Steven Wright, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has chosen Steven Wright, a consummate legal professional, as its next senior vice president and general counsel.

“It's funny,” Wright told Corporate Counsel on Wednesday, “but in many ways the various opportunities I've had in my career prepared me for this.”

As executive partner, he manages Holland & Knight's Boston office, but he also has a strong in-house counsel background. Previously he served as general counsel to New York City's public advocate, deputy counsel to the mayor of New York, and assistant general counsel to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Wright also served in the Massachusetts Attorney General's office as deputy chief of the civil litigation bureau and chief of its trial division. He served as faculty of Harvard Law School's Trial Advocacy Workshop and as a lecturer at Northeastern University. He has worked on many boards and committees in the Boston area, including on the Boston Federal Reserve's external diversity committee.

Wright joined Holland & Knight 20 years ago. His last day in private practice will be Friday, and he begins his new job April 8.

“I've had an incredible experience at Holland & Knight,” Wright said. “But to have the opportunity to have an impact in this region and support [the Boston Fed's] work and its impact on national and regional economic policy is just a unique experience for an attorney.”

Wright added, “It's not lost on me that there are only 12 of these jobs out there,” referring to the number of Federal Reserve banks in the country. “It's a rare opportunity and I'm very happy to have it, especially at this point in my career.”

The Boston Fed's announcement said Wright will serve as the bank's senior legal officer and adviser, providing strategic counsel to leadership. He will join the bank's executive committee and lead its legal services group.

“Steven Wright is a distinguished legal and business leader, having earned the trust of countless clients and organizations,” said Eric Rosengren, president and CEO of the bank, said in a statement. “We are delighted that he will be joining our senior leadership team.”

Steven Sonberg, managing partner of Holland & Knight, called Wright an outstanding individual and an inspiring leader.

Sonberg said Wright “has served Holland & Knight and its clients with distinction for more than 20 years … While he will be missed by all of us, we wish him the very best as he embarks on the next stage of his impressive legal career.”

Wright will replace former general counsel Cynthia Conley, who retired in December after 40 years with the bank.

Conley, according to her bio, began her career at the bank as a summer intern while attending law school. Upon graduation, she joined the bank's supervision and regulation department as an analyst. Eighteen months later she transferred to the legal department, where she worked her way up to associate general counsel.

She then was named vice president of corporate policy and secretary to the board of directors, where she served four years before rotating to the human resources department. In 2008, she was appointed general counsel.