her to Barrault + Associates where she now leads the creative efforts.