SJC Reaffirms Limits on Charitable-Trust Lawsuits in Important Decision for Higher Education

On August 19, 2026, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an important decision for the City of Boston—and for colleges, universities, and other charitable institutions—in Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Inc. v. City of Boston.  Firm attorneys Alexandra Arnold and David A. Bunis filed an amicus brief on behalf of nineteen Massachusetts colleges and universities, supporting the defendants on the issue of standing, and the Court’s standing analysis is consistent with the position advanced by the amici.

The case arose from the City’s plan to redevelop White Stadium in Franklin Park through a partnership that would permit a professional women’s soccer team to use the renovated stadium. The plaintiffs sought to block the project, arguing that it violated the terms of the George Robert White Fund—the charitable trust that owns the stadium parcel—and required legislative approval under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution. The SJC rejected those challenges, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to enforce the trust and that Article 97 did not apply to the stadium parcel. We congratulate Rose Law Partners LLP, Goulston & Storrs, and Verrill on this significant victory for their clients. 

Although the dispute centered on White Stadium, the plaintiffs’ theory of standing had implications for charitable institutions across the Commonwealth. They argued that private parties should be permitted to enforce a public charitable trust based on their organizational mission, civic involvement, and use of the trust property, particularly when the Attorney General has declined to bring an enforcement action.

The SJC rejected that proposed expansion of standing, reaffirming that a public charitable trust generally may be enforced only by the Attorney General, a trustee, or someone with an individualized interest distinct from that of the general public. The Court held that an organization’s mission—even one “harmonious with the purpose” of the trust—does not by itself confer standing, nor does use of trust property as a member of the public. It also declined to relax those requirements when the Attorney General elects not to sue, warning that doing so would expose charitable trusts to a “barrage of claims.”

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP was pleased to contribute the perspective of Massachusetts colleges and universities to the Court’s consideration of this important issue.  The decision is particularly significant for colleges and universities, which administer substantial charitable gifts, often over generations, and regularly navigate competing views about how those resources should be used. By preserving clear limits on who may sue, the ruling protects institutions of higher education from litigation by self-selected stakeholders who lack an individualized legal interest and helps ensure that charitable resources remain available for scholarships, teaching, research, student support, and other educational purposes.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Upholds Injunction Blocking Religious Statues on Quincy Government Building

On August 20, 2026, in a landmark ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the installation of two ten-foot-tall statues of Catholic saints outside the entrance of Quincy’s new public safety headquarters. The lawsuit was brought by a multifaith group of Quincy residents and taxpayers. Firm attorney Alexandra Arnold represents the plaintiffs alongside attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

In its ruling, the Court affirmed the trial court’s determination that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in showing that the proposed installation violates the Massachusetts Constitution’s requirement of governmental neutrality toward religion. As the Court observed, the statues of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian would “stand tall and alone, adorned with Catholic iconography,” and could be viewed as endorsing one religion while subordinating others. The injunction will remain in place while the litigation proceeds in Norfolk Superior Court.

You can read more about this important victory here.

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Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Attorneys Listed in 2027 Editions of Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is pleased to announce that firm partners Daniel Cloherty, Victoria Steinberg, and Megan Siddall have been selected for inclusion in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and firm associates Alexandra Arnold, and Rebecca O’Brien have been selected for inclusion in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch®.

Mr. Cloherty has been recognized in the following areas:

• Commercial Litigation

• Criminal Defense – White Collar

• Criminal Defense – General Practice

Ms. Steinberg has been recognized in the following areas:

• Education Law

• Employment Law – Management

• Employment Law – Individuals

• Litigation – Labor and Employment

Ms. Siddall has been recognized in the following areas:

• Criminal Defense: White-Collar

• Criminal Defense: General Practice

Ms. Arnold has been recognized in the following areas:

• Commercial Litigation

• Criminal Defense – General Practice

• Labor and Employment Law - Employee

• Labor and Employment Law – Management

Ms. O’Brien has been recognized in the following area:

• Labor and Employment Law – Management

C&S Partner Megan Siddall Panelist at the Boston Bar Association’s White-Collar Crime Conference

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Partner Megan Siddallwas a panelist at the Boston Bar Association’s White-Collar Crime Conference on May 7, 2026. Megan participated in a vibrant panel discussion addressing enforcement pressures on higher education institutions, including issues surrounding recent government actions relating to research misconduct, cybersecurity and data privacy, and research grants.

Alexandra Arnold Receives Hines‑Burnham Award

On March 26, 2026, Cloherty & Steinberg LLP attorney Alexandra Arnold was honored by the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“MACDL”) as the 2026 recipient of the Hines‑Burnham Award.  The Hines‑Burnham Award, named after two trailblazing female attorneys in Massachusetts,  is awarded to an attorney who has been practicing for ten years or less and who demonstrates exceptional service, skill, and innovation in the defense of the accused. This prestigious recognition from MACDL reflects Alex’s steadfast commitment to outstanding written and oral advocacy and the meaningful impact of her work on behalf of clients in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts, including her work as a member of MACDL’s Amicus Curiae Committee.  Congratulations to Alex for this well‑deserved achievement!

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Welcomes New Associate Tara Dunn Jackson

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is pleased to announce that Tara Dunn Jackson has joined the firm as an associate attorney.    A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and Northeastern University School of Law, Ms. Dunn Jackson previously served as a law clerk for Hon. Angel Kelley in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Ms. Dunn Jackson also serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as an Assistant Judge Advocate General, where she litigates evidentiary hearings, tries court martials and advises military personnel.  Prior to joining Cloherty & Steinberg LLP, Ms. Dunn Jackson was an associate at a large Boston-based law firm.

Ms. Dunn Jackson is a former President of Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys (MBWA), and a Trustee and Fellow of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.  She also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Civil Rights & Restorative Justice (CRRJ) Project at Northeastern University School of Law.  In 2025, Ms. Dunn Jackson was named as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the National Bar Association.  That same year, she was also a recipient of the Lynn A. Girton Distinguished Service Award from Veterans Legal Services and was recognized as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Top Women in the Law. 

Ms. Dunn Jackson will represent clients in all of the firm’s practice areas, including employment matters, business disputes, education law and government investigations/criminal defense.  More information regarding Ms. Dunn Jackson’s background and qualifications can be found here.

Brandon Mendez Promoted to Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Office Manager

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is delighted to announce that Brandon Mendez has been promoted to the position of Office Manager.  In his capacity as Office Manager, Brandon manages and oversees nearly all aspects of the Firm’s daily operational activities, greatly facilitating the Firm’s ongoing work on behalf of its clients.  Since joining Cloherty & Steinberg LLP in 2024, Brandon has quickly established himself as a leader at the Firm, not only through his outstanding performance on multiple client-specific matters, but also through his active participation in and management of nearly every facet of the Firm’s business activities.  Cloherty & Steinberg LLP welcomes Brandon to his important new leadership role at the Firm!

C&S Partner Megan Siddall Named Co-Chair of Women’s White Collar Defense Association’s Boston Chapter

Partner Megan Siddall has been selected to serve as co-chair of the Boston chapter of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association.  The WWCDA is a global organization dedicated to promoting women attorneys and other professionals who represent companies and individuals in white collar government investigations and enforcement actions (criminal, civil, regulatory, and administrative), internal investigations, compliance and ethics counseling, and related matters.  The WWCDA has been instrumental in increasing diversity in the white collar defense field.   

The Boston chapter is one of the oldest in the WWCDA.  It plays an active role in fostering professional development, mentorship, and community among women white collar defense practitioners in the city.  Megan has been a member of the Boston chapter for years and credits it for many of the opportunities she has had in the field.  She looks forward to continuing the chapter’s long history of supporting its members. 

C&S Partner Megan Siddall Named as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2025 Top Women of Law

On November 18, 2025, at a ceremony held at Boston’s Hynes Convention Center, Partner Megan Siddall was honored as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Top Women of Law for 2025.  Megan was recognized for her impressive work representing a broad range of individuals and businesses in complex government investigations, trials and appeal. Megan was also acknowledged for her work representing indigent defendants in federal proceedings as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

In her comments to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Megan underscored her commitment to client-centered representation, explaining how she is motivated “to help the court see [each defendant] as a person with a story that is more complex than what the government has alleged.”  Congratulations to Megan for this well-deserved honor!

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Attorneys Recognized as 2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyers® and Raising Stars ®

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is pleased to announce that 7 of its attorneys have been named Super Lawyers or Super Lawyers Rising Stars.  The firm is particularly proud that the recognition includes attorneys in each of the firm’s practice areas:  Business Litigation, Employment, White Collar Criminal Defense, and Schools & Education. 

The Firm’s 2025 honorees are:

Daniel Cloherty:

• Business Litigation

• Employment Litigation

• White Collar Criminal Defense

Megan Siddall:

• White Collar Criminal Defense,

• Top 50 Women Lawyers in Massachusetts

Victoria Steinberg:

• Business Litigation

• Employment and Labor

Alexandra Arnold (Rising Star):

• Schools & Education

• Criminal Defense

• Employment Litigation: Defense

• Employment Litigation: Plaintiff

Rebecca O’Brien (Rising Star):

• Schools & Education

Kristine Oren (Rising Star):

• Business Litigation

Melanie Stallone (Rising Star):

• Schools & Education

• Criminal Defense

• Employment Litigation: Defense

• Employment Litigation: Plaintiff

Super Lawyers ® spotlights the top 5% of attorneys in Massachusetts, employing a detailed selection process involving peer nomination, independent research, and evaluation by a panel of practice area experts.

Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Blocking Installation of Religious Statues on Government Building in Quincy

On October 14, 2025, the Norfolk Superior Court granted a preliminary injunction blocking the planned installation of two large statues of Catholic saints outside the entrance of the new public safety headquarters in Quincy. The ruling ensures that the statues of St. Michael and St. Florian will not be installed while the case proceeds. The court also denied the City of Quincy’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought by a multifaith group of Quincy residents, who argue that the plan violates the separation of church and state, as codified in the Massachusetts Constitution.

Firm attorney Alexandra Arnold is one of the counsel of record for the plaintiffs, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

You can read more about the decision here.

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Welcomes New Partner Megan A. Siddall

Cloherty & Steinberg is excited to announce the addition of partner Megan Siddall to the firm.  Megan is an experienced litigator with a focus on white collar criminal defense, business litigation, and higher education law.  Law360 highlighted her arrival at Cloherty & Steinberg, quoting C&S Managing Partner and co-founder Daniel Cloherty as noting that she is a “perfect fit.”  Her bio and contact information can be found here.

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Attorneys Listed in 2026 Editions of Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is pleased to announce that firm partners Daniel Cloherty and Victoria Steinberg have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and firm associates Alexandra Arnold, Rebecca O’Brien and Melanie Stallone have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch®.

Mr. Cloherty has been recognized in the following areas:

• Commercial Litigation

• Criminal Defense – General Practice

• Criminal Defense – White Collar

Ms. Steinberg has been recognized in the following areas:

• Employment Law – Individuals

• Employment Law – Management

• Litigation – Labor and Employment

Ms. Arnold has been recognized in the following areas:

• Commercial Litigation

• Criminal Defense – General Practice

• Labor and Employment Law - Employee

• Labor and Employment Law - Management

Ms. O’Brien has been recognized in the following area:

• Labor and Employment Law - Management

Ms. Stallone has been recognized in the following areas:

• Criminal Defense: General Practice

• Labor and Employment Law - Management

Best Lawyers is one of the oldest and most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession.  Selection is based upon comprehensive peer-review surveys in which thousands of attorneys confidentially evaluate their peers. Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is proud to be a part of the Boston legal community and honored to receive this national recognition.

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Welcomes New Paralegal Lena Levey

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is pleased to announce that Lena Levey has joined the firm as a paralegal. Lena Levey provides paralegal and administrative support in all of the firm's diverse practice areas. She assists attorneys with legal research, client intake, and document preparation. Ms. Levey has extensive experience in writing and legal research. She is committed to delivering reliable, organized support to both clients and legal teams. Read more about Ms. Levey’s professional background here.

Firm Prevails on Behalf of Firm Client in Non-Compete Dispute

The Business Litigation Session (“BLS”) of Suffolk County Superior Court recently issued an Order vindicating a Firm client’s enforcement of its non-competition agreement with a former high-level employee.  The employee had resigned from her job at the Firm’s client, a global organizational consulting company, to work for a competitor of that company, despite having signed a six-month non-competition agreement.  She then filed suit in the BLS against the Firm’s client, seeking to invalidate the non-compete.  In her motion seeking an injunction barring enforcement of the non-competition agreement, Plaintiff argued that the agreement did not comply with the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (“MNAA”), Mass. Gen. L. ch. 149, § 24L and did not promote the Firm client’s legitimate business interests.

On July 29, 2025, after detailed briefing, evidentiary presentations, and a lengthy oral argument in the matter, the Court ruled squarely in favor of the Firm client.  In its opinion, the Court concluded that the Plaintiff was unlikely to succeed on the merits of her claims.  Specifically, the Court found that the non-competition agreement complied with the “garden leave” requirements of the MNAA, and that the agreement also furthered the Firm client’s legitimate business interests in protecting its confidential information, to which the Plaintiff had access during the course of her employment.  For those reasons, the Court denied Plaintiff’s request for an injunction, allowing the Firm’s client to enforce the noncompetition agreement.

Firm attorneys Daniel Cloherty, Victoria Steinberg and Alexandra Arnold represented the Firm’s client in this matter. 

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Welcomes New Paralegal Annika Breen

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP is pleased to announce that Annika Breen has joined the firm as a paralegal. Ms. Breen brings a strong foundation in legal support and a detail-oriented approach to her work as a paralegal at Cloherty & Steinberg LLP. She provides both administrative and paralegal support across the firm's diverse practice areas, working closely with attorneys to facilitate effective communication, accurate documentation, and timely case progression. Read more about Ms. Breen’s professional background here.

Firm Files Lawsuit Challenging Installation of Religious Statues on Public Building

On May 27, 2025, Cloherty & Steinberg LLP joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation in filing a lawsuit in Norfolk Superior Court on behalf of a multifaith group of Quincy, Massachusetts residents seeking to halt the planned installation of two large religious statues at the entrance of the city’s new public safety building.

The plaintiffs are members of diverse faiths who do not want their government officials and publicly owned property to promote specific religious beliefs. The lawsuit explains that the plan promotes one religion over others, and religion over nonreligion, in violation of the Massachusetts Constitution. The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction that would prevent the city from proceeding with its unconstitutional plan during the pendency of the lawsuit.  

You can read more about the case here. Firm attorney Alexandra Arnold is one of the counsel of record for the plaintiffs.

Federal Court Grants Motion to Dismiss in Favor of University Client

On February 26, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered an Order granting a Motion to Dismiss by Firm client President and Fellows of Harvard College in a case brought against it by a group of alumni. In Bauer et al. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College et al., the plaintiffs sought injunctive relief and damages arising from acts alleged to have occurred on Harvard’s campus in 2023. The plaintiffs argued that Harvard's role in and response to the alleged acts diminished the value of their degrees, conferred between the early 1970s and the mid-1990s. Following motion practice and oral argument, the Court dismissed the case, holding that the plaintiffs, having “graduated from Harvard many years before the central events referred to in the complaint” and “not themselves directly affected by Harvard’s recent administrative actions and/or omissions,” had “no cognizable legal injury that could be redressed through this suit.”

You can read more about the case here. Counsel for Harvard in this matter included Daniel J. Cloherty and Victoria L. Steinberg, partners at the Firm, and Alexandra Arnold, a Firm associate.

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Welcomes New Associate Kristine C. Oren

Ms. Oren received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, and her B.A. from Hamilton College.

Prior to joining Cloherty & Steinberg, Ms. Oren was a litigation associate at a Boston-based mid-sized law firm. Her recent litigation successes include obtaining summary judgment determinations on behalf of multiple clients, including a client accused of breaching an alleged investment agreement and another client defending against a claim for overtime pay arising under the Massachusetts Wage Act.  

Ms. Oren devotes her practice to complex litigation, including trial proceedings and appeals.  She represents educational institutions in a broad range of matters, encompassing employment disputes, internal investigations, and regulatory issues.  Ms. Oren also represents businesses and individuals in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts. More information about Ms. Oren’s background and practice may be found here.

Cloherty & Steinberg LLP Welcomes Senior Counsel David A. Bunis

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bunis served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he led the university’s legal strategies on a wide range of issues including litigation, Title IX enforcement, research misconduct and disciplinary investigations, institutional governance and regulatory compliance. Prior to his tenure at WPI, Mr. Bunis spent five years as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Corporation of Brandeis University.  An accomplished trial lawyer, Mr. Bunis was previously named as one of Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly’s “Lawyers of the Year” for his multiple litigation successes in Suffolk Superior Court’s Business Litigation Session. He has earned numerous additional accolades, including being named as one of the top 100 lawyers in Massachusetts, and In-House Lawyer of the Year.  He received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and his law degree from Boston University School of Law.

Mr. Bunis will represent the firm’s clients in complex litigation matters relating to higher education, employment and business disputes.  More information regarding Mr. Bunis’ background and practice may be found here.