David’s practice is focused on sophisticated real estate development and real estate investment matters, focusing on all aspects of real estate law, including acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, office and retail development, residential housing development, financing, and institutional real estate investment advice. He has represented regional and national developers, national value-added funds, national and regional automobile franchisees and dealerships, and public and private pension funds. He has appeared before numerous municipalities and state and local governmental agencies in the areas of real estate development, liquor licenses, and land use regulations, including zoning, planning, and subdivision matters.
Professionals The Team Behind the Results
Work Experience
- Hinckley Allen
- Chair, Real Estate Practice Group
- Partner (1998-Present)
- Associate (1989-1997)
- Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster
- Associate (1988-1989)
- Summer Associate (Summer, 1987)
Honors & Awards
-
Best Lawyers in America® (2005-2026)
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Real Estate Law
-
Boston Magazine, Top Lawyers (2022-2025)
- Commercial Real Estate
- Boston Real Estate Times 2020 Excellence Award - Real Estate Law
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Peer Review Rating, Recipient
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Go To Lawyer for Commercial Real Estate (2021)
- Super Lawyers, Massachusetts (2008-2010)
Charitable & Civic Involvement
- Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candidate for School Committee (1983)
- Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee and League of Women Voters: Debate Participant
- Hanover, Massachusetts Board of Zoning Appeals Member
- Mensa Member
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
-
Massachusetts Bar Association
- Business Law Section
- Property Section
- Massachusetts Conveyancers Association
- MassEcon
- NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- The Counselors of Real Estate®
Bar Memberships
- Massachusetts, 1988
Publication
New FinCEN Reporting Requirements for Residential Real Property Transfers
On March 1, 2026, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) imposed new reporting requirements for certain transfers of residential real property that are deemed to be high-risk for illicit finance. Specifically, a Real Estate Report must be …
Publication
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Real Estate – 2025 in Review
See how we provided results for our clients across a variety of real estate needs, including leasing, development, land use & zoning, acquisition & disposition, as well as financing. View the Real Estate — 2025 By the Numbers PDF.
Firm News
Boston Magazine Recognizes 26 Hinckley Allen Attorneys in 2025 Top Lawyers List
Hinckley Allen is proud to announce that 26 of its attorneys have been named to Boston Magazine’s 2025 Top Lawyers list, representing a broad range of its practice groups. This year, six Hinckley Allen attorneys are newly recognized among the pu…
Firm News
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Hinckley Allen Recognized for Excellence: 75% Attorneys Honored in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026
Hinckley Allen is proud to announce that 127 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, representing 75% of the firm’s legal team.
Case Study
Hinckley Allen Assists in Bringing Renewable Energy Project to Salem, MA
Hinckley Allen represented the City of Salem, Massachusetts (the “City of Salem”) in connection with the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal (the “Project”), a public-private partnership between Crowley Wind Services (“Crowley”), the Massachusetts Cle…
Case Study
Hinckley Allen Represents Cynosure, Inc. in $287M Transaction
Hinckley Allen recently represented Cynosure, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYNO) in its acquisition of Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: PMTI), a leading researcher and developer of innovative aesthetic light-based systems for hair removal and other co…
Past Event
Bisnow Presents Boston Power Networking
February 9, 2012BISNOW: "Among the crowd of 200 at The Black Rose Pub Thursday, we snapped Bisnow Schmooze event sponsor Hinckley Allen Snyder’s David Connolly engaged in pre-pre-pre St. Pat’s Day revelry with Consigli’s Vance Freymann and Hinckley colleagu…