James E. Smith

A founding member of the firm, Jim has practiced law since 1981. His career in public service began in the Massachusetts Legislature where he served four terms. Later he served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Advisory Board. After which Governor Michael Dukakis appointed Jim to the MBTA Board of Directors where he served for eight years. Among Jim’s legislative accomplishments are the state’s open meeting law as well as its public records law. During his tenure at the MBTA Advisory Board, Jim made national news by holding the T to its agreed upon budget and forcing a one day shutdown of the system that led directly to strong management controls at the MBTA. During his tenure on the MBTA Board, the T undertook its largest expansion in the organizations history, the extension of the Orange, Red and Silver Lines as well as significant expansion of commuter rail.

Jim devotes his extensive legal and legislative experience to representing clients that have issues before the US Congress, Massachusetts Legislature and Massachusetts regulatory agencies. He has also represented clients internationally in China and the Czech Republic. His law practice includes zoning and permitting, exemplified by his successful representation of Seaport Landing in Lynn, one of the largest waterfront developments in the Commonwealth. Jim’s expertise is developing consensus between public and private interests, and he has helped clients with mediations, community outreach, public relations, business development and labor relations.

Among the clients Jim currently advises is one of the largest energy producers in New England, an aggregator of energy purchasers, a medical testing laboratory and a mutual fund. Additionally, Jim advises various associations in the energy business, the broadcasting business and the contracting business, as well as Massachusetts’ only federally recognized Indian tribe.

Jim is an active in numerous business groups including the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the New England Council, the North Shore Chamber of Commerce and serves on a number of boards, including the All Care VNA and the UMass Boston Alumni Association where he is a past president.

Jim received his BA from the University of Massachusetts/Boston, a Master’s degree from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. He resides in Swampscott, Massachusetts, with his wife, Abbe, and their four children Andrew, Hayley, Tristan and Chloe.

Robert R. Ruddock

Robert R. Ruddock is a founding partner of Smith, Ruddock & Hayes. Robert focuses his practice on legislative and regulatory issues of his clients, specifically the areas of energy, environment and business regulation.

For 18 years, Robert worked for the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the state’s largest and most prominent business advocacy organization. There he became the Executive Vice President and General Counsel. With over 30 years of experience managing public policy issues, ballot questions and business-government relations, his responsibilities at AIM included all legislative and regulatory issues, such as energy, health care, taxation, business regulation, economic development, permitting, and the environment.

Currently, Robert is a member of the Bars of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and the United States Supreme Court, as well as several federal district and circuit courts. Robert is a graduate of Fairfield University, and Suffolk University Law School where he was a member of the law review.

Robert Emmet Hayes

Robert Emmet Hayes is a founding member of Smith, Ruddock and Hayes with over 25 years of experience assisting public and private businesses with strategic planning, business development, constituency building, community relations, and public relations.

He served four terms in the Massachusetts Legislature where he was known for his expertise in the areas of public finance, transportation, and environmental issues. He was recognized for his leadership and honored with the United States Environmental Protection Agency Regional Merit Award, The Water Pollution Control Federation Harry Schlenz Medal, and the Legislator of the Year by both Massachusetts Utility Contractors and Massachusetts Municipal Association. Emmet authored landmark legislation that created Massachusetts’ $1.4 billion revolving loan fund, helping cities and towns finance sewer and clean water projects. He chaired the Baird Maguire Superfund Advisory Committee negotiating a permanent solution for one of the worst hazardous waste sites in the nation.

Previously, Emmet co-founded and led a government relations consulting firm, representing a broad range of clients in the areas of public and private transportation, energy regulation, higher education, health care and construction.

Emmet received a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and served as an electronics communications specialist in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam war. In addition, he is a licensed real estate broker. Emmet is married to Shannon O’Brien and they have two daughters.

James Segel

James Segel recently returned from serving for four years as Special Counsel to Congressman Barney Frank, then Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee (2007-2011). Jim was extensively involved in working on what became the Dodd-Frank Bill as well as dealing with the fall-out surrounding the financial crisis that began in2008. In addition, Jim worked extensively on banking, housing, insurance, municipal finance and other issues within the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Financial Services. He served as liaison to other Congressional Members of the Committee, to Massachusetts governmental officials, including the Governor’s office and the many mayors’ offices; as liaison to Massachusetts businesses and advocacy groups.

Jim began his professional career in the Massachusetts State Legislature as a State Representative from Brookline and served as Chairman of Barney Frank’s first campaign for Congress in 1980. He served as the first Executive Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association dealing with the response of cities and towns to Proposition 2 ½ and other municipal finance, environmental, and labor issues. Following MMA, he was Of Counsel at Hale and Dorr in Boston (now Wilmer Hale) for ten years and then as a partner at Smith, Segel & Sowalsky. Jim returned to Smith, Segel & Ruddock after his service in Washington.

Jim has served on a number of elected and appointed boards and commissions, including gubernatorial appointments to the State Tax Reform Commission; the Commission on State Aid to Cities and Towns; Special Commission on Environmental Operations (the Tsongas Commission); the Commission on the Disposal of Low level Radioactive Waste. He also chaired the Boston Mayor’s Commission on Healthcare which led to the merger of Boston City Hospital and University Hospital in Boston. Jim had served as Secretary to the Coordinating Committee (the Vault) representing leading businesses in Boston.

His other areas of service include President of Temple Israel in Boston; President of the Jewish Community Relations Council; Chairman of the Advisory Committee to WBUR; Treasurer of the Old North Church Foundation; and a fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Jim lives in Needham with his wife, Mimi, and two of his children, Aaron and Lainey. His oldest daughter, Jennie, is married and lives in Seville, Spain, and his daughter Rebecca lives in Brooklyn.

Segel graduated cum laude in government in 1967 from Harvard College, received his MPA from the Kennedy School at Harvard in 1976; and his JD from Boston College Law School in 1972.

Herbert P. Gleason

Herbert Gleason has practiced law in Boston for 50 years, mostly in the fields of municipal law and real estate development. He was Corporation Counsel of the City of Boston and Chairman of its Board of Health and Hospitals. He was instrumental in the founding of Boston’s community health centers and the Neighborhood Health Plan. He was a member of the Boston Park Commission and the State Ethics Commission. He remains active in numerous community and charitable organizations. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Harvard Law School. He lives on Beacon Hill with his wife, Nancy. They have two children and two grand-sons.

David A. Tibbetts

David A. Tibbetts is of counsel to the law firm of Smith & Ruddock., focusing on economic development and government relations. He joined the firm in February 1999, after serving as Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Affairs and Director of Economic Development under Governors William F. Weld and Argeo Paul Cellucci.

As Secretary of Economic Affairs and Director of Economic Development from 1996 to 1999, Atty. Tibbetts was responsible for seven state agencies: the Massachusetts Office of Business Development; Department of Employment and Training; Division of Energy Resources; Office of International Trade and Investment; Office of Travel and Tourism, Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance, and the Massachusetts Film Office. He was Chair of the Board for the Corporation for Business, Work, and Learning (now the Commonwealth Corporation), and Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Jobs Council. He served on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and as a member of the Boards for the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation, and Jobs for Massachusetts, Inc.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Economic Affairs, Atty. Tibbetts was Chief of Staff and General Counsel for Secretary of Economic Affairs Gloria C. Larson from 1993 to 1996. From 1991 to 1993, he was General Counsel for the Executive Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. From 1983 to 1989, he served in the Administration of Governor Michael S. Dukakis as Legislative Counsel and General Counsel to the Executive Office of Energy Resources, and as Acting Secretary of Energy Resources.

In 1999, Atty. Tibbetts conceived and co-founded the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, Inc. (www.merrimackvalley.info), a public-private partnership promoting economic development in the 24-communities of the Merrimack Valley. He serves as the organization’s President.

Atty. Tibbetts serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institution for Savings in Newburyport, one of the oldest mutual savings banks in the nation. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and Boston College Law School.

Daniel F. Cahill

Daniel F. Cahill joined the firm as an attorney and legislative agent.  He is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and the United District Court for the District of Massachusetts.  Dan received his B.S. in political science from Northeastern University and earned a Master’s degree in political science from Suffolk University.  Dan then went on to receive a J.D. from Suffolk Law School.

Upon being admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, Dan worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of Essex Country District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett.  Dan was responsible for handling arraignments, hearings, motions, and trials.  Dan has also worked as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 

Currently, Dan serves as a Councilor At-Large on the City of Lynn City Council.  Dan is Chairman of both the Housing Committee and Site Plan Review Committee.  Prior to his election to the City Council, Dan served two terms as a member of the Lynn School Committee.  Dan also currently serves on the Essex Agricultural and Technical High School Board of Trustees, having been appointed by former Governor Mitt Romney.  Dan was also appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Governor Deval Patrick to serve on the newly created Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Committee to oversee the construction and upstart of Massachusetts’ newest regional agricultural and vocational high school.

Dan’s legal areas of practice include criminal law, administrative law, corporate law, real estate, probate, landlord/tenant, and tort law.  Dan represents clients before the District, Superior, and Federal courts, regulatory and licensing agencies, as well as local boards and committees.  Dan is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Notary Public in Massachusetts.    

Louis A. Rizoli

Lou is of counsel to the law firm of Smith and Ruddock and also a member of the legislative consulting firm of Smith, Ruddock and Hayes. He served as counsel to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1986 until 2009 under five Speakers, the longest serving legal counsel in the history of the House.

He will focus his practice on administrative law, legislative drafting, and compliance with state laws in the areas of conflict of interest, campaign finance and lobbying laws. Lou has filed a number of briefs with the Supreme Judicial Court including one in a successful challenge to the constitutionality of a ballot question.

Lou is also an adjunct professor of law at Suffolk Law School where he has taught Legislation for the past fifteen years.

He has served as vice president and associate counsel to the Bank of New England and was also an Assistant Attorney General in the Executive Bureau.

A member of the Board of Trustees of Dedham Savings Bank, Lou is also a member of the bank's audit committee. He has been an elected member of the Westwood Board of Assessors since 1998 and currently serves as chairman. Lou volunteers for Westwood's Meals on Wheels program and is a lector at the Paulist Center in Boston.

He is a graduate of Holy Cross College and Suffolk Law School. He is a member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal District Court of Massachusetts.

Lou resides in Westwood with his wife Connie. They have two daughters Becky and Lisa and a granddaughter Rachel.