Daniel J. Cloherty

Daniel J. Cloherty Partner

Throughout his career, Daniel J. Cloherty has represented institutions, executives, and professionals in a wide array of industries, including education, telecommunications, energy, media, e-commerce, pharmaceutical, and financial services.  He has extensive experience handling civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts, as well as before various regulatory bodies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Massachusetts Securities Division.

In civil litigation matters, Mr. Cloherty regularly represents universities, companies, executives and professionals in complex business disputes, including disputes involving alleged breaches of contracts, breaches of fiduciary duties, shareholder disputes, trade secrets theft, non-competition agreements, wage and hour disputes, and other employment-related issues.  His practice also includes counseling clients on First Amendment interests, copyright laws, and e-commerce laws.

Individuals and businesses involved in government investigations and enforcement matters turn to Mr. Cloherty for counsel and guidance.  He represents clients in investigations and trials involving allegations of securities violations, healthcare fraud, bank and mail fraud, bribery, embezzlement, and obstruction of justice.  

In 2022, Mr. Cloherty was appointed by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts to serve as the Chair of the District’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Board.  In 2020, he was a recipient of the Boston Bar Association’s President’s Award in recognition of his work on behalf of incarcerated individuals who were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to founding Cloherty & Steinberg LLP, Mr. Cloherty was a partner at a Boston-based law firm.  He previously served as a Special Assistant Federal Defender in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and as a Law Clerk to the Hon. Dolores K. Sloviter in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and to the Hon. Wm. Matthew Byrne, Jr. in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

  • Massachusetts

    District of Columbia

    U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

    U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th and D.C. Circuits

  • University of California-Berkeley School of Law. J.D.

    Harvard University, B.A., cum laude

  • Mr. Cloherty's notable accomplishments in assisting clients include:

    Obtained acquittal after trial on behalf of a defendant charged with violating the federal money laundering statute

    Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a New York-based client who was sued for millions of dollars in a multi-count civil complaint relating to an alleged breach of a supposed investment agreement

    Obtained mid-trial dismissal of all criminal charges for a business executive charged with participating in an alleged conspiracy to distribute pharmaceuticals over the internet

    Obtained summary judgment in favor of university in class action lawsuit seeking tuition-related refunds arising out of COVID-19 pandemic

    Secured summary judgment for internet commerce client in lawsuit arising out of alleged defamatory publications on an internet messaging board

    Obtained summary judgment for national media entity in defense of defamation claims related to a national broadcast of a Massachusetts criminal trial

    On behalf of a national telecommunications company, persuaded court to issue a preliminary injunction enforcing terms of its noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreement

    Following a three-month jury trial, obtained an acquittal on all charges on behalf of pharmaceutical executive accused of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute

    Obtained summary judgment for national recording company sued for alleged copyright violations

    Secured summary judgment on all counts for consulting company sued for alleged wrongful termination, breach of contract, and employment discrimination

    Obtained dismissal of a class action alleging that a defendant company had violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Massachusetts Wage Act

    Obtained favorable resolutions on behalf of national financial services company in parallel investigations initiated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Massachusett Securities Division related to allegedly improper financial disclosures

  • Chair, Criminal Justice Act Board for the District of Massachusetts

    Member

    Criminal Justice Act Panel for the District of Massachusetts

    American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section

    National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

    Boston Bar Association, Criminal Law Section

    District of Columbia Bar Association

  • Presenter, ”Impact of COVID-19 on Criminal Law Practice: The 60-Minute Lawyer,” MCLE, May 2020

    Panelist, "Deal or No Deal: A Practical Guide to Plea Bargaining," NACDL White Collar Crime Conference, September 2017

  • Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2008-present

    Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar, and Business Litigation, 2009-present

    Recipient of Boston Bar Association's 2020 President's Award

(617) 481-0601