Our Founders

The principles established by our founders in 1945 have served as the building blocks for the ethical, forward-thinking representation and commitment to excellence that are the hallmarks of Nigro, Pettepit & Lucas, LLP's practice. Our founding members serve as role models and inspiration for the current members of the firm.

Ernest L. Nigro, Esq. (1915-1985)

Ernest L. Nigro was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts to parents who were Italian immigrants.  He quickly became a family leader who helped his father establish a men's clothing and shoe store in Reading, Massachusetts.  He graduated from Boston English High School in 1933.

Ernest graduated from the Northeastern University School of Law in 1937 and was one of only seventeen percent of law students who passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam that year.  Attorney Nigro first worked in the law firm of Louis Jablon at 10 Tremont Street, Boston where he trained as a Personal Injury Specialist and soon earned the reputation of being a talented and skillful litigator whose cases resulted in large jury awards.

During World War II, Ernest served in the United States Army Air Corps and led the training of recruits in military protocol.  Later, he was stationed at the Overseas Replacement Depot in Greensboro, North Carolina where he earned the rank of Master Sergeant.

After the war, Ernest returned to his private legal practice in Wakefield and Reading.  Initially, many of his clients were Italian immigrants with whom he could speak fluently.  As the news of his success as a talented litigator spread, his reputation expanded beyond the Italian community and he earned an outstanding reputation trying cases against the leading litigators of his time in the Superior and Probate courts of Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties.

When his practice grew quite large, he went against the prevailing opinion of the time which opposed women practicing law, and he invited Marguerite M. Pettepit to join his firm.  Later, he recruited Robert F. Lucas, a dedicated attorney and champion of legal services for the poor.

Through his life and work, Attorney Ernest Nigro instilled in his children a love of law as well as compassion and empathy for people in need.   Eugene and Janice joined the firm to carry on his legacy of providing excellent legal services in a caring and practical manner.

Marguerite M. Pettepit, Esq. (Retired)

Marguerite M. Pettepit attended Nash High School in Quincy, Massachusetts.  After graduating from Calvin Coolidge College, she went on to Portia Law School, known today as the New England School of Law, and graduated as valedictorian of her class.  At that time Marguerite was one of only a handful of women who were licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.

After passing the bar, she experienced great difficulty in finding employment as an attorney because she was a woman.  Nevertheless, she refused to give up and knew that her efforts would be groundbreaking for future women entering the legal profession.

Ernest Nigro interviewed Marguerite and, after examining her credentials and highly successful academic record, he recognized that she deserved the opportunity to prove her legal acumen.

For over thirty-five years, Marguerite M. Pettepit worked tirelessly serving her clients and was recognized as a formidable adversary in the courtroom.  During this time, she was highly sought after as a zealous divorce and family law attorney.

Robert F. Lucas, Esq. (1935-2008)

Robert F. Lucas built his law career fighting for the underdog and working for people he thought were in the right. He always accepted the challenging case and won. He took that commitment and dedication to every area of his life, working diligently for his clients and his community while always keeping his family at the center of everything he did. Attorney Lucas began his career in the U.S. Army, serving as a clerk to the officers in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He joined the firm in 1962, as both a civil and criminal litigator.

Attorney Lucas assumed leadership roles in all areas of his life. He was chairman of the Melrose Zoning Board of Appeals for 20 years and also served as City Solicitor. He was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Melrose High School Permanent Scholarship Fund. At the time of his unfortunate battle with cancer, he served as Vice-President of the Massachusetts Bar Association, having either served or chaired on many of the committees of the Association during his career. He was a frequent lecturer and participant for the Flaschner Judicial Institute, the educational training ground for judges in Massachusetts. He was an active and longstanding member of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts and the First United Methodist Church in Melrose.

Most importantly, Robert F. Lucas engendered success in others. As a Babe Ruth baseball coach, his team won the City championship. As a Malden Catholic High School mock trial team coach, his team made it to the "Final Four".  He was remembered by Justice James F. McHugh of the Massachusetts Appeals Court as "the model of what all of us should strive to be in the practice of law."