Department profile
DLA Piper LLP (US)

Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use

USA Guide 2026 : Massachusetts

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DLA Piper LLP (US)

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use - Massachusetts

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

DLA Piper has a pre-eminent team offering top-tier advice across a range of areas, including permitting and entitlement matters and property transactions. The firm also offers expertise in real estate financing and is particularly highlighted for its strength in complex, large scale projects. The team maintains a diversified portfolio of deals, which also includes a range of sophisticated transactions and multiphase projects. Its client base includes developers, public agencies and investors.

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Work Highlights

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  • DLA Piper LLP represents Boston developer, The Fallon Company, in connection with a 30-acre, $2 billion mixed-use project on Nashville’s “East Bank”.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • DLA has a deep bench with experts available to weigh in on specific topics.

    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

  • DLA has a team of excellent attorneys who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in drafting and attention to detail, whilst taking a practical and business-oriented approach to problems.

    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

  • The team is incredibly knowledgeable and creative in thinking through deal structures. They're good at moving negotiations forward, using language to achieve the goals of both parties.

    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • John L Sullivan
    John L Sullivan

    John L Sullivan

    John Sullivan is held in high esteem for his work on complex joint ventures. His clients include developers and investors.

    • John is a legend in Boston.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • John is excellent with great experience.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • John Rattigan Jr
    John Rattigan Jr

    John Rattigan Jr

    John Rattigan is a leading lawyer in the real estate field. He regularly counsels developers, investors and public agencies on complex development projects and real estate transactions.

    • He is among the elite in Boston.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • John is incredibly adept at negotiations with city states for permits, as well as with lenders.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • John is a notable practitioner and great lawyer.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Richard D Rudman
    Richard D Rudman

    Richard D Rudman

    Richard Rudman continues to be a leading practitioner in the field. He offers expert counsel on issues such as real estate development and permitting.

    • Richard is a superb lawyer.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Cara J Nelson
    Cara J Nelson

    Cara J Nelson

    Cara Nelson works on a range of matters, including real estate acquisitions, joint ventures and developments. Her clients include pension funds.

    • Cara is very efficient and turns documents around rapidly. She has a really deep understanding of complex risks and makes them understandable.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Cara is practical, smart and a good advocate for her clients.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Geoff Howell
    Geoff Howell

    Geoff Howell

    Geoffrey Howell represents a client base consisting of owners, lenders and developers. He advises on the full spectrum of real estate transactions.

    • Geoff is great to work with. He's able to seek compromise or solutions with other groups to get a deal to move forward.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Geoff is an expert at leasing in particular, but also very knowledgeable about other aspects of real estate.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Geoff has a really diverse client base and does really good job on their behalf. He's among top practitioners in the field.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Geoff is a very good lawyer. He does a lot of joint venture work on significant projects.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Bryan Connolly
    Bryan Connolly

    Bryan Connolly

    Chair of the firm's national real estate practice, Bryan Connolly advises clients on a wide array of matters. He often works on real estate financings, acquisitions and dispositions and joint ventures.

    • Bryan Connolly is excellent and has commercial real estate savvy.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Bryan Connolly is great. He runs DLA's real estate group, has a great client base and gets deals done.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Bryan Connolly knows what he's doing. He's practical, a really good lawyer and has good clients.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Primo A. J. Fontana
    Primo A. J. Fontana

    Primo A. J. Fontana

    Primo Fontana is a significant member of the group's Boston office. He routinely demonstrates his ability to provide counsel on a range of matters including acquisitions, financings and developments.

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  • Thanos Matthai
    Thanos Matthai

    Thanos Matthai

    Thanos Matthai focuses his practice on real estate acquisitions, restructurings and financing transactions.

    • Thanos focuses on what matters for his client.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Thanos is a gifted, sophisticated attorney with a practical mindset.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Thanos is technically excellent. He's a deliberate and careful draftsman, always available and able to deliver first-class work product on time, with a smile.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Thanos is an excellent listener who is developing into an elegant dealmaker.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Matthew R. Kinell
    Matthew R. Kinell

    Matthew R. Kinell

    Matthew Kinell has experience representing owners, developers and investors in a range of commercial real estate transactions.

    • Matt's great. He's sharp and definitely an associate to watch.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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  • Nancy Welsh
    Nancy Welsh

    Nancy Welsh

    Nancy Welsh works on a wide range of transactional real estate matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings and development of commercial properties. She advises investment funds, institutional real estate advisers, REITs and developers in a diverse array of real estate matters.

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  • Oriana Montani
    Oriana Montani

    Oriana Montani

    Oriana Montani is fast establishing a reputation in Massachusetts for her diverse real estate practice which spans development projects, acquisitions, dispositions and financings. She takes a significant lead in the firm's clients who hold her in high esteem.

    • Oriana is terrific. She's smart, knows the contracts and how to negotiate as well.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Oriana is knocking the lights out. She is a fantastic lawyer.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA

    • Oriana is really good at drafting creatively, as well as managing sometimes difficult counterparties.

      Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at DLA Piper LLP (US) (11)

Massachusetts

DLA Piper LLP (US) has rankings in the following guides

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