The law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, Professional Association is proud to announce that, for the seventh year in a row, it has received the highest ranking from Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers in every practice area rated in the state of New Hampshire.*
Now in its eleventh edition, the list ranks top U.S. law firms and individual attorneys in various practice areas. The relative weight of client feedback in their rankings makes the Chambers guides among the most respected of all law firm reference publications available.
Beyond McLane’s being given the Band 1Rating firm-wide in Corporate/Commercial, Environment, Labor & Employment, General Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Law, 23 of McLane’s attorneys were individually recognized as “leaders in their field.”
Corporate / Commercial
Chambers’ Assessment:
THE FIRM McLane has a long-standing position as one of New Hampshire’s leading firms for advice on corporate matters. The group is frequently highlighted for the depth of its practice, with lawyers on hand to advise clients on matters ranging from company startups and acquisitions by private equity firms to related tax and IP matters. Recent highlights include handling several facets of the $600 million merger of a software company on behalf of the management, and working on the construction and financing of a solar generation project.
Sources say: “This firm has always been a very strong competitor in the market.”
KEY INDIVIDUALS Steven Burke heads the firm’s tax department and advises clients on tax implications of their transactions, as well as transfer pricing structures and tax audits. Joseph Foster chairs the firm’s bankruptcy practice and is acclaimed by sources as “one of the best bankruptcy lawyers in the state.” Richard Samuels is a highly polished corporate and securities lawyer who has previously chaired the firm’s corporate department. Commentators single him out as an “experienced and savvy lawyer worthy of recognition.” John Hughes and William Zorn are experienced specialists in trusts and estate planning whose crossover knowledge of tax adds further depth to the team’s corporate lineup. Daniel Norris is the current chair of the firm’s corporate department. His practice is focused on M&A and securities transactions, as well as advising on the development of projects in the region.
Labor and Employment
Chambers’ Assessment:
THE FIRM This premier New Hampshire firm offers a stellar labor and employment service which is consistent with its across-the-board business strengths. The group handles day-to-day employment issues encompassing immigration advice, contractual matters and seminars for employers. The team also handles litigation cases on behalf of companies in cases of harassment and other lawsuits.
Sources say: “A fine group of lawyers.”
KEY INDIVIDUALS As cochair of the firm’s education and litigation practices, Linda Johnson provides a wealth of experience in labor and employment issues related to the education sector. John Rich is director of the tax department and provides the team with important crossover knowledge in employee benefits and welfare and compensation. Jennifer Parent chairs the firm’s employment law practice. She is particularly regarded for her prolific activity defending employers in cases of harassment, discrimination, and employee misconduct and dismissals. “There’s no question she knows this area of law,” peers remark. Cameron Shilling is another esteemed commercial litigator in the group who has been engaged in a substantial number of employment mandates over the course of his career, and is notable for his expertise in trade secrets. Charla Stevens has a broad employment practice across a variety of sectors, and has worked in litigious matters as well as advising on labor audits and personnel policies.
Litigation
Chambers’ Assessment:
THE FIRM This is one of New Hampshire’s strongest firms and has a deep bench of litigators capable of representing clients in a wide range of matters. The group has litigated in cases related to insurance recovery, trademark infringement, unfair competition and hazardous waste. In recent highlights, it helped Dell settle during the discovery process in a patent action brought by Media Digital, and it continues to represent Irving Oil in one of the largest environmental cases in the state’s history.
Sources say: “We’ve worked with lots of attorneys and they are definitely at the top.”
KEY INDIVIDUALS Cochair Bruce Felmly is widely regarded as one of the state’s leading litigators. With almost four decades’ experience, he is frequently called upon to lead some of the most high-profile cases in New Hampshire. Peers describe him as “a highly accomplished lawyer with plentiful experience and expertise.” Wilbur Glahn is cochair of the firm’s business litigation group and has practiced at McLane for more than 30 years. Acclaimed as a “top-notch” litigator, his activity in the past year has seen him litigate in class action, constitutional litigation and breach of contract cases. David Wolowitz is a highly experienced litigator who particularly stands out in the market for his defense of educational institutions. He has had an active year in this regard, acting for schools on claims brought by former pupils. Although firm president Jack Middleton is no longer on the front line of its daily activity, he is still on hand to provide clients with the benefit of his half-century of experience.
Environment
Chambers’ Assessment:
THE FIRM This firm is widely acknowledged as one of the leading environment practices in New Hampshire, with a team well drilled in the technical aspects of the law and noted for its ability to lead high-profile litigations. The group handles a wide variety of issues, covering hazardous waste, clean air and water issues, and Superfund litigations on behalf of both companies and communities.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Barry Needleman is one of the firm’s standout lawyers for environmental matters. He has experience handling a wide range of issues on behalf of his clients but is particularly notable for his experience in gas plant liabilities. “He’s carved out quite a reputation in that field,” sources state. Gregory Smith chairs the firm’s environmental practice. He has represented the residents of the Town of Newbury in an ongoing conservation case for more than two decades, and also represents companies on regulatory and permitting issues. “He has his hand in a lot of matters and is one of the mainstays of the practice,” peers confirm. Michael Quinn is an esteemed practitioner in all areas of environmental disputes. In an ongoing case, he has represented EnergyNorth Natural Gas in a multimillion-dollar hazardous waste case brought by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Mark Rouvalis has ample experience in the area of Superfund litigation and continues to represent a number of the firm’s clients in this regard.
Real Estate
Chambers’ Assessment:
THE FIRM The breadth of this firm’s real estate practice is widely noted around the region. The team has lately been called upon to act on distressed real estate matters, including foreclosures, loan workouts and bankruptcy-related acquisitions. The group also acts as local counsel to numerous national clients, including retailers, on their New Hampshire real estate issues. It also advises local developers on purchases and related financing needs.
KEY INDIVIDUALS Linda Connell is widely renowned for her intelligence and experience in this sector. She recently advised numerous clients, including an electricity utility and a telecoms provider, on licensing issues in the state. Thomas Hildreth has a respected land use and permitting practice. He is well known for his work with telecoms companies, and recently worked with Connell on the aforementioned permitting and licensing work for a telecoms provider. Jessica Nylund has had a particularly active year, and is noted as one of the strongest young attorneys in the state. She recently advised a New Hampshire-based developer on strengthening its real estate portfolio. Peter Rotch continues to be one of the most respected real estate attorneys in the state, with sources describing him as “a star” and “very respected and experienced.”
About Chambers USA
The Chambers USA guide is published by Chambers and Partners—a London-based publisher that produces guides to the world’s top lawyers. The guide is available on-line at: http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/.
About the McLane Law Firm
Founded in 1919, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, Professional Association is the largest full-service law firm in the state of New Hampshire, with offices in Manchester, Concord and Portsmouth, as well as Woburn, Massachusetts. Driven by the firm’s depth of sophisticated legal expertise and an unwavering commitment to client service, McLane has built collaborative and lasting relationships with a broad spectrum of domestic and international clients.
* In some states, a more comprehensive list of practice areas is measured.