Springfield, Mass., March 4, 2025 — Egan, Flangan and Cohen is pleased to announce the Hon. Edward J. McDonough Jr. (Ret.) has joined the firm and its litigation department. A former Justice of both the Massachusetts Superior Court (2012-2017 and 2020-2025) and the Massachusetts Appeals Court (2017-2020), Judge McDonough will focus his Egan, Flangan and Cohen practice on trial and appellate litigation and advising public and private clients in conducting investigations. He will also help clients as a mediator and in arbitration.
What makes Judge McDonough’s arrival unique, however, is that he is returning to the firm at which he spent 31 years practicing law prior to Governor Patrick’s appointment of him to the bench in 2013. Additionally, Judge McDonough will be teaming up with former partners and one new addition since his departure, his son Michael G. McDonough, who is now a litigation partner at the firm and its Managing Partner.
“We are honored to welcome the ‘Judge’ back to our team,” said the younger McDonough. “He was an invaluable partner and leader at this firm from the 1980s until he began public service in 2013,” Michael McDonough said. “
“I have always enjoyed both the practice of law and teaching,” said Judge McDonough. “While it was time to leave the bench, I certainly have more to offer and am looking forward to this new chapter working alongside many bright and energetic attorneys at Egan, Flanagan and Cohen.”
Many of McDonough’s former partners, including John J. Egan, Maurice M. Cahillane and Thomas E. Day, also commented on his return. “We have represented clients together in many cases and in many courts, and all the way to Supreme Judicial Court and Supreme Court in some instances,” said Egan. “It will be a joy to have him back with us.” “I look forward to welcoming ‘his Honor’ back to the firm,” said Cahillane.
In 2013, Judge McDonough was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick as a Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court presiding as trial judge over serious criminal felony and major civil actions. On September 13, 2017, Governor Charlie Baker, appointed Justice McDonough to the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
Thereafter, yearning to return to presiding over jury trials —Judge McDonough applied for reappointment to the Superior Court. In August, 2020, Governor Baker reappointed Judge McDonough to the Superior Court where he presided over civil and criminal jury and jury-waived trials until his retirement from the bench in February of 2025.
Egan, Flangan and Cohen’s strategic growth initiatives
Founded in 1924, Egan, Flanagan and Cohen boasts over a century of success in Massachusetts courtrooms. The Firm has coupled its rich history with a look to the future, recently recruiting and adding several new strong attorneys.
Egan, Flanagan and Cohen serves many local business both large and small, as well as non-profits and public entities and municipalities. The Firm also represents clients in real estate transactions (both residential and commercial), corporate governance and transactions, estate planning and administration, and select cases on behalf of individuals.
