Allison L. O’Connell

Allison Lyng O’Connell is an associate with BHPK Law, specializing in higher education law, anti-discrimination and harassment trainings and investigations, and plaintiffs’ sexual assault litigation. She also represents and counsels clients in employment law matters. Allie has extensive experience in responding to gender-based violence and is also a skilled litigator who has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict. Allie is qualified to design and deliver specialized and tailored training programs that fit any business or municipal need.

Allie is licensed to practice law in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She appears frequently in the District and Superior Courts of Massachusetts, as well as in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She also represents clients before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Prior to joining BHPK, Allie worked in the Office of the President and Provost at the University of Washington, handling administrative reviews for student conduct proceedings, implementing best practices, and ensuring consistency with University policy, as well as federal and state requirements. She also worked as the Title IX Coordinator at Dartmouth College, where she supported individuals through the college adjudication process, oversaw and conducted investigations, and provided campus-wide training on the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct. At Dartmouth, Allie collaborated with colleagues to develop and deliver a comprehensive workshop called “Strengthening Our Response to Sexual Misconduct” to Dartmouth staff and faculty. The workshop guided participants to identify the barriers that survivors may face and practice culturally responsive, trauma-informed strategies on how to support those who have been affected by gender-based violence. Allie also led trainings and hosted conversations for various campus constituencies on a number of topics including Clery Act compliance and Title IX resources for off-campus programs.

Prior to her work in the Title IX sphere, Allie served for three years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she gained invaluable trial experience and worked closely with survivors of sexual violence.

Having grown up in the tiny ski town of Waterville Valley, NH, Allie loves skiing and hiking.