William L. O'Brien
William Lawrence O'Brien (born July 20, 1951) is a lawyer and Republican politician from Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. He served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives starting in 2004, representing Hillsborough 4, and later Hillsborough 5. He was the Speaker of the House from 2010 to 2012, when Republicans held the majority. After Democrats won the chamber in 2012, he did not seek a leadership role. He tried again to become Speaker in 2014 but was defeated by fellow Republican Shawn Jasper.
Education and career: O'Brien earned a BA in history from Framingham State University in 1974, a JD from Suffolk University in 1977, and an LLM in Intellectual Property from the University of New Hampshire in 2003. He has worked as a lawyer, professor of law at the New England School of Law, and general counsel for several companies. He has also been involved in politics and public service, including roles such as chair of the NH Republican Party Platform Committee, vice-chair of Granite State Taxpayers, and co-chair of the House Republican Alliance. He has served on the Mont Vernon School Board and the Mont Vernon Police Advisory Commission. He has practiced law in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and has been involved with the NH Legal Rights Foundation and a Massachusetts-based law firm.
Business and current work: O'Brien was the COO of Brainloop’s U.S. subsidiary and later became President/CEO of RegDOX Solutions. He co-founded Liberty Tree Consulting & Strategies. Since March 2023, he has been the Republican National Committeeman for New Hampshire and was elected to a term through 2028.
Notable moments: In 2011, during a budget debate, he briefly closed the New Hampshire House gallery to the public after protests, a move that drew criticism. He has made controversial remarks, including a 2011 comment about college students voting and a 2013 comparison of the Affordable Care Act to the Fugitive Slave Act, which President Obama referenced in a speech.
Personal life: O'Brien and his wife, Roxanne, have three grown children.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:15 (CET).