Sullivan
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BOSTON, MA Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly has selected Sullivan & Worcester Partner, Joel Carpenter, for its 2025 Hall of Fame.

Each year, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame recognizes attorneys throughout the state with more than 30 years of experience for career accomplishments, contributions to the bar and to the development of Massachusetts law, and efforts to improve the quality of justice.

“I’m honored to be included among this year’s Hall of Fame recipients,” Carpenter said. “I’ve had the good fortune to work with highly talented and skilled attorneys and a great leadership team at Sullivan. This recognition also reflects the strength and capabilities of an outstanding law firm.”

As former managing partner and co-managing partner of Sullivan for many years, Carpenter has been a guiding force behind the firm’s growth and resilience. He led the firm through the financial crisis of 2008 and again during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and helped ensure Sullivan’s steadfast commitment to its clients and values.

“Joel has been a defining force at Sullivan for decades, not only through his steadfast leadership during times of challenge and change, but through the extraordinary clarity and judgment he brings to every situation. He has a rare gift for distilling complex problems into clear, actionable choices or reframing them entirely to reveal the path forward. His impact on our firm and clients has been profound, and this recognition is a fitting tribute to his remarkable career and enduring contributions to the legal profession,” said David Nagle, Sullivan’s managing partner.

A respected leader in U.S. tax law, Carpenter has significant experience in the tax structuring of complex business and investment arrangements using partnerships, limited liability companies, and Subchapter S corporations. He advises private and institutional investors, including real estate investment firms, on all aspects of U.S. income tax matters related to fund formation, acquisition and disposition of property, structuring debt and equity investments, equity compensation plans, and tax planning for investors.

He also advises companies on tax issues related to corporate mergers and acquisitions, financing for emerging companies, and counsels high net worth individuals on income and estate tax planning matters.

Carpenter has received numerous professional accolades, including being named to Best Lawyers in America®, 2007-2025, PLC Which Lawyer? Leading Lawyers in Tax, 2008-2010, and Massachusetts Super Lawyers, 2005-2014 and 2017-2018.

In addition to his active practice and firm leadership roles, Carpenter has been dedicated to community service and served as a tax advisor to many of Sullivan’s pro bono clients and nonprofit organizations. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Pioneer Law Public Interest Law Center (PLPILC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan legal research and litigation public interest law firm. PLPILC defends and promotes educational options, accountable government and economic opportunity across the Northeast and nationwide. The organization works to preserve and enhance liberties grounded in the Constitution and civil rights laws of the U.S. and the New England states.

About Sullivan
Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) is a global, mid-sized law firm with lawyers in Boston, London, New York, Tel Aviv and Washington, D.C. Sullivan’s clients, including Fortune 500 companies, leading financial services firms and asset managers, boards of directors, real estate companies, and emerging businesses, rely on Sullivan’s ability to navigate complex legal and operational landscapes, the impeccable judgment of its lawyers, and its commitment to best‑in‑class client service.