Politics & Government

Senator Cowan Returns to Mintz Levin Law Firm

Senator William “Mo” Cowan, an attorney at Mintz Levin from 1997 through 2009, returns to their Boston office as Of Counsel to Mintz Levin and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ML Strategies, LLC, the firm’s government relations and business advisory affiliate. 

In these positions, he will oversee significant litigation cases and investigations while helping clients develop successful strategies for navigating the challenging regulatory environment.

Prior to rejoining the firm, Cowan taught at the Harvard Institute of Politics, where he served as a Resident Fellow after completing a term as Massachusetts interim US Senator. 

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Appointed to the Senate by Governor Deval Patrick, Cowan stepped in to fill the vacancy created when Senator John Kerry was appointed Secretary of State. 

In the Senate, Cowan served on the Agriculture, Commerce, and Small Business Committees and co-chaired the subcommittee on Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research. Governor Patrick also appointed Cowan to co-chair the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force.

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Prior to his Senate appointment, Cowan served Governor Patrick in a variety of leadership positions, including Chief Legal Counsel (2009–2011), Chief of Staff (2011–2013), and Senior Advisor (2013).

As chief of staff, he directed strategic planning, investment, and operations, including oversight of the commonwealth’s multibillion-dollar annual budgeting process. He advised on all domestic and international affairs, intergovernmental relations, and gubernatorial appointments and administered all management and personnel functions within the governor’s office.

Serving as chief legal counsel, Cowan managed all legal operations for the Patrick administration, overseeing the largest legal practice in Massachusetts. During his term, he managed litigation and negotiations with health insurance companies that resulted in historic rate increase reductions for small businesses – a move designed to spur economic activity. 

Cowan also revised the regulatory review process to mandate that agency counsel consider and justify the impact of regulations on businesses and economic growth.

Prior to his public service, Cowan was a member in the firm’s litigation practice, where he represented commercial clients in matters involving corporate governance, financial mismanagement, and malfeasance and money laundering investigations. 

In addition, Cowan chaired the firm’s chairing committee and served on the diversity ommittee, member compensation committee, and management recommendations committee. He also served for six months in 2000 as a special assistant district attorney in the Office of the Middlesex County District Attorney.

Over the course of his career, Cowan has been recognized as an “Outstanding Young Leader” by the Boston Jaycees, a “Corporate Citizen of the Month” by the Boston Bar Journal, a “Top 40 Business Leader Under 40” by the Boston Business Journal, and as a Massachusetts Super Lawyer. He has served as a trustee or director for several nonprofit organizations, including the Corporation for Northeastern University, the Discovering Justice Foundation, the Chestnut Hill School, and Project STEP. 

A graduate of Duke University, he earned his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.


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