Public & Constitutional Law

Smith Duggan Buell & Rufo’s public law practice offers a range of legal services to government agencies and to individuals and companies engaged in negotiations or disputes with government agencies.

Government Agencies

We have substantial experience representing state agencies and independent governmental authorities, including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, and the Massachusetts Port Authority. We also have represented, among others, the Kentucky Department of Insurance, the Massachusetts Department of State Police, and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Constitutional Law

Smith Duggan is known for excellence is handling issues of constitutional law and statutory interpretation. It is well versed on the limitations that the United States Constitution and the Massachusetts Constitution, including Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, place on the exercise of governmental power.

Administrative Law

We represent individuals, professionals and businesses in dealings with state regulatory and licensing agencies and other administrative agencies, ranging from behind-the-scenes legal advice to our clients or informal communications with agency staff for clarification of agency requirements to the full fledged conduct of formal administrative proceedings.

Administrative Litigation

We handle suits in federal and state courts challenging the actions of federal and state administrative agencies.

Public Construction

We have litigated significant cases within the unusual Massachusetts statutory framework governing public construction contracts.

Public Law



The actions of government agencies often present issues not only of administrative law but also of statutory construction or constitutional law. We have extensive experience evaluating such issues and presenting them in court.

Federal-State Relations

We have also represented the Commonwealth in dealings with the 
federal government.