John Rattigan

John E. Rattigan Jr.

Partner
[O]ne of those people who can simultaneously see the big picture and the details.
— client quoted in Chambers USA
BostonNew York
About

John Rattigan serves as counsel to developers, institutions, public agencies and investors in the acquisition, development, sale and leasing of large-scale real estate projects. He has been lead counsel for many of Boston's most important and transformative real estate developments.

Among John's representative development projects in Boston are Fan Pier, Millennium Tower, Winthrop Center, The South Station Air Rights Project, Echelon Seaport, the Residences at the Ritz Carlton, the office tower at 10 St. James Avenue, the Park and Garage at Post Office Square and the expansion of South Bay Shopping Center. His experience also includes developments in Cambridge (Mass and Main), Somerville (Union Square) and other communities.

Areas of FocusCorporateFinanceReal EstateDevelopment, Land Use and Zoning Real Estate FinanceEnergy and Natural Resources
Bar admissionsMassachusettsNew York

EXPERIENCE

For the South Station Air Rights project, John and his team used all of their creativity and experience to structure a multi-party transaction for a three-phase, mixed use air rights project over an operating transportation center. He has used single-tier and two-tier condominium approaches to solve complex challenges of mixed use urban projects such as the Ritz Carlton Boston Hotel and Towers, Millennium Tower and the Echelon Seaport project.

Awards and Recognitions

Chambers USA

  • Band 1, Massachusetts Real Estate, (2012 – 2025)
    Chambers describes him as "a leading lawyer in the real estate field" who is "greatly respected," "groundbreaking and innovative," and "a strong and effective lawyer."
    • Clients have championed him as "the best real estate lawyer in Boston" who is "at the pinnacle of developers' lawyers." John, clients have said, "stands at the helm of some of the firm's most significant work" and "is exceedingly creative in solving business problems;" he is "one of those people who can simultaneously see the big picture and the details." "He does a really good job of putting himself in the client's position and really helps facilitate the transaction."

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Land Use/Zoning, (2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2022, 2024 – 2025)
  • Recommended, Real Estate, (2015, 2024 – 2025)
Additional Recognitions
  • Recognized, 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers List, Lawdragon, (2025)
  • Norman B. Leventhal Excellence in City Building Award, Land Use, A Better City, (2025)
  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate
  • Named, Massachusetts Super Lawyer
  • Elected, American College of Real Estate Lawyers, (2002)
Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1982
    Order of the Coif
  • B.A., Merrimack College, 1979
    summa cum laude

Media Mentions

Teaching Experience

John has been a guest lecturer at the MIT Center for Real Estate and at Harvard Law School.

Civic and Charitable

  • John is a longtime advocate for Boston's traditional downtown. He is a current board member and the former chair of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District
  • He serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of Post Office Square, which owns the Norman B. Leventhal Park and the Garage at Post Office Square in the heart of Boston's financial district
  • In 2001, John served on Mayor Thomas Menino's Linkage Commission, which proposed revisions to the City of Boston's linkage requirements for major real estate developments
  • Former member of the Advisory Board, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Real Estate

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper receives multiple accolades, including Real Estate Firm of the Year, as part of...

30 July 2024 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 617 406 6057
(Work, Boston)