DLA Piper LLP (US) is praised by clients for its ‘knowledgeable attorneys’ and the ’business-friendly manner’ in which they operate. The team, which is led by Bryan Connolly in Boston, remains particularly active in the residential, transportation, office, and entertainment sectors. Connolly is reputed for his depth of expertise in zoning regulations, having recently assisted Hilco Redevelopment Partners and Redgate Capital Partners in obtaining approval for the L Street Station Project, a major development in South Boston. Oriana Montani works alongside Connolly and excels in construction financing matters. Boston’s Cara Nelson is adept at handling various sustainable property investments but possesses expertise that extends to joint ventures and institutional investment matters. John Sullivan and Lauren Rico are key names out of Boston and Washington DC, respectively. The team was bolstered by the arrival of Lewis Goss II and Warren Seay Jr from Arent Fox , as well as Ryan Hanofee, Todd Eisner, and Devan Popat. In 2025, Barbara Trachtenberg left the firm while Frederick Klein and Richard Klawiter retired.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Knowledgeable attorneys.'
- 'They know our requirements, our processes, and make it seamless working together. ’
- 'When approaching deals, they operate in a business-friendly manner.'
Key clients
- AEW Capital Management LP
- Affinius Capital
- Akamai Technologies
- Allstate Insurance Company
- Angelo, Gordon & Co., L.P.
- Ardent Data Centers
- Ares Management Corporation
- Artemis Real Estate Partners
- ASB Capital Management LLC
- AXA
- Bain Capital
- BentallGreenOak
- BioMed Realty
- Blackstone Real Estate Advisors LP
- Boston Properties, Inc.
- Carlyle Group, LLC
- CBRE Investment Management
- Clarion Partners LLC
- Credit Suisse Asset Management (UBS)
- CyrusOne, LLC
Work highlights
Representing The Fallon Company in connection with a thirty-acre US$2 billion mixed-use project on Nashville’s “East Bank.” The project will connect a new National Football League stadium and downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The East Bank project, which is currently a compilation of surface parking lots, is to be developed over an extended period with hotel, residential (including affordable housing), retail, office, a new transit gateway, and a new elevated pedestrian walkway to bring people from downtown Nashville to the project and the new stadium, along with US$147 million in necessary infrastructure to service the project.
Representing Hines in the 2 million square foot redevelopment of the South Station Transportation Center (Boston), including the 52-story, 1 million square foot South Station Tower being delivered in the first phase, created a master condominium ownership structure to facilitate the sale of luxury residential condominium units atop the Tower while leading commercial lease of the office component of the Tower.
Representing Artemis Real Estate Partners in the US$767 million acquisition of a REIT that owns a 25-property industrial portfolio located across 14 US markets, totalling over 8.7 million square feet. The seller’s representations and warranties under the membership interest purchase agreement are being insured via specialty real estate representations and warranties insurance.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Bryan Connolly
Other key lawyers
Stacie Trott; Cara Nelson; John Sullivan