Former State Rep. James Leary has established a law firm in Worcester focusing on government relations and public policy.
“In today’s environment of rapid legislative, regulatory, and funding changes, organizations need strategic and effective policy advocacy, lobbying, and legal and political counsel to succeed and thrive,” Leary wrote in a Thursday LinkedIn post.
Located at 100 Front St., Leary Public Affairs represents clients at the local, state, and federal levels, offering legal analysis, coalition building, and strategic communications in addition to its specialization in government advocacy and policy, according to a Friday press release from the firm.
An attorney with 30 years of experience, Leary most recently worked at UMass Memorial Health as the Worcester-based hospital system’s vice president for government and community relations. Having assumed the position in 2018, Leary led advocacy efforts from municipal through federal levels.
Before that, he worked under a nearly identical title for nine years as vice chancellor of government and community relations at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester.
Previously, Leary served three terms as a Massachusetts State Representative for Worcester. He followed that tenure by working as chief of staff to the lieutenant governor for nearly three years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Leary serves on a number of nonprofit boards, including the Association of American Medical Colleges in Washington D.C., RFK Community Alliance in Lancaster, and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau.
“To succeed in today’s environment of rapid legislative, regulatory, and funding changes, it is imperative for organizations to engage in strategic government relations and policy advocacy,” Leary said in the release.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
