You’re the Managing Partner of the Boston office. How do you balance the administrative/management duties with maintaining an active, high-stakes practice in white collar & investigations?
Fortunately, I have extremely capable support in office management from both our office administrative partner and our office manager. That helps tremendously in terms of prioritizing what needs my own particular attention. Of course, there is still a lot of admin work to be done—while much of it you cannot plan for, I find that dedicating a portion of each work day to management issues helps keep everything going smoothly while allowing me to dedicate the rest of my work time to client needs.
What are your top strategic priorities for Hogan Lovells’ Boston office over the next few years?
Over the last three years, we have experienced significant growth in both our corporate and regulatory offerings here in Boston. Our top strategic priorities are to continue this growth, while nurturing our fantastic home-grown talent for future promotion, and to maintain the stellar legal advice and assistance for which we are known.
How has the role of Managing Partner changed since you first took it on, especially as legal markets and client expectations shift?
My third year as office managing partner starts in January 2026. The role, I would say, has remained the same. My tasks are to ensure my partners, counsel, and associates have all the support they need to practice law at the highest level, and to ensure that our practices in this market continue to grow. Doing the former is the key to accomplishing the latter.
Your background includes being an AUSA in both Massachusetts and California. How have those experiences shaped your approach to internal investigations, government enforcement, and whistleblower work?
My experience as an AUSA has been invaluable both in explaining the government’s actions and reactions to my client and in defending my clients’ position to the government. In any government-adjacent investigation or litigation, your clients need you to understand and explain how the government thinks, acts, and reacts; they want and need you to bring your experience to bear in helping address their issues.
Given your practice across sectors like pharma, medical devices, education, and financial services, how do you adapt for the different regulatory and compliance cultures of those industries?
This is an easy one. At Hogan Lovells, I am lucky enough to work with the most brilliant and diligent collection of regulatory attorneys assembled in a law firm. I happily team up with my colleagues so that we are always on top of shifting standards and regulations.
What differentiates Hogan Lovells when it comes to attracting talent, winning work, and building reputation?
Boston is home to many great law firms, of all shapes and sizes. What Hogan Lovells offers, that others here do not, is an unparalleled global platform providing the highest level of legal services in every practice for every industry in almost every jurisdiction. We can help our clients not only in Boston and the United States, but from Mexico City to Shanghai.
What advise do you have for new lawyers looking to gain experience in the litigation space?
Volunteer for any opportunity that gets you into court, billable or pro bono.
Hogan Lovells has been a longtime sponsor firm partner of the Boston Bar Association. Why is that partnership meaningful to your team, and how does it align with your firm’s business goals and priorities?
All lawyers, no matter their practice, are part of a noble profession that is absolutely integral to the maintenance and success of a well-functioning, fair society. The BBA has always been committed to helping ensure that the profession at least in this city remains dedicated to achieving those goals. Hogan Lovells has been, and will continue to be, in the vanguard of helping the BBA do so.
What do you believe is essential for developing the next generation of leaders in the legal profession?
This is going to make me sound old-fashioned, and I am sure will irk some of my colleagues, but this is a profession and not a job. Being in the office as often as possible during the workday is invaluable to young lawyers’ development—but far less so when more senior lawyers aren’t present. Solution? People should be in the office as frequently as possible. Zooms won’t cut it.
What initially drew you into government service, and what keeps you motivated now in private practice, especially in high-stakes investigations or enforcement work?
I was raised to believe, and still believe, that public service is the greatest public good. My father was a police officer and my mother a schoolteacher; it has always been my belief that time spent helping the public is the best time I could spend. In private practice, I am motivated by the importance of making sure that all my clients get a fair shake, and by keeping the government faithful to the high ideals that it is supposed to represent. In many ways, keeping the government on its toes is another form of public service.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Travel, Red Sox, movies, and reading.
Learn more about Greg Noonan here. Interested in an interview with the BBA? Contact Maggie DeMoura at mdemoura@bostonbar.org.
