PBN Leaders & AchieversAwards 2026
BROOKS MAGRATTEN
Pierce Atwood LLP partner
With more than 30 years in insurance and commercial litigation, you’d think Brooks Magratten had settled upon his career path – or maybe not.
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“I still don’t know what I will do when I grow up,” joked Magratten, partner at Pierce Atwood LLP.
All kidding aside, Magratten has certainly kept himself busy, having defended more than 200 Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefit and breach of fiduciary cases in 12 states.
For 10 years, Magratten served as co-director of the Federal Court’s Litigation Academy, an intensive training program for new attorneys with realistic courtroom simulations to sharpen skills like depositions and trial advocacy.
“It was a very rewarding experience,” Magratten said. “Most members of the federal bar have participated in Litigation Academy programs.”
Magratten graduated from Hamilton College in 1983, earned his Juris Doctor from Dickinson College School of Law in 1986, and got his MBA from Bryant College in 1996. With Pierce Atwood partner Mike Daly, he started the firm’s Providence office in 2008.
Magratten serves as executive director of the Rhode Island Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association, which helps Rhode Islanders impacted by an insurer’s insolvency and covers life, health and annuity policies up to statutory limits.
“RILHIGA has helped hundreds of Rhode Islanders – mostly retirees – who lost money due to insurer insolvencies,” Magratten said. “Think of RILHIGA as the FDIC [Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.] of insurance companies.”
His leadership philosophy is concise.
“Leadership is all about putting others before yourself and giving them a path toward achievement,” he said. “Recognize the talents of those around you and position them to make real contributions to a common problem. Managers should not underestimate basic skills such as clear writing, public speaking and emotional intelligence.”
Like so many in his profession, Magratten has logged long hours over the years trying to perfect the work-life balance, something his family supports him in.
“Success, unfortunately, often comes at the expense of family life,” Magratten said. “My family has been very understanding and forgiving. Each client presents a new puzzle to be solved. I enjoy the challenge.”
