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David Meier

David Meier

Partner

Direct: 617-624-4732

Overview click to toggle this section

Overview

A trial attorney for over 30 years, David Meier is Chair of the firm's Government Investigations and Criminal Defense Practice Group.  Mr. Meier represents private individuals and companies during the pre-charging investigation stages, throughout grand jury proceedings, and at trials in state and federal court.  Over the past 10 years he has obtained favorable results – including not guilty verdicts, dismissal of criminal charges, and non-prosecution of alleged criminal conduct – for hundreds of clients.  

Mr. Meier is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers.  He was selected by Best Lawyers in America as the 2023 Criminal Defense: General Practice "Lawyer of the Year" in Boston.  In addition to Best Lawyers, Mr. Meier is regularly recognized as one of the premier trial attorneys in his field by New England Super Lawyers and Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.  In 2012-2013, Mr. Meier served as Special Counsel to Governor Deval Patrick in overseeing the investigation into the identification of all individuals potentially impacted by the misconduct at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health drug laboratory.  

Mr. Meier counsels a full range of clients, including executives and companies faced with allegations of corporate fraud and other white-collar investigations, public officials and other professionals under investigation for alleged corruption or ethical violations, private individuals alleged to have committed serious felonies, sexual assaults, or death-related crimes, and students facing disciplinary and Title IX allegations at academic institutions.  Mr. Meier’s practice includes matters investigated and prosecuted in state and federal court by local District Attorney’s Offices, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  

Prior to joining Todd & Weld, Mr. Meier served for 12 years as the Chief of Homicide in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where he supervised the investigation, prosecution, and trial of all homicides within the City of Boston.  As a prosecutor for over 20 years, Mr. Meier was a well-recognized leader in the post-conviction review and investigation of cases leading to the release of defendants wrongfully convicted of murder and other criminal charges.  The reputation he earned and the relationships he developed as a professional prosecutor have proven to be invaluable assets to his present clients.

Representative Results

Mr. Meier's representative accomplishments include successfully obtaining:

  • Favorable resolution of charges against a husband and wife involved in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • Dismissal of all 21 counts of federal criminal indictment against two pharmaceutical executives; favorably resolved case with U.S. Attorney’s Office by means of probation sentences
  • Dismissal of three of four counts of federal criminal indictment against client CEO; favorably resolved case with U.S. Attorney’s Office by means of probation sentence
  • Non-prosecution by U.S. Attorney’s Office of client executive in connection with federal criminal investigation into alleged fraudulent conduct 
  • Non-prosecution by U.S. Attorney’s Office of client public official in connection with federal criminal investigation into alleged honest services fraud 
  • Non-prosecution by Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office of client executive in connection with criminal investigation into alleged health care fraud 
  • Not Guilty jury verdict after first-degree murder trial of Aaron Hernandez co-defendant
  • Dismissal of first-degree murder charge against client nanny/babysitter
  • Not Guilty jury verdict after trial of client attorney charged with felony crimes
  • Not Guilty jury verdict after trial of client physician charged with felony crimes
  • Dismissal of all eight criminal felony indictments against client priest; favorably resolved case by means of probation sentence 
  • Non-prosecution of client college students, business executives, public officials, attorneys, physicians, and other professionals after law enforcement investigations into alleged felony crimes, including sexual assaults
  • Not responsible findings for client college students after investigations and/or hearings into alleged Title IX (sexual assault) violations and other alleged disciplinary violations at Northeastern University, Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University, Tufts University, Amherst College, Trinity University, and various other universities and colleges

Experience

  • Todd & Weld LLP, 2008-Present
  • Suffolk County District Attorney's Office,1996-2008
  • Middlesex County District Attorney's Office,1986-1996
  • Adjunct Professor Boston University School of Law, 2000-Present

Credentials

Education

  • Boston University School of Law (J.D.)
  • Amherst College (B.A.)

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit

Professional Activities click to toggle this section

Professional Activities

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Supreme Judicial Court Probation Advisory Board, 2011-Present
  • Trustee and Board Member, New England Innocence Project, 2008-Present
  • Member of Criminal Law Section Steering Committee, Boston Bar Association, 2000-Present
  • Member of Criminal Law Section, Massachusetts Bar Association, 2008-Present
  • Co-Chair, Criminal Justice Task Force, Boston Bar Association, 2008-Present
  • Board of Trustees, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 2015-present
  • Faculty Member, Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshops, Yale Law School Teaching Workshops, Suffolk University Law School Teaching Workshops, and MCLE Trial Practice Courses, Seminars, and Programs

Publications/Presentations click to toggle this section

Publications/Presentations

  • Co-Author, Getting It Right (The Bulletin, American College of Trial Lawyers, Fall 2013)
  • Co-Editor, Getting It Right: Improving the Accuracy and Reliability of the Criminal Justice System in Massachusetts (Boston Bar Association Criminal Justice Task Force, 2008-2009)
  • Contributing author to articles published in the New England Law Review, Boston Bar Journal, Massachusetts Criminal Law Handbook, and MCLE practice manuals.

Honors and Awards click to toggle this section

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Named by Best Lawyers in America as 2023 Criminal Defense: General Practice "Lawyer of the Year" in Boston
  • Named to Best Lawyers in America in Criminal Defense: General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White Collar (2016-present)
  • Named to Massachusetts Super Lawyers for Criminal Defense: White Collar (2009-present)
  • Named to Boston magazine's Top Lawyers 2022 and 2023 for Criminal Defense
  • Named one of Boston's Top Rated Lawyers by Legal Leaders™ based upon AV Preeminent Rating® by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Named one of the 10 Lawyers of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (2007)
  • Named Prosecutor of the Year Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (2004)
  • Named Lawyer of the Year, Frank J. Murray Inns of Court (2004)
  • Recipient of the Paul R. McLaughlin Award for a Career Marked by Courage in the Pursuit of Justice - Suffolk County District Attorney's Office (2004)