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      • Brien T. O'Connor
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      Brien T. O'Connor

      Retired Partner
      • +1 617 951 7000
      [email protected]
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      Areas of Practice
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      Credentials

      Education

      • JD, cum laude, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
      • BA, magna cum laude, Yale University

      Admissions

      • Massachusetts, 1985

      • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

      • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

      Clerkships

      Chief Judge Andrew A. Caffrey, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (1985 - 1986)

      Publications

      • Quoted, “Once Renowned US Health Fraud Unit in Boston Gets an Inside Edge,” Bloomberg Law (February 27, 2024)
      • Quoted, “5 Things to Know About Acting Massachusetts US Attorney Joshua Levy,” GBH News (May 22, 2023)
      • Profiled, “Lawyers of the Year,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (February 14, 2022)
      • Co-author, “Five Questions Companies That Handle Controlled Substances Should Ask,” Bloomberg BNA’s Health Care Fraud Report (August 16, 2017)

      Presentations

      • Moderator, “The Enforcers Speak: U.S. Attorney’s Office Roundtable,” American Conference Institute’s 17th Annual Conference on Fraud and Abuse in the Sale and Marketing of Drugs, Devices, and Medical Technology, Boston, MA (March 2017)
      • Panelist, “False Claims Act Enforcement Trends in the Healthcare Industry,” American Conference Institute’s 4th Advanced Forum on False Claims and Qui Tam Enforcement, New York, NY (January 2017)
      • Panelist, “Off-Label Prescription Use: An Access Issue,” Boston Bar Association, Boston, MA (November 2016)
      • Panelist, “Voir Dire – The Science and Considerations of Effective Jury Selection,” Q1 Productions Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Legal and Compliance Forum, Alexandria, VA (March 2014)
      • Panelist, “Managing the Unanticipated Consequences of False Claims Litigation: When Your Case Can Lead to Class Actions, Criminal Prosecution and Other Collateral Damage,” ACI’s Advanced Forum on False Claims & Qui Tam Enforcement, New York, NY (January 2014)
      • Panelist, “Handling Parallel Criminal, Civil and Administrative Investigations,” Fourteenth Annual Pharmaceutical Regulatory and Compliance Congress and Best Practices Forum, Washington, D.C. (October 2013)
      • Panelist, “Developing a Closing Argument Driven Discovery Plan,” ABA False Claims Act and Qui Tam Trial Institute, Washington, D.C. (June 2013)
      • Featured, "Q&A With Ropes & Gray's Brien O'Connor," Law360 (June 2013)
      • Moderator, Enforcer’s Roundtable, ACI’s 13th National Summit on Reducing Legal Risks in the Sale and Marketing of Medical Devices, Chicago, IL (May 2013)
      • Presenter, “Civil and Criminal Practice and Procedure,” MCLE Federal Court Judicial Forum, Boston, MA (April 2013)
      • Panelist, “The Rise of Qui Tam Litigation and its Impact on How Fraud Cases are Investigated and Prosecuted,” Edward Bennett Williams’ American Inn of Court Meeting, Washington, D.C. (September 2012)
      • Panelist, “Anatomy of a Health Care Fraud Case: Lessons From Stryker,” Boston Bar Association CLE – Health Care Fraud 2012, Boston, MA (April 2012)
      • Co-Chair and Panelist, “Light at the End of the Tunnel? Recent Court Cases and the Saga of Off-Label Promotion Enforcement,” ACI 12th National Forum on Fraud & Abuse in the Sale & Marketing of Drugs, Washington, D.C. (March 2012)

      Awards

      • Best Lawyers in America (2009-2025)
        • Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2022, 2025)
      • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2006-2024)
      • Boston Magazine “Top Lawyers” (2021-2022)
      • LMG Life Sciences “Government Investigations Attorney of the Year” (2021)
      • Benchmark Litigation: Top 100 Trial Lawyers (2018)
      • LMG Life Sciences Government Investigations Attorney of the Year (2017)
      • Best Lawyers’ Boston – Biotechnology Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2017, 2021)
      • Law360 “Legal Lion” (May 2016) 
      • Legal 500 - Litigation (2017, 2021-2023)
      • LMG Life Sciences: “Life Sciences Star” (2013-2017, 2022)
      • Benchmark Litigation: Massachusetts Litigation Star (2011-2025) 
      • Who’s Who Legal: Investigations (2015-2016)
      • Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2004-2021)
      • Expert Guides’ Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers (2014)
      • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Lawyer of the Year (2012) 
      • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, “The Most Effective Opening Statement Ever Given?” (2012)
      • American Lawyer's “Big Suits” (2006, 2009) 
      • Department of Justice – John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation (1996)

      Memberships & Affiliations

      • American Bar Association
      • American Bar Association White Collar Crime Section, Northeast Region Co-Chair
      • Boston Bar Association
      • Boston Bar Association White Collar Crime Section
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