Mass. Gen. Laws » Part III Title I Chapter 221
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 221, § 50 (2026)

Attorney's lien for fees; enforcement

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 50. From the authorized commencement of an action, counterclaim or other proceeding in any court, or appearance in any proceeding before any state or federal department, board or commission, the attorney who appears for a client in such proceeding shall have a lien for his reasonable fees and expenses upon his client's cause of action, counterclaim or claim, upon the judgment, decree or other order in his client's favor entered or made in such proceeding, and upon the proceeds derived therefrom. Upon request of the client or of the attorney, the court in which the proceeding is pending or, if the proceeding is not pending in a court, the superior court, may determine and enforce the lien; provided, that the provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any case where the method of the determination of attorneys' fees is otherwise expressly provided by statute.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 92 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1927–2026 · leading case: Ropes & Gray LLP v. Jalbert, 93 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1146 (Mass. 2009).
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Ropes & Gray LLP v. Jalbert, 93 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1146 (Mass. 2009). · cites it 26× “We consider in the present case, as a matter of first impression, the scope of the Massachusetts attorney’s lien statute (lien statute), G. L. c. 221, § 50, vis-a-vis patent prosecution work.”
Boswell v. Zephyr Lines, Inc., 606 N.E.2d 1336 (Mass. 1993). · cites it 11× “On December 18, 1989, DiLoreto filed an attorney’s lien pursuant to G. L. c. 221, § 50 (1990 ed.). DiLoreto and Shulman filed *244 opposing affidavits.”
Ropes & Gray, LLP v. Jalbert (In Re Engage Inc.), 330 B.R. 5 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2005). · cites it 16× “R & G contended that its claim was secured by virtue of the Massachusetts attorney’s lien statute, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 221, § 50 , which it argued afforded it a lien against the proceeds of various patents and patent applications sold by the debtor pre-and post-petition.”
Curly Customs, Inc. v. Pioneer Fin., 814 N.E.2d 1176 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 6× “We consider a proceeding pursuant to G. L. c. 221, § 50, the attorney’s lien statute, wherein a default judgment resulted in a substantial recovery for an attorney notwithstanding that his former client had not prevailed in the underlying *93 litigation, thus receiving no…”
In re the Discipline of an Attorney, 884 N.E.2d 450 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 9× “Bar counsel also challenges the attorney’s conduct in misrepresenting the existence of a statutory lien pursuant to G. L. c. 221, § 50, in failing to notify one client promptly of his receipt of personal injury protection (PIP) funds, and in refusing to provide another client’s…”
Zabin v. Picciotto, 896 N.E.2d 937 (Mass. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 2× “Moreover, under G. L. c. 221, § 50, an attorney’s lien attaches to the full amount of a settlement or judgment, until determination of the amount due to the attorney.”
Bank of Am., N.A. v. Prestige Imports, Inc., 54 N.E.3d 589 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 5× “While that judgment was on appeal at this court, Deptula filed a notice of attorney’s fees lien pursuant to G. L. c. 221, § 50. Prestige brought a motion to adjudicate this lien, arguing that Deptula forfeited it by withdrawing without Prestige’s consent and without good cause.”
In Re Engage, Inc., 315 B.R. 208 (Bankr. D. Mass. 2004). · cites it 7× “DISCUSSION Confronting this Court is a question of first impression in this jurisdiction: whether the Massachusetts charging lien statute, M.G.L. c. 221 § 50 2 , applies to proceeds derived from the sale of patents and patent applications.”
In Re Leading Edge Prods., Inc., 121 B.R. 128 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1990). · cites it 6× “221, § 50, Mass.Gen.Laws Ann. ch. 221, § 50, (West 1958 & Supp.”
Craft v. Kane, 747 N.E.2d 748 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001). · cites it 3× “On April 30, 1997, Carlo Cellai, Craft’s former attorney, filed a motion to establish and enforce an attorney’s lien pursuant to G. L. c. 221, § 50, which we set out below.”
Cohen v. Lindsey, 644 N.E.2d 250 (Mass. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 5× “At issue is whether those funds were subject to an attorney’s lien under G. L. c. 221, § 50 2 We hold that they were and that Mr.”
Ne. Avionics, Inc. v. City of Westfield, 827 N.E.2d 721 (Mass. App. Ct. 2005). · cites it 5× “The attorney’s hen statute, G. L. c. 221, § 50, provides “attomeys [with] a statutory right to assert a charging hen securing compensation for their legal services.”
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