About Theodore Francis
Theodore Francis Riordan studied mathematics and computer science before turning to law. He earned a B.S. from Stonehill College in 1987, then moved on to Suffolk University Law School, where he completed his J.D. in 1990. Those years set a technical and legal foundation that has informed his work at both the trial and appellate levels.
His legal career began in court. In 1990 he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Florence K. Murray at the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The clerkship exposed him to appellate procedure and judicial decision-making early in his career. The following year he accepted a position with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, joining the in-house legal ranks in 1991.
Riordan spent the 1990s in insurance-related practice before moving into private practice. In 1999 he became a partner at Bates & Riordan, LLP. He has remained at that firm since then. His partnership signaled a shift toward handling a broader range of matters for private clients and local businesses.
He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the courts of Massachusetts. He is listed on the Massachusetts Superior Court Master s List and holds a Notary Public commission from the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Those credentials reflect courtroom experience and procedural familiarity at multiple levels of the state and federal systems.
Outside the courtroom he maintains ties to the bar. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association and the Norfolk County Bar Association. Those memberships connect him to professional networks in eastern Massachusetts and provide continuing legal education and local bar involvement.
Colleagues describe him as steady and methodical in court filings and client meetings. His background—an undergraduate degree in a technical field followed by a judicial clerkship and in-house insurance work—gives him a mix of analytical and practical experience.
As of 2026 he practices at Bates & Riordan, LLP, and remains admitted to practice in the courts listed above. He continues to handle matters in the Massachusetts and federal courts where he is credentialed.
