John J. Cloherty III recently retired as a Partner at Pierce Davis & Perritano LLP in Boston. John had worked for the firm since 1999 and served as Managing Partner for a period of six years. His practice focused on litigation, trial, and appellate advocacy in defense of individuals, corporations, and governmental subdivisions and agencies in federal court and in the state courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. John also represented public and private employers in defense of charges of discrimination before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the EEOC. John served as lead counsel in approximately 30 jury trials in state and federal court, about 100 bench trials, and for over 35 reported decisions in the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Rhode Island Supreme Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the US District Courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
John’s trial experience included diverse cases such as First Amendment claims, police misconduct, motor vehicle torts, breach of contract claims, property nuisance, accounting malpractice, and employment discrimination. John was also a frequent lecturer for Continuing Legal Education seminars for fellow lawyers as well as for client seminars and periodically volunteered with Lawyers Clearinghouse, where he provided pro bono defense for low-income clients.
Prior to joining Pierce Davis & Perritano, John served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston for three years. He also garnered substantial trial experience in criminal law while serving as a Rhode Island State Assistant Public Defender for two years. John began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Donald F. Shea of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
John’s recognitions include Martindale-Hubbell’s designation of AV Preeminent®, selection by Super Lawyers from 2016-2024, and inclusion in AM Best’s Recommended Insurance Attorneys.
Prior to law school, John gained business experience as a Trust Accountant at a large Boston bank. He also served as an officer in the US Army, obtaining the rank of Captain and achieving distinctions of Airborne and Ranger qualifications.
In his community, John served as Governing Board Chair of the Boston Community Leadership Academy, a Pilot High School in Boston Public School System, for a term of 6 years.
John obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College, and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Suffolk University Law School.
As an Access to Justice Fellow, John will serve as an Assistant Clinical Instructor with the Boston University Law School Civil Litigation & Justice Program, working with the Clinical Professor for the Consumer Economic Justice Clinic, training law students in consumer protection law and advocacy in defense of low-income clients in civil cases in Roxbury District Court and other venues. John will also provide supervision for law student advocacy through the Boston University Law School Massachusetts Defense for Eviction (MADE) Project, in which the students assist Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) intake and answer to eviction actions brought against low-income clients.