Hinckley Allen has added former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez in a move aimed at further boosting the law firm’s public finance footprint throughout New England.
Gonzalez, a Democrat who challenged Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker last year, is joining Hinckley Allen as a partner in the firm’s Boston office bringing more than 20 years of public and private sector experience. He will be reuniting with two of his former law partners at Palmer & Dodge, Antonio "Tony" Martini and Kris Moussette, to expand Hinckley Allen’s public finance practice.
“We are going to look for other opportunities to grow the public finance practice,” said Gonzalez, who was Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance under former Gov. Deval Patrick from 2009 to 2013. “Once they started talking with me it became clear this was the perfect fit.”
The hire of Gonzalez brings Hinckley Allen up to 14 attorneys in its public finance group spread throughout offices in Boston, Providence, Rhode Island, Hartford, Connecticut, and Manchester, New Hampshire.
Hinckley Allen has advised on public finance transactions involving more than $8 billion of bonds since 2016. The firm has been bond counsel for the Rhode Island Health & Educational Building Corporation, the Connecticut Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Massachusetts Development Finance Agency and Massachusetts Clean Water Trust.
Gonzalez will also utilize his healthcare experience to support Hinckley Allen’s practice in that sector. Gonzalez was previously president & CEO of CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts and New Hampshire Healthy Families, subsidiaries of Centene Corporation. In his Massachusetts state government role, he managed a $32 billion state budget amid the recession along with overseeing 18 state agencies.
“Jay’s public sector experience and relationships, his health care experience, and his deep connections in the local business community will add value for our clients in Boston and throughout the Northeast,” David J. Rubin, managing partner at Hinckley Allen, said in a statement.
Gonzalez received his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and earned a law degree from Georgetown University. After working for a Cleveland law firm, Gonzalez began his public finance career at Palmer Dodge in 1998.
Following four years with Patrick’s administration, Gonzales became chair of the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care. He defeated entrepreneur Bob Massie in the Democratic primary last year before falling to Charlie Baker in the general election.
“He has a really impressive background,” said Martini, a former president of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, who
