Stratton named vice president, general counsel for MGM

Date: 1/29/2015

SPRINGFIELD – MGM Resorts International has announced that Seth Stratton has been named vice president and general counsel of MGM Springfield.

Stratton, a Springfield native and Longmeadow resident, will be responsible for overseeing legal affairs and government relations at the casino-resort.

Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president, said, “From day one as one of our local counsel, Seth has been a steady sounding board for the entire MGM Springfield team. At MGM, we feel fortunate that he is not only a respected lawyer but also cares deeply about the future of this area and the City of Springfield. His advice is always informed by his concern for local issues. I am thrilled he will be with us to provide his valuable counsel during the next important phases of this project, and beyond.”

Stratton said, “I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to play a part in Springfield's comeback story working with a company like MGM. I am constantly impressed by the professionalism and dedication MGM has shown throughout this process and am honored to join the team. To be able to support the team at MGM Resorts on legal issues in a new area of the law, all while working on an important project that allows me to help build the future of my hometown, is a remarkable opportunity. I take this responsibility seriously, and look forward to the work ahead.”

Stratton has worked on MGM Springfield for almost three years, negotiating agreements with the city of Springfield and surrounding communities as well as advising on permitting and real estate acquisitions. He has become a familiar face at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission as he regularly presents on legal issues relevant to MGM Springfield.

Stratton most recently worked at Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C. in East Longmeadow, where he maintained a diverse litigation and dispute resolution practice focusing on a wide range of corporate, commercial and personal disputes. Prior to that, he held a counsel position in the Financial Institutions Litigation Group at Bingham McCutchen LLP in Hartford, CT. Before joining Bingham, Stratton served as a Litigation Associate at Brown Rudnick LLP in Boston, MA.

Frank P. Fitzgerald, Esq., founder of Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, P.C., said, “Seth is a talented and hard-working attorney. His character, capabilities and local roots make him a perfect fit for this opportunity. We wish him well.”

Mathis added, “We look forward to hiring more great talent from Western Massachusetts. It is exciting to begin to build the team that will help create a world-class urban casino-resort and anchor a renaissance for this important Gateway City and the region around it.”

Stratton holds a law degree from Suffolk University Law School, a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Colgate University. He is admitted to the State and Federal Bars of Massachusetts and Connecticut. He is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association.

Stratton grew up in Forest Park and now resides in Longmeadow with his family. He currently serves as a board member for the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, a member of the board of trustees for First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, and as a member of the leadership committee for Community Legal Aid’s Access to Justice Campaign 2013.