Celebrating 125 Years
1900: Founded
Goulston & Storrs was founded in 1900 by Edward S. Goulston & Leslie K. Storrs at 17 Milk Street (the birthplace of Benjamin Franklin).
1927: Defended
Goulston & Storrs has proudly provided pro bono legal services since 1900. Among our most notable efforts was the defense of Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, who were accused of murder during a 1920 robbery in Braintree, MA. Herbert Ehrmann worked on the team that fought to overturn their convictions, citing recanted testimony, conflicting evidence, and a third-party confession. Though appeals failed, Justice Felix Frankfurter later championed their innocence, and Governor Michael Dukakis formally acknowledged the wrongful conviction on the 50th anniversary of their execution in 1977.
1920s-mid 1970s: The Next Generation
During this formative period, the firm’s culture was deeply influenced by the values of our early partners—principles that continue to endure today. Goulston & Storrs earned a reputation for excellence, upheld by a selective hiring approach that emphasized developing new lawyers into future partners, with current partners actively supporting their growth. Leadership emphasized collective client relationships, ethics, and informal, respectful treatment of colleagues and staff. Community involvement and charity were important. The firm prioritized partner needs and collaboration, managing through consensus rather than vetoes. Succession planning favored younger partners, recognizing they would shape the firm’s future.
Mid-1970s onward: The Expansion Phase
During this period, Goulston & Storrs balanced growth and increasing sophistication while maintaining our smaller-firm culture. We aimed to broaden expertise and reputation beyond real estate, paralleling industry-wide expansion and serving evolving, larger institutional clients. We recognized growing specialization, moved offices to larger Boston spaces, and embraced lateral hiring. Key expansions included a broader commitment to pro bono work, the development of existing practices, and the addition of niche specialties such as bankruptcy, environmental, and tax abatement. Our client base diversified to include banks, insurers, and hotel chains, alongside efforts to enhance firm diversity.
1985: Moved
We moved into 400 Atlantic Avenue in Boston from One Federal. We took the 7th floor in Rowes Wharf in 2003.
1999: Unveiled
We launched our first website and brand campaign.
2000: Opened DC
We opened our DC office on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in 2000 with 3 employees (and many more in Boston committed to help). Today, our DC office has 39 employees on K Street, NW.
2003: Opened NYC
We opened our NY office in 2003 with 3 employees at 750 Third Avenue. Today, our NY office has 53 employees at 730 Third Avenue.
2024: Evolved
We moved 324 Boston employees into One Post Office Square at the same time we welcomed our first woman co-managing director, Michelle Porter.
2025: Renewed
To celebrate 125 years of G&S, we unveiled a refreshed brand identity that honors our legacy while looking to the future. We interviewed 300+ attorneys, clients, and staff to develop a brand positioning statement highlighting the core characteristics and values unique to Goulston & Storrs. This foundation shaped our new visual identity, capturing the sophistication, expertise, and caliber that define Goulston & Storrs today, 125 years in the making.
