Defending democracy and educational and economic freedoms across New England and the nation.

Latest News

PNELF: Boston Imposes Hidden Tax Penalty on Commercial Property Owners Who Appeal Assessments

Boston — June 24, 2025 — The Pioneer New England Legal Foundation (PNELF) has sent a formal notice to Massachusetts Department of Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder asserting that the City of Boston is unlawfully retaliating against commercial real estate owners who seek to challenge their tax assessments.  According to PNELF, the city’s Assessing Department has been quietly and systematically increasing property tax assessments on commercial properties that are under appeal at the Commonwealth’s Appellate Tax Board (ATB), imposing what amounts to a financial penalty on taxpayers who exercise their statutory rights under Massachusetts law. 

Pioneer Public Interest Law Center and New England Legal Foundation Unite Under New Banner: Pioneer New England Legal Foundation

The Pioneer Public Interest Law Center (Pioneer Law Center) today announced its strategic alliance with the New England Legal Foundation (NELF), as the Pioneer New England Legal Foundation (PNELF). Building on a common mission of advancing educational opportunity, government transparency and free enterprise, PNELF will expand services to defend and promote these freedoms across and beyond New England. 

Pioneer Law Adds Lelling, Schwartz and Carpenter to Board

Boston, MA—Pioneer Public Interest Law Center today announced that it has added three new board members including the former head of MEMA, a former U.S Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, and a prominent law firm chairman.   

About Us

Pioneer New England Legal Foundation (PNELF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan legal research and litigation entity, organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. PNELF is a public-interest law firm that defends and promotes educational options, accountable government and economic opportunity across the Northeast and around the country. Through legal action and public education, PNELF works to preserve and enhance liberties grounded in the constitutions and civil rights laws of the United States and the individual New England states.

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Why Pioneer New England Law Foundation

501(c)(3) Law Center

With the partisan divide, policy making on crucial topics can be challenging. To accelerate social progress, we work to bring policy questions to a dispassionate, fact-based forum — the judiciary.

Pioneer Public Interest Law Center is nonpartisan and takes a professional approach in its efforts to protect the rights of New Englanders and all Americans to pursue their lives as free and responsible citizens.

Priorities

Link to: PRIORITY: PROTECTING DEMOCRACY

EDUCATIONAL
OPTIONS

Educational opportunity is of cardinal importance in a just and merit-based society.

Link to: PRIORITY: PROTECTING DEMOCRACY

PROTECTING
DEMOCRACY

Government power must be transparent, limited, accountable and used to protect the rights of citizens.

Link to: AREA OF FOCUS: FREE MARKETS

ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY

Markets free from unwarranted intrusion provide the greatest opportunity for the greatest number.

Become a Member of PNELF

Be a part of something bigger. Join hundreds of like-minded legal professionals committed to strengthening freedom & opportunity within our community.

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CONNECT

We are creating a robust platform where legal professionals can work together to advance causes important to education, government transparency, and free markets. Learn more.

Testimonial

“As a parent, I believe that I have the right to choose where my children go to school, and all parents deserve that right. Organizations such as PPILC, fighting for justice at the state level, are absolutely critical to protecting families like mine.”

Kendra EspinozaLead Plaintiff, Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (Supreme Court case)

“As a parent, I believe that I have the right to choose where my children go to school, and all parents deserve that right. Organizations such as PioneerLegal, fighting for justice at the state level, are absolutely critical to protecting families like mine.”

Kendra EspinozaLead Plaintiff, Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (Supreme Court case)

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Pioneer New England Legal Foundation is a non-partisan, public interest law firm that defends and promotes educational options, accountable government and economic opportunity across the Northeast. Pioneer New England Legal Foundation achieves its mission through legal research, amicus briefs, and litigation.

CONTACT US
185 Devonshire Street
11th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
617-819-1010