Eugene O’Flaherty, Former Corporation Counsel for City of Boston and Former Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Joins Sullivan & Worcester

Boston – Global law firm Sullivan & Worcester announced today that Eugene L. O’Flaherty, former Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston, has joined the firm as Of Counsel. Mr. O’Flaherty will be working with Sullivan’s Boston-based Real Estate, Corporate, Finance, Tax and Litigation practice groups.

“Gene’s vast regulatory and legislative experience in Boston and in Massachusetts make him an invaluable resource to our clients,” said Joel Carpenter, Managing Partner at Sullivan. “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Gene many times over the years, particularly during our Boston Zoning Board of Appeals investigative work, and we are thrilled and honored to now call him a colleague.”

Prior to joining Sullivan, O’Flaherty served from 2014-2021 as Corporation Counsel, the chief legal advisor, to former City of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, currently U.S. Secretary of Labor in the Biden Administration. In his former role, O’Flaherty managed a team of nearly 60 lawyers coordinating all of the legal work associated with the City, including oversight for legal units dedicated to Admiralty law, the Boston Public Schools, the Boston Fire Department, the Boston Police Department, the Treasury, Zoning and other governmental entities, including the City’s various Boards and Commissions.

Before ascending to Corporation Counsel, O’Flaherty spent 17 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served on the Education Committee and as Vice-Chair of the Banks and Banking Committee. For 12 of his years in the Legislature, O’Flaherty led the House Judiciary Committee. He also played a key role on the House Leadership Team for more than a decade and under three successive Speakers of the House. O’Flaherty launched his law practice in 1994, starting his career as a Suffolk County Bar Advocate and public defender.

“I’ve known many of the lawyers at Sullivan & Worcester for years and have long admired their professionalism, their work ethic and their integrity,” O’Flaherty said. “I look forward to putting my knowledge of the city, the state and the law to work for clients and providing insights and guidance to my colleagues at Sullivan. I’m pleased to be here and look forward to an exciting next chapter in my legal career.”

Boston born, O’Flaherty earned his bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University and his J.D. from Massachusetts School of Law. Throughout his career, he had been honored for his service by an array of organizations, including the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, the Children’s Trust Fund, the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue League, among others.

O’Flaherty, whose parents are originally from County Kerry, Ireland, initiated the Sister City agreement between Boston and Belfast, Northern Ireland, resulting in annual exchanges by elected officials and members of the business community. He also organized yearly the Friendship Four Hockey Tournament that brings four American university teams to compete in Belfast for the BelPot Trophy.

Sullivan partner Aidan Browne, who has served with O’Flaherty for many years on several for-profit and not-for-profit entities in Boston and Ireland, said, “I am personally and professionally delighted to have my longtime friend and fellow Irishman, Gene, join our firm. I look forward to working with him on behalf of existing and new clients. His experience will be especially helpful in the areas of Development and Land Use, International Corporate M&A, Litigation, Tax, SALT and ERISA where Gene’s depth of knowledge is significant.”

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About Sullivan
Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) is a leading AmLaw 200 law firm. With more than 200 attorneys in Boston, London, New York, Tel Aviv and Washington, DC, Sullivan combines the breadth of experience and sophistication you expect from a prominent, top-tier law firm with an unusually creative and flexible approach. Sullivan’s clients, including Fortune 500 companies and emerging businesses, rely on Sullivan’s strategic vision, comfort with complexity, and intense focus on results. Sullivan has represented clients around the world and has a deep bench for working on a variety of matters and issues affecting clients globally. For more information, please visit sullivanlaw.com.