Experience

Attorney Patricia Cantor represents Massachusetts cities and towns in state and federal courts and before state agencies, with emphasis on land use, zoning and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. She counsels clients on zoning and subdivision control and represents municipalities in all phases of the permitting process, from reviewing initial applications through defending decisions through all levels of the state and federal courts. Attorney Cantor also drafts by-laws and ordinances and regulations and represents municipalities on zoning and other enforcement matters. Additionally, Attorney Cantor counsels cities and towns on general matters of municipal law and advises towns at town meetings.

Representative Matters

• Zaskey v. Town of Whately, 61 Mass. App. Ct. 609 (2004). Court upheld a 19th century vote to discontinue a public way.
• Durbin v. Board of Selectmen of Kingston, 62 Mass. App. Ct. 1 (2004). Court established standards applicable to appeals in vicious dog case.
• Fragopoulos v. Rent Control Board of Cambridge, 408 Mass. 302 (1990). Court affirmed the authority of a municipal agency to grant conditional permits and upheld the constitutionality of a city ordinance.

Prior Experience

Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA
Clinical Instructor (1995-1997)
Supervised law students in a clinical setting and taught an accompanying litigation and practice skills course.

City of Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
General Counsel, Rent Control Board (1983-1995)
Advised municipal agency on administrative practice and litigated many cases through the appellate courts.

Greater Boston Legal Services, Boston, MA
Managing Attorney and Staff Attorney (1972-1982)
Directed and participated extensively in community outreach and education, including establishing a city-wide elderly legal assistance program and litigated cases in state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

Honors & Awards

• 2005 “Super Lawyer” in the field of municipal law, Law & Politics, a publication of Key Professional Media, Inc.

Memberships & Affiliations

• City Solicitors and Town Counsel Association
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association, active on Amicus Committee

Bar & Court Admissions

• Massachusetts Bar
• U.S. District Court (Mass.)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States

Education

Boston University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1972

Mount Holyoke College
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, 1969

Publications

• Author, “Evaluating Evidence in Municipal Hearings,” Municipal Advocate, Massachusetts Municipal Association, Winter 1995
• Author, “Where are Courts Going With Regulatory Takings?” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, July 1995

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