Michael P. Thornton

Michael P. Thornton is founder and chairman of Thornton Law Firm LLP. A nationally recognized expert on toxic tort litigation, Mr. Thornton graduated from Dartmouth College and Vanderbilt Law School. In the 1970’s he successfully undertook the representation of a number of shipyard and construction workers who had developed asbestos-related diseases. Over the years, the firm has grown to become the largest firm in the Northeast representing victims of asbestos and other toxic materials. The firm has brought justice to workers who contracted cancer and other health issues from exposure to chemicals, defective drugs, and defective products, and to children who have suffered brain damage from lead poisoning and birth defects from chemicals and pesticides to which their parents were exposed. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other states and local government have sought the firm’s expertise to address damage from threats to the public health. Multi-million dollar recovery from tobacco companies resulted from the firm’s work in these areas. Mike has lead the firm to support many charitable causes; the most visible and important project involves cancer research. Mr. Thornton was approached by clinicians and researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital who were interested in studying mesothelioma, a then untreatable and invariably fatal form of asbestos related cancer. After making a multiyear commitment from his own firm, Mr. Thornton helped to recruit several other donors. The program, begun in 2002, has made groundbreaking strides in cancer research generally, and has helped to revolutionize the treatment of mesothelioma, leading to longer survival and better quality of life for victims of this disease. Mr. Thornton also responded to a call to help establish a place for the families of mesothelioma victims to stay, as the financial impact of staying in hotels can be devastating. The Thornton House was opened in 2008 and houses up to nine families at a time. Mr. Thornton is a member of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine bars. He has published a number of articles on legal subjects and has lectured at the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and Yale Law School. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Michael P. Thornton included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Howard Twiggs Award, 2016 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Class Actions/Plaintiffs in Boston, 2016, 2019 and 2021 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Best Lawyer for Mass Torts / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, 2006-present Selected as Super Lawyers Massachusetts Super Lawyers Magazine for Class Actions & Mass Torts Selected as one of New England’s Top Rated Lawyers by ALM Media and Martindale-Hubbell Other Sources of Feedback About Michael P. Thornton Included on the 2026Massachusetts Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2024 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2022 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2021 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2019 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2017 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2014 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2013 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2012 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2011 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2010 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2009 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2008 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list 2007 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list

• Founder and Chairman

• Maine, 1979
• New Hampshire, 1975
• Massachusetts, 1982
• U.S. District Court District of New Hampshire, 1975
• U.S. District Court District of Maine, 1979
• U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1984

• American Bar Association
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Massachusetts Bar Association