Scott O'Connell

W. Scott O'Connell is a trial attorney and litigation strategist in Holland & Knight's Boston and New York City offices. He focuses his practice on high-stakes litigation, class actions, internal investigations and government enforcement proceedings for healthcare systems, financial institutions, private equity funds, universities, technology companies and other organizations facing significant financial, operational and reputational risk.

Mr. O'Connell has served as lead counsel in more than 70 trials, arbitrations, evidentiary hearings and related appeals in federal and state courts throughout the U.S. His matters include bet-the-company litigation, complex commercial disputes, business tort claims, consumer protection matters, product liability litigation and constitutional challenges. Clients call on Mr. O'Connell when disputes require courtroom credibility, disciplined crisis management and the ability to coordinate litigation, regulatory and reputational strategy at the same time.

In class action, mass torts and aggregate litigation, Mr. O'Connell works closely with businesses to find and defend the case while implementing practical solutions that limit accruing exposure. He also counsels companies through crisis response, internal investigations, parallel proceedings and government investigations involving civil, criminal and regulatory risk. Boards, executives and institutional leaders frequently call on him when independent investigations or coordinated defense strategies are required.

Mr. O'Connell also represents hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and healthcare technology companies in reimbursement disputes involving payer disputes, False Claims Act matters, Stark Law issues and regulatory challenges involving the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). His work includes federal and state litigation, Administrative Procedure Act (APA) challenges and disputes involving Medicaid, Medicare and third-party payers.

Mr. O'Connell represents academic medical providers, public universities and private for-profit educational institutions in governance matters, internal investigations and commercial litigation. He also defends class actions seeking discharge of private student loans connected to failed for-profit education institutions, including commercial flight schools and beauty academies.

Mr. O'Connell is a term trustee of his alma mater, St. Lawrence University, where he has served on the Executive Committee, Presidential Appraisal Committee, Audit Committee and Academic Affairs Committee. His board service informs his counsel to institutional leaders on governance, fiduciary obligations, strategic risk and reputationally sensitive matters.

Mr. O'Connell maintains a significant pro bono practice focused on representing survivors of domestic violence and expanding access to justice. A longtime volunteer with New Hampshire's Domestic Violence Emergency (DOVE) Project, he has represented survivors of domestic violence and stalking seeking protective orders and related relief.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. O'Connell served as chair of the litigation department for a global law firm, where he was based in the firm's Boston and Manchester, New Hampshire, offices.