David Veator

Partner David Veator practices in the area of public and administrative law.  He represents businesses with regulatory exposure, including entrepreneurs with new or disruptive business models, and has obtained results for clients in high-stakes settings before the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, the Division of Banks, the Public Utilities Commission, Professional Licensing Boards, the ABCC and other oversight bodies throughout state government.  Having served as Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor of Massachusetts, as General Counsel to two cabinet offices, and as a gubernatorial appointee to the state ethics commission, Mr. Veator regularly advises on complex public law matters, including regulatory processes and adjudications, constitutional and state finance law issues, ethics matters, procurement and public records and open meeting laws.

The former General Counsel to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation (predecessor to MassDOT), Mr. Veator now represents state transportation agencies in P3 projects involving private investment in the construction, operation and maintenance of public assets.  He is also experienced in financing avenues for important projects and served as Disclosure Counsel to MassDOT in its first Bond issue – the $2.7 billion refinancing of legacy “Big Dig” Debt.

Representative Experience

• Representation of start-up company with new and disruptive business model before regulators in several states.
• Represented MBTA in procurement of new private Operator of 5th largest commuter rail system in the US.  Developed and drafted massive Operating Agreement establishing all operating and maintenance obligations of private operator and establishing risk allocations among the parties.
  • Subsequently negotiated and drafted groundbreaking revenue sharing agreement between the Operator and the MBTA
  • Represent MBTA on all claims arising from Commuter Rail Agreement
• Represent the MBTA with respect to its relationship with Amtrak, including drafting new Operations and Access Agreement governing Amtrak’s use of MBTA facilities to provide its ACELA service in compliance with federal PRIIA legislation.
• Served as disclosure counsel to MassDOT in connection with its first Bond issue—the refinancing of its massive “Big Dig” debt.
• Represented the MBTA in connection with P3 Project resulting in construction of new subway station at the Assembly Square development.
• Represented Governor before SJC on constitutional issue.
• Negotiated and drafted relevant legal documents for the creation of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, the public private entity overseeing 27 acres of new public parks in downtown Boston.
• Served as national counsel overseeing and coordinating defense of product liability litigation nationwide.
• Defended company with new business model facing a cease-and-desist order, ultimately resulting in approval of new business model.
• Represented companies before the Divisions of Bank and Insurance with new financial products