MANCHESTER — A partner in one of the state's biggest law firms is pulling up stakes in Manchester to become city attorney in Roanoke, Va.

Daniel Callaghan, a bankruptcy and commercial law attorney at Devine, Millimet & Branch of Manchester, will go to work in Roanoke on Oct. 17.

He says it is a lifestyle change, but the appointment set some tongues wagging in Roanoke, since he is the brother-in-law of the Roanoke city manager.

But Callaghan, officials in Roanoke and the headhunter who recruited him all say Callaghan disclosed the family relationship in his initial application, offered to withdraw if it was seen as an issue, and that it was not a factor in the ultimate decision by the city council to hire him.

Callaghan has been with Devine Millimet since the summer before his final year in law school.

“I have thought about doing something such as teaching, the judiciary or in some other public nature,” Callaghan said. “It's always been something I've wanted to do.”

Callaghan and his wife, Clare, each come from large families and have siblings in Virginia and North Carolina. The couple has anticipated eventually retiring to North Carolina.

With their only child established in a career, Callaghan and his wife of 32 years decided it was time for something other than law firm life.

“It works on many levels,” Callaghan said.

The Roanoke job first came up in a casual mention by Callaghan's brother-in-law, Chris Morrill, who has been Roanoke's city manager for the past two years. What began as a joking comment became serious after a headhunter entered the picture.

“Roanoke indicated it had retained a national search firm looking for someone with prior experience in commercial and public areas, similar to stuff I have done,” Callaghan said. “Municipalities, like other clients, deal with development issues and all sorts of commercial matters.”

Callaghan's legal work has concentrated on bankruptcy and commercial development. Among his clients are the companies that own and operate Rockingham Park in Salem, Yankee Greyhound Park in Seabrook and a cooperative insurance pool for cities, towns, school districts and counties.

He has also been an advocate for preservation of historic properties in the city, providing volunteer legal services to both the Manchester Historical Society and the state Preservation Alliance.

Callaghan said he opted for full disclosure of the family ties from the time of his first inquiry about the Roanoke job.

“I asked the recruiting firm if that was an issue. I was assured it was not,” Callaghan told the New Hampshire Union Leader. “I said if it ever became an issue in terms of questioning the character or qualifications of my brother-in-law that I would withdraw immediately.”

The search firm, Colin Baenziger and Associates, was hired because a search by Roanoke's human resources department came up empty.

“We were taking over a search that the city tried to do and were not successful. They did not get a lot of candidates,” Baenziger said.

Morrill said he told the search firm he didn't want to be involved in the selection.

“(Baenziger) kept me out of the loop, which I wanted,” Morrill said. “There is always a perception issue. Dan wanted to make sure it wouldn't impact me.”

The city attorney, like the city manager, is appointed by and is responsible to the City Council.

Ultimately, after three days of interviews, Callaghan was offered the job at $150,000 per year.

He starts Oct. 17, but will not take the city attorney title until he is formally admitted to the Virginia bar, a process that requires a background check and approval by the Virginia Supreme Court.

“It's an exciting opportunity to work with a group of people not only in the law office but in the city generally who have a great vision about where they want to bring the city of Roanoke,” Callaghan said.

A Rochester native and a resident of Manchester since the early 1980s, first downtown and later in a century-old home in the city's North End, Callaghan said he will miss his clients, his firm and the people of New Hampshire.

“We've had great connections here, but they've left a part of themselves with me, so they will always be with me,” he said.

billsmith@unionleader.com