Anthony J. Dragga

Partner

Worcester

Overview

Experience

Insights + News

Blogs

Tony Dragga is a highly regarded Partner in the firm’s Estate, Financial & Tax Planning Practice Area, helping clients in Massachusetts with a variety of matters, including the preparation and administration of estates and estate plans. Business owners, distinguished professionals, senior executives, and high net worth individuals turn to Tony to develop personalized plans to reduce or eliminate estate, gift, and income taxes. Clients also rely on Tony in a variety of matters including the investment and division of assets, identification and appraisal of estate and trust assets, preparing and filing federal and state estate tax returns, and collection of life insurance and employee benefits.

Tony approaches each unique situation on a personal level, understanding the client’s specific needs, whether it be financial planning, personal estate planning, post-death tax planning, investment management, and more. Clients value Tony’s listening skills, patience and analytical abilities. “I love to tackle big problems,” he adds, “and my teaching background is an advantage.”

Before Bowditch

Tony’s interest in higher education and experience with issues impacting educational institutions predate his legal career. He was a teacher and administrator at the Nativity Preparatory School of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He also earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education.

During law school, Tony clerked for the General Counsel’s office at Northeastern University. Tony also clerked for Bowditch in 2013 and joined the firm full-time in fall 2014. Prior to joining the firm’s Estate, Financial & Tax Planning group, Tony served over five years in the Business Litigation and Employment Law groups.

Besides work

Tony’s a former high school athlete who lettered in swimming. “Nowadays, I like to run. Otherwise, I follow the Orioles and play along with Jeopardy! in my spare time.”

Affiliations

Previous

Honors

Articles + Talks

Tony frequently writes on employment and higher education issues and regularly contributes to the firm’s blog and monthly newsletter about legal issues affecting colleges and universities, Campus Counsel. He recently co-authored an article published in the New England Journal of Higher Education discussing on-campus and online student free speech challenges for institutions of higher education and presented on the topic for the firm’s College & University Roundtable Series. In an article published in Boston Business Journal, Tony investigated workplace drug policies in light of the changing legal landscape and growing social acceptance of medicinal and recreational marijuana use.

Articles

Talks

Bar Admissions

Education

Summary Judgment victory in a difficult contractual claim

When another party failed to build key, agreed-to components of a major construction project, the principal developer turned to Tony and the firm for help. With tens of millions of dollars at stake, our client obtained Summary Judgment on damages, which Tony drafted, thereby avoiding a trial. “There wasn’t much case law to rely upon for the Summary Judgment argument,” Tony noted, “which called for creative legal reasoning, and a certain amount of common sense, to persuade the court.”

Resolving a favorable withdrawal from a professional healthcare services partnership

A member of a health care practice wasn’t getting along with the other two members of their LLC, based on money and personality issues. “We filed a pre-emptive suit to stop her partners from forcing her out,” Tony explained. “That allowed time for us to negotiate a settlement favorable to our client, which included withdrawing from the LLC, resolving compensation issues and coming to an agreement on non-compete terms.” 

Other experience

Events + Recordings

November 2, 2021

Tony Dragga Spoke at “Top 10 Estate Planning Questions” (Webinar)

March 11, 2016

Say Anything? Tips and Strategies for Addressing Student and Employee Speech on Campus and Online

Publications

June 22, 2021

Client Alert: Virtual Notarization Act Extended in Massachusetts

March 19, 2018

Client Alert: Attorney General Issues Guidance on Massachusetts Equal Pay Act

February 7, 2018

HRMA Perspectives Publishes “Non-Compete Reform in Massachusetts: 2018 Could be the Year”

August 29, 2016

WGBH On Campus Publishes “Opinion: NLRB Decision Opens Pandora’s Box”

News

August 17, 2023

23 Bowditch Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and 10 Bowditch Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™

January 5, 2023

Press Release: Attorneys Mark Borenstein and Anthony Dragga Elected to Partner

November 29, 2022

Tony Dragga Elected to Board of Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce

August 18, 2022

22 Bowditch Attorneys Recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and 5 Bowditch Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™

At the Bar With Bowditch

January 19, 2018

Employment Trends in the Brewing Industry

Campus Counsel

June 12, 2018

Department of Labor Fact Sheet: Higher Education Institutions and Overtime Pay Under the FLSA

February 21, 2018

Employment Discrimination on Campus – Administrative Restructuring Not Pretext for Discrimination

February 7, 2018

Non-Compete Reform in Massachusetts: 2018 Could be the Year

Commercial Real Estate Insight & News

June 22, 2021

Virtual Notarization Act Extended in Massachusetts

Don’t Tax Yourself

November 15, 2023

What Happens if I Die Without a Valid Will in Massachusetts?

August 2, 2022

Massachusetts Inheritance Laws: What Will Happen to Your Estate if You Die Without a Will?

May 31, 2022

Virtual Notarization to End in Massachusetts on July 15, 2022

The Case for Inclusion

March 19, 2018

Attorney General Issues Guidance on Massachusetts Equal Pay Act

Charlene Bradley

Related Practice Areas

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