Joan Garrity Flynn has practiced probate law for over 30 years. She joined Hemenway & Barnes in 2008, focusing her practice in the areas of estate and charitable planning; estate, trust and guardianship administration; and probate court equity matters. Joan serves as co-chair of the firm’s Nonprofit Group and as trustee for private family trusts and charitable foundations.

Joan began her legal career in 1981 at Herrick & Smith, joining Goodwin Procter LLP in 1986. She joined Palmer & Dodge LLP in 1996 and was a Senior Counsel in the Private Client Department at the time of the merger with Edward Angell LLP, where she remained until coming to Hemenway & Barnes.

Joan’s experience has included a variety of estate planning, estate settlement and nonprofit legal matters including:

• Successful resolution of court proceeding to confirm decedent’s intent with respect to provisions under her will and subsequent creation of charitable foundation
• Creation of sophisticated estate plans for owners of significant real estate interests utilizing limited liability entities
• Design and implementation of a structure for estate beneficiaries to hold and manage inherited property interests
• Successful negotiation and resolution of federal and state estate tax audits
• Working with a major religious organization to analyze, propose solutions for and obtain court approval relating to restricted gifts, the terms of which are no longer possible to fulfill

• National Co-chair, 1843 Society of the College of the Holy Cross
• Member of Suffolk University Estate Planning Council
• Faculty member for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
• Member of the Probate Law/Trust and Estate sections of the American, Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations

• The Jesuit Collaborative, Board Member, Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Advancement Committee
• Jesuit Gala, 2016 Gala Committee
• Weston Public Schools, Past President, Parent Teacher Organization
• Weston Educational Enrichment Fund, past member
• Parmenter Health Center, past Board member