The law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton Professional Association is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized with 5 firm rankings and 18 distinct individual attorney rankings in the Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers.
Conducted by Chambers and Partners, Chambers USA: A Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers recognizes America’s top business attorneys and leading law firms. Chambers USA selected McLane’s offices in New Hampshire (Manchester, Concord, and Portsmouth) as top-ranked in the state for Corporate/Commercial Law, General Commercial Litigation and Real Estate. The firm was ranked in the second tier in Labor and Employment Law and Environmental Law.
Among the outstanding McLane attorneys who were recognized individually in Chambers USA’s Corporate/Commercial Law ranking were Steven M. Burke, Daniel J. Norris and Richard A. Samuels. Ranked as leaders in their field for Corporate Commercial: Tax were Steven M. Burke, John E. Hughes, and William V. A. Zorn. Recognized in the General Commercial Litigation ranking were Bruce W. Felmly, Wilber A. Glahn III, Jack B. Middleton, and David Wolowitz. Ranked for Labor & Employment Law were Linda S. Johnson, Jennifer L. Parent and Charla B. Stevens. Singled out in the ranking for Real Estate Law were Peter B. Rotch and Jessica Nylund. Lastly, four McLane attorneys were singled out in the Environmental Law ranking – Barry Needleman, Michael J. Quinn, Mark Rouvalis and Gregory H. Smith.
Now in its twelfth 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.
Corporate / Commercial
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for Broad bench of corporate lawyers who cover all matters across corporate governance, financing, IP, securities and business formation.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
“Without a doubt, their size, capability and expertise make them worthy of Band 1; their style is distinctive.”
What’s new? Michael Delaney joins the firm after having served for several years as the New Hampshire Attorney General.
Work highlights The firm negotiated the transaction documents, licenses and permits related to the $7 million sale of New England Emergency Response Systems.
Notable practitioners
Richard Samuels is the managing director of the firm, and is considered to be “one of the top corporate lawyers in the state.” Peers regard him as “incredibly bright” and as a “dean of the corporate world.”
John Hughes specializes in estate planning and taxation, and provides advice to a range of business clients.
The “knowledgeable” Steven Burke is well versed in taxation and also represents clients in relation to M&A and corporate governance.
Daniel Norris is highly experienced in corporate law and chairs this department of the firm. He handles a variety of matters ranging from financial transactions, securities and contracts to M&A.
Tax expert William Zorn has a broad practice, which focuses on wealth management and estate and tax planning, among other areas. He chairs the firm’s trusts and estates team.
Litigation
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for Comprehensive litigation practice that is particularly strong in environmental, energy and insurance litigation. Increasingly active on disputes concerning educational institutions.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
“They are my go-to firm.”
“They have a lot of lawyers, which makes them stand out.”
Work highlights Representing a paper production company, Resolute Forest Products, in a number of claims, including negligence, fraud and misrepresentation, in the District Court of New Hampshire.
Defending Philip Morris against a large-scale class action suit alleging misrepresentation in the marketing and sale of Marlboro Lights cigarettes. The case was dismissed following a successful argument by the firm in the appeal before the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Notable practitioners
With a broad practice in litigation, Bruce Felmly handles disputes in such areas as employment, construction, environment, real estate and insurance. Peers regard him as a truly “terrific lawyer and litigator.”
Wilbur Glahn chairs the business litigation practice group and has a wealth of experience in that field. His areas of expertise include tax and employment litigation, contracts and corporate governance.
Among other areas, David Wolowitz’s strengths lie in handling employment disputes in education and medicine. He is also called upon for expert witness testimony.
Director of the litigation department Jack Middleton has been in practice for decades, making him an excellent choice for clients who need to take tough cases to trial.
Labor and Employment
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for Strong practice in all areas of labor and employment law, with sector experience in education, manufacturing, hospitality, commercial banking, and the software and hi-tech industry.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
“They have a big firm and a good practice.”
Work highlights Defending AutoZone against a race discrimination claim brought by a former employee. The case is pending and will be heard by the federal court.
Representing Federal Express against claims of age and gender discrimination by a former employee. The claimant also holds that the company is in breach of the Equal Pay Act.
Notable practitioners
Linda Johnson is noted for her expertise in education, and regularly advises educational institutions on labor and employment issues. She is cochair of the education and litigation practice group at the firm.
Jennifer Parent chairs the employment law practice group and handles a range of cases in this area, from disability discrimination and harassment to employment misconduct and termination of employment.
Charla Stevens is rated for her work in employment and litigation, where she regularly defends clients against discrimination and harassment claims, among others.
Real Estate
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for Well reputed for its expertise in advising borrowers and lenders on a range of financial transactions. Also represents sellers and buyers on an array of complex real estate transactions.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients)
“Obviously a good firm and well established.”
Work highlights Acted for a developer working with CVS on purchasing and obtaining permitting for various sites.
Represented Primax Properties in the acquisition, sale and management of titles for numerous retail spaces around both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Notable practitioners
Jessica Nylund is highly rated by her peers and has particular expertise in handling real estate finance transactions. She is also proficient in land use matters and frequently handles title work, acquisitions and sales for a variety of businesses.
Peter Rotch is a distinguished attorney who has had a long career in real estate. He handles a wide range of matters in this practice area and serves as the director of the department. Peers describe him as a simply “fantastic lawyer.”
Environment
Chambers’ USA Assessment:
What the team is known for Highly regarded in environmental law, with solid expertise in regulatory matters concerning permitting and environmental compliance. Handles a significant amount of contentious work concerning Superfund sites and energy projects, among other areas.
Work highlights Representing the manufacturing company Hitchiner in a longstanding liability case concerning a Superfund site, Savage Well. The insurance company liable to cover the company’s costs had gone into receivership.
Acted for Altid Enterprises in relation to the contamination of a shopping center and surrounding properties caused by one of its tenants in the center.
Notable practitioners
Barry Needleman is a respected practitioner among his peers and has a wealth of experience in both energy and environmental law. Needleman is especially highly regarded for his contentious work.
Gregory Smith is the environmental group chair and, as a former state attorney general, he has enviable knowledge of the workings of numerous state regulatory bodies. His knowledge of environmental rules and government relations comes highly recommended.
Mark Rouvalis is recognized as a talented litigator and offers clients a wealth of complementary expertise in environment, construction and insurance litigation.
Michael Quinn is strong in the energy field and recently represented EnergyNorth Natural Gas in an administrative appeal regarding a hazardous waste remediation decision worth several million dollars.
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 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.