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With more than 23 years of experience across legal and business operations, Thomas Shack, Esq. is the leader of a specialized appellate group practicing before Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. state and federal courts. Tom has a wealth of experience in state and federal courts, and his expertise in legal, business, and financial matters is a valuable asset to all of his clients.

In addition to his more than two decades in legal practice, from 2015-2019, Tom was the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, leading the financial and legal operations of a vast and complex state government including 152 unique departments, 125,000+ employees, and an annual expenditure of more than $65 billion. He is a four-time winner (2015-2018) of the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Prior to this, Tom was a state prosecutor in Massachusetts, where he simultaneously held the positions of Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Assistant District Attorney. During this time, he litigated more than one-hundred jury trials and dozens of appellate matters before state and federal courts, including authoring and arguing many first-degree homicide cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

As well as a being a national keynote speaker in legal, business, entrepreneurship, and ethics, Tom is also a lecturer-in-law at his alma mater, New England Law l Boston, where he has developed and taught several different keystone courses in business law and entrepreneurship for lawyers.

Tom received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from New England Law l Boston where he won the Dean’s Award and was Editor-in-Chief of the school’s Law Journal (NEJCCC). He obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees from The American University.

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District of Columbia

District of Columbia Bar

Since 2002

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

Since 2001

Founder and Partner

The Law Shack, PLLC

2020 - Current

Our lawyers have a reputation for providing a hard-hitting defense. At Law Shack PLLC, our Massachusetts criminal appeals lawyers aggressively work to overturn and reverse criminal convictions across Massachusetts courtrooms. We have successfully argued before the Supreme Judicial Court as well as the Appeals Court and all trial courts.

Lecturer-in-law

New England Law | Boston

2014 - Current

Teaching: Business Planning and Lawyers & Entrepreneurship

Comptroller

Office of the Comptroller of Massaschusetts

2015 - 2019

Statewide COO & CFO. Independent and apolitical overseer of operations, administration, accounting, audit, finance, legal compliance, ERP, A/R and A/P, and internal controls for all state agencies and departments.

Senior Leadership - Multiple Roles

Office of the Comptroller of Massachusetts

2012 - 2015

Deputy Comptroller, CFO, COO, and Assistant General counsel.

Senior Assistant District Attorney, COO, CFO

District Attorney's Office - Cape and Islands

2004 - 2015

Organizational COO and CFO with day-to-day oversight of all agency business operations, administration, legal, and financial management with administrative oversight of an agency staff of seventy and eight offices throughout the jurisdiction and more than 20,000 cases annually. Tried to a verdict more than 100 cases. Specialized in authoring and arguing homicide cases before the Supreme Judicial Court.

American University

MBA (2015) | Entrepreneurship and Management

1993 - 1995

New England Law | Boston

J.D. (2000) | Law

1997 - 2000

Honors: Dean's Award for Meritorious Service

Activities: Editor-in-Chief New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement

American University

B.A. (1990) | Political Science

1985 - 1990

Excellence in Financial Reporting

Government Finance Officers Association

2018

GFOA's Awards for Excellence in Government Finance recognize innovative programs - contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. The awards stress practical, documented work that offers leadership to the profession and promotes improved public finance.

Excellence in Financial Reporting

Government Finance Officers Association

2017

GFOA's Awards for Excellence in Government Finance recognize innovative programs - contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. The awards stress practical, documented work that offers leadership to the profession and promotes improved public finance.

Excellence in Financial Reporting

Government Finance Officers Association

2016

GFOA's Awards for Excellence in Government Finance recognize innovative programs - contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. The awards stress practical, documented work that offers leadership to the profession and promotes improved public finance.

Excellence in Financial Reporting

Government Finance Officers Association

2015

GFOA's Awards for Excellence in Government Finance recognize innovative programs - contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. The awards stress practical, documented work that offers leadership to the profession and promotes improved public finance.

Massachusetts Bar Association

Member

Current

Massachusetts Law Review

Editor

2010 - 2015

Is 'Innovocracy' Hurting the Public Sector?

Governing Magazine

Ethical Evolution: Thriving at the Crossroads of Law and Business in the AI Era, Justia Webinars

December 1, 2023

Justia, Inc.

How AI Impacts Small & Solo Firms: Exploring the Potential Benefits & Risks of Incorporating AI Into Practice, Justia Webinars

June 5, 2024

Justia, Inc.

Socrata Keynote on the Future of Government Workforces, Austin, Thanks

Socrata

Member of the District of Columbia Bar

DC Bar

2002

Member of the Massachusetts Bar

Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers

2001

Q. I was victimized in a foreign country. 3 years later I was ejected from it. did that stop statute of limitations clock?

November 28, 2023

A: Whether being forced out of another country would toll the statute of limitations depends on the specific laws of the country/jurisdiction in question. There may be no statute of limitations at all for certain crimes/claims in the other country. If the alleged crimes were committed in the United States, there may be federal or state statutes of limitation for prosecuting a criminal case and/or to file a civil claim. They vary by state for the most part and federal laws typically have their own statutes of limitation as well.

Q. Can an accomplice to an attempted murder charge have his record expunged? He was not the aggresor.

August 30, 2023

A: Under Massachusetts law, generally, individuals convicted of certain non-violent offenses may be eligible to have their records sealed (not necessarily expunged though) after a certain period of time. However, offenses such as attempted murder are considered violent crimes and are therefore not typically eligible for sealing. It's not impossible but it is highly unlikely to succeed. If you hire a lawyer to assist you, start the discussion with the possibility of sealing the record, not expunging it.

Q. I need to hire a lawyer to help me with some legal issues and use my house as collateral, is it possible and how?

August 25, 2023

A: In Massachusetts, it is possible to use a house as collateral for legal fees, but it would depend on the specific circumstances and the specific agreement between you and your specific lawyer.