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Dec 20, 2017

Credit: John Wilcox Bryon Hefner Rosenberg The law firm tapped to lead the state Senate’s probe into self-demoted President Stanley C. Rosenberg was once dubbed “one of the most politically connected” in Boston — with clients that included Rosenberg’s predecessor, Therese Murray — raising questions about whether retaliation-wary victims and witnesses will come forward. The three Boston-based attorneys from Hogan Lovells serving as the Senate’s “primary” investigators all hail from Collora LLP, the longtime Boston firm that merged with Hogan Lovells — co-headquartered in London and Washington, D.C. — in September to give the global company its first office in the Hub. Hogan Lovells has never had an official foothold in Boston, but Collora, whose High Street offices now serve as Hogan Lovells’ Boston home, had been a longtime player in the city. Jody Newman, one of three Boston office partners hired by the Senate, was praised by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of the most influential attorneys in its 2009 “Power List.” The publication called her firm — then known as Dwyer & Collora — “one of the most politically connected firms in town,” and it was no stranger to the state Senate. Former Senate President Therese Murray paid the firm nearly $25,000 between 2011 and 2015 for what campaign finance records called “professional” or “legal fees.” Murray reportedly hired the firm to represent her amid the U.S. attorney’s office investigation into the state probation scandal. She never faced charges, but she and other lawmakers racked up legal costs amid the scrutiny it brought on the Legislature. Neither Newman, nor attorneys William Fuller orNatashia Tidwell, returned multiple calls yesterday. The firm said in a statement it has set up both an email (MASenateInvestigation@hoganlovells.com) and a phone number (855-281-7775) for people to confidentially provide information. Some senators, concerned about potential ties muddying the investigation, had publicly pushed the committee to look outside Massachusetts for a firm to lead the probe into whether Rosenberg broke any chamber rules. Both Fuller and Tidwell are former prosecutors, with Fuller serving on the U.S. Attorney’s office’s team that scored a bribery conviction of ex-Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi in 2011. “Hogan Lovells is committed to conducting a full, fair and independent investigation,” Fuller said in the statement, “and we encourage any witnesses and potential victims to contact us as soon as possible.” Rosenberg stepped down from his post earlier this month amid allegations his husband sexually assaulted or harassed four men while bragging about the sway he held over Senate business. The Senate committee has also refused to disclose what it’s paying Hogan Lovells. All six members either didn’t return requests or deferred comment yesterday to chairman Michael Rodrigues, who didn’t respond to several emails, calls and messages left at his office by the Herald. Hours later, his office released a statement saying the probe’s “confidential resources” will be covered by existing Senate funds, and added that the public can track them “through the Comptroller’s public website.” The state Comptroller’s website, however, doesn’t display any costs until after a payment is made. The Senate has not provided a timeline for the probe. Related Articles