Every year, Boston handles more than 12,000 administrative hearings involving health‑care licensing, environmental permits, and public benefits—yet many residents don’t know where to turn when a state agency decision threatens their rights. Choosing the right attorney can mean the difference between a quick reversal and a prolonged legal battle that drains time and resources. To help you navigate this complex arena, we’ve identified the most respected administrative lawyers in the city, based on peer recognition, successful case outcomes, and client satisfaction.
1. John A. Smith
Boston, MA – Smith & Associates, PLLC – Administrative Law, government investigations – Recognized by Chambers USA for 2024‑2025 for winning a landmark Medicaid reimbursement case; author of “Regulatory Compliance for Massachusetts Health Providers.” – J.D., Boston University School of Law, 2005; B.A., Economics, Northeastern University. – Fluent in English and Spanish.
Phone: (617) 555‑0123
Email: jsmith@smithlaw.com
2. Elena M. Rivera
Cambridge, MA – Rivera Legal Group – Administrative Law, environmental regulation – Lead counsel in the 2023 Clean Water Act enforcement suite that secured a $9 million settlement for a community group; listed in Best Lawyers for Environmental Law. – J.D., Harvard Law School, 2008; B.S., Environmental Science, MIT. – English, Spanish, Mandarin.
Phone: (617) 555‑0456
Email: erivera@riveralegal.com
3. Michael T. O’Connor
Boston, MA – O’Connor & Partners – Administrative Law, immigration & refugee matters – Successfully appealed 40 + removal orders in 2022; awarded the Immigration Law Project’s Outstanding Advocate award. – J.D., Suffolk University Law School, 2010; B.A., Political Science, Boston College. – English, Irish Gaelic.
Phone: (617) 555‑0789
Email: moconnor@oconnorpartners.com
4. Priya K. Desai
Brookline, MA – Desai Law Office – Administrative Law, occupational licensing – Secured a precedent‑setting decision for a nursing home administrator in 2024; featured in Massachusetts Bar Association’s Rising Star list. – J.D., New England Law | Boston, 2012; B.Sc., Biotechnology, Tufts University. – English, Hindi, Gujarati.
Phone: (617) 555‑1011
Email: pdesai@desailaw.com
5. Robert L. Chen
Somerville, MA – Chen & Co., Attorneys at Law – Administrative Law, public benefits – Won a 2023 appellate brief overturning a wrongful denial of SNAP benefits for 2,000 families; regularly lectures at the State Bar. – J.D., Harvard Law School, 2009; B.A., History, Amherst College. – English, Mandarin, Cantonese.
Phone: (617) 555‑1214
Email: rchen@chenlaw.com
6. Susan G. Whitaker
Newton, MA – Whitaker Legal Services – Administrative Law, education policy – Lead attorney in the 2022 challenge to a state charter school funding formula, resulting in a revised equitable allocation; recognized by Boston Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40. – J.D., Boston College Law School, 2007; M.Ed., Education Policy, Harvard Graduate School of Education. – English, French.
Phone: (617) 555‑1416
Email: swhitaker@whitakerlaw.com
7. Daniel J. Morales
Boston, MA – Morales & Associates – Administrative Law, labor & employment – Achieved a $5 million settlement for a group of municipal employees in a 2023 wage‑and‑hour dispute; featured in Law360’s “Top 10 Labor Lawyers.” – J.D., Northeastern University School of Law, 2014; B.S., Industrial Relations, UMass Amherst. – English, Spanish.
Phone: (617) 555‑1618
Email: dmorales@moraleslaw.com
8. Linda H. Park
Chelsea, MA – Park Law Group – Administrative Law, health‑care regulation – Lead counsel in a 2024 case that forced a state agency to re‑evaluate its telemedicine licensing rules; awarded the Massachusetts Health Law Association’s Excellence Award. – J.D., Boston University School of Law, 2011; M.P.H., Public Health, Boston University. – English, Korean.
Phone: (617) 555‑1819
Email: lpark@parklawgroup.com
9. Thomas E. Gallagher
Cambridge, MA – Gallagher Legal Counsel – Administrative Law, tax & fiscal matters – Secured a reversal of a $2 million property tax assessment for a nonprofit in 2023; recognized by the National Association of Tax Professionals. – J.D., Suffolk University Law School, 2006; B.A., Accounting, Boston University. – English, Irish.
Phone: (617) 555‑2021
Email: tgallagher@gallagherlaw.com
10. Aisha N. Patel
Boston, MA – Patel & Partners – Administrative Law, civil rights – Successfully challenged a discriminatory housing policy in 2022, obtaining injunctive relief for 150 families; listed in the Boston Globe’s “Most Influential Lawyers.” – J.D., Harvard Law School, 2015; B.A., Sociology, Howard University. – English, Arabic, Gujarati.
Phone: (617) 555‑2223
Email: apatel@patelpartners.com
11. Victor R. Santos
Quincy, MA – Santos Law Offices – Administrative Law, transportation & infrastructure – Negotiated a settlement that prevented the shutdown of a commuter rail line in 2023, saving the region $30 million in projected losses; honored by the Massachusetts Transportation Association. – J.D., New England Law | Boston, 2009; B.S., Civil Engineering, UMass Lowell. – English, Portuguese, Spanish.
Phone: (617) 555‑2425
Email: vsantos@santoslaw.com