Builder of world-class legal teams served as President of Boston Bar Association, Chair of Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission.
BOSTON – Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, the global litigation powerhouse, announced today that Paul T. Dacier has joined the firm as a partner. A luminary of Boston’s legal establishment with deep roots in its tech sector, Dacier joins Quinn Emanuel from Indigo Agriculture Inc., where he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of EMC Corporation. Dacier is also the Chairman of AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER), the world’s largest commercial aircraft leasing company.
Dacier joins Quinn Emanuel as an accomplished chief legal officer and experienced member of senior management teams. At EMC, for example, he served for more than 26 years of significant international growth, during which the company’s market cap grew from $100 million to $55 billion and EMC became the world’s largest enterprise storage company and then a diversified technology company, before being acquired by Dell in 2016 for $67 billion. In his time with EMC, Dacier created a unique and award-winning legal organization that became a competitive advantage for the company.
“Paul has a sterling reputation as a builder and leader of first-class legal teams. This talent combined with his experience dealing with legal issues surrounding cutting-edge technology make him an ideal fit for our Boston practice and beyond,” said John B. Quinn, the firm’s Founder and Chairman. “We are pleased to have him joining us.”
At Indigo, Dacier led the legal team of a VC-backed start-up agricultural technology company that offers products designed to maximize crop health and improve yields. He will join Quinn Emanuel’s Corporate Governance Litigation and Crisis Law and Strategy practice groups.
“I am delighted to be joining Quinn Emanuel. Their reputation as the world’s pre-eminent business litigation firm is recognized everywhere, and it’s an honor to become a member of such an accomplished, first-class team,” Dacier said.
An esteemed member of the Boston legal community, Dacier served as President of the Boston Bar Association – the first general counsel to serve as President of BBA and its 10,000 members in its 223-year history – for the 2013-2014 term.
In addition to his experience as a builder and leader of legal teams, Dacier has an intimate knowledge of the Massachusetts judiciary. As Chairman of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission from 2015 to 2022 – appointed by then-Governor Charles Baker – he advised the Governor on judicial nominations to the Massachusetts Trial Courts and Appeals Court, resulting in the appointment of 252 new judges and 35 Clerk-Magistrates. He also served as Co-Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Court Nominating Commission from 2016 to 2020, also appointed by Baker. In this capacity, Dacier co-led the 12-member committee responsible for advising the Governor on filling vacancies on Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court. – resulting in the historic appointment of seven justices including the state’s Chief Justice.
“Paul enjoys an outstanding reputation in Boston and beyond. His stature and career accomplishments speak for themselves,” said Anthony Bongiorno, the Boston-based Chair of Quinn Emanuel’s Health Care Practice. “As our office here continues to build on its success, we are delighted to welcome Paul and have someone of his experience help steer our growth.”