Natick Woman Nominated for Mass. Housing Court

NATICK, MA - Governor Charlie Baker nominated attorney Maria Theophilis, who is from Natick, to the Boston Division of the Massachusetts Housing Court.

The jurisdiction includes civil and criminal actions and equitable relief, involving the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants or owners of residential housing.

“Throughout her career, Maria has provided support to those seeking an outspoken advocate on their behalf,” said Governor Baker in an announcement. “Combined with her lengthy record of proceedings before the Housing Court on behalf of both tenants and landlords, I know she carries all the requisite experience to provide sound decisions from the bench.”

Justices issue decisions on matters involving residential eviction, small claims and civil actions, as well as code enforcement actions and appeals of local zoning board decisions.

Theophilis was born in Boston and graduated from the College of Wooster with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and from New England Law School in 1999. She started her career as a staff attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services, where she represented tenants in eviction proceedings. After two years as an associate at Gordon, Mond & Ott, 2003 to 2005, she joined the law firm of Broderick Bancroft as an equity partner in civil litigation matters with a focus on subsidized housing and property management, housing discrimination law and commercial leasing.

Over the course of her career, Theophilis has spent 90 percent of her practice in Housing Court. She has served as a Co-Chair of the Middlesex committee of the Women’s Bar Association and has presented at numerous housing law trainings sponsored by the Boston Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, a program that prepares lawyers who volunteer in the Boston Housing Court.

Information: Office of Gov. Charlie Baker