Casner & Edwards announces the retirement of Senior Counsel Scott Harshbarger, following an extraordinary legal career focused on the integrity of government, the promotion of core principles of democratic, honest, and honorable leadership, and the betterment of the lives of his fellow Americans. Harshbarger’s career spans public service, nonprofit leadership, democracy advocacy, board directorships, and private practice.
Harshbarger served as Senior Counsel in the firm’s Litigation and Nonprofit practice groups, where for more than a decade he provided strategic guidance on business ethics, corporate investigations and defense, compliance and risk management, corporate governance, and government regulation.
Before entering private practice, Harshbarger built a nationally recognized career in public service, serving as a public defender, civil rights attorney, Middlesex District Attorney, and Attorney General of Massachusetts. As Attorney General, he was a national leader, serving as elected President of the National Association of Attorneys General and earning recognition for his central role in the landmark, multi-billion-dollar settlement with the tobacco industry. Harshbarger pioneered the use of Massachusetts’ deceptive business practices statute, Chapter 93A, to create handgun safety regulations. He pursued major initiatives against hospitals and HMOs, fought for elder and disability protection, conflict resolution, and vigorously prosecuted cases of public corruption, and insurance and health care fraud.
In 2018, Harshbarger co-founded Lawyers Defending American Democracy, a 501(c)(3) devoted to galvanizing lawyers to stand up for and speak out to protect core democratic principles and norms in the face of unprecedented threats. Under his continued leadership as the chair of the board, the nonprofit has organized thousands of lawyers across the country to speak out in defense of the rule of law and filed numerous ethics complaints against attorneys who have breached their oaths as attorneys in efforts to undermine the 2020 election, as well as other dishonest and unethical behavior as government officials.
From 1999 - 2002, Harshbarger served as President and CEO of Common Cause, the national nonprofit citizens’ lobby and government and corporate watchdog organization based in Washington, D.C.
He is a prolific author and speaker on corporate and nonprofit governance and regulatory strategy, democracy and citizen engagement, and is a frequent commentator in national and New England media. Harshbarger often reminds audiences that “the most important office in our democracy is the office of citizen.”
In 2024, Harshbarger was elected to the Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly “Hall of Fame,” recognizing his career accomplishments, contributions to the bar, and “consistent efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of justice in the Commonwealth.” Throughout his career, Harshbarger has remained and continues to be deeply engaged in civic, academic, and professional leadership, including service on numerous boards and commissions and as a professor at Boston University School of Law and a visiting professor at Harvard Law School.
“Scott’s legacy reflects the very best of the legal profession: integrity, public service, and an unwavering commitment to justice,” said Managing Partner Michael F. Zullas. “We are deeply grateful for his years of service to our firm and our clients. Scott will be deeply missed, but we wish him well in this next chapter.”
