CityOfBoston Official An official website of the City of Boston

This is the website for the City of Boston’s new Planning Department, which launched on July 1. The staff and many responsibilities of the Boston Planning & Development Agency have moved to the Planning Department of the City of Boston including planning & zoning, urban design, development review, and real estate divisions. Please excuse any misalignment you may see on our site as we transition to the City. Learn more

General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) supports the strategic goals of the Planning Department by providing high quality legal counsel to help shape policy that advances the Department’s goals and to protect and preserve the legal and ethical integrity of the Department and the BPDA Board.

OGC attorneys provide transactional real estate counsel to staff through structuring, negotiating, and drafting all legal documentation required pursuant to ground and commercial leases, sales and acquisitions of real estate, the Article 80 development process, and demonstration projects. OGC attorneys advise staff and the BPDA Board with respect to litigation and provide advice to staff and the BPDA Board by maintaining knowledge of existing and pending legislation that impacts the business and operations of the Planning Department and the BPDA Board.

For more information, please contact Lisa Herrington, General Counsel.